Mary Rumble Petyarre / Bush Yam Seeds (IW9012)

Mary Rumble Petyarre was born c. 1957 in the Utopia region of Central Australia, located approximately 270km north east of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.

Mary’s aunties Gloria Petyarre and Gracie Morton Pwerle taught her to paint on canvas and over time Mary has developed her own style.

Mary paints a number of family Dreamings including Yam Leaves and seeds, Mountain Devil Lizard Dreaming and Awelye (body paint designs). Her style is bold, vibrantly coloured and stunning.

Mary paints the Desert Yam (or Bush Plum) story from her family’s country. The yam grows underground with its viny shrub growing above ground up to one metre high. It is normally found on Spinifex sand plains and produces large flowers after summer rain. The yam is a tuber, or swollen root, of the shrub and tastes much like the common sweet potato. It can be eaten raw or cooked and is still a staple food for the desert aborigines where it can be harvested at any time of the year. It is also renowned for its medicinal properties. This medicine is used to heal cuts, wounds, bites, rashes and as an insect repellent. In this painting, Mary depicts the seeds of the yam paying homage to the spirit of this special plant in the hope that it will regenerate.