Sandy Pitjara Hunter / Caterpillar Dreaming (19019)

Sandy Pitjara Hunter is greatly admired for his fine and precise dot work and masterful use of colour. Like his sister Susan Pitjara Hunter, Sandy’s work usually consists of patterns of minute dots applied with a very fine pointed stick.

The son of Johnny Ngwarai Hunter and artist Molly Pwerle, Sandy was born on MacDonald Downs in December 1953 into the Alyawarr tribe. He now lives at Irrultja on Utopia and is married to Elizabeth Kamara Leo who is also artist. He is the brother of artists Susie, Annie, Bessie and Jessie Pitjara Hunter.

Sandy’s Dreaming is Caterpillar (Atlerlayt) which was passed down to him from his father. He also explores the subject of bush tucker. Sandy is a fine sculptor and carves animals such as echidna, birds, iguanas from the wood of the native Bean Tree.

Sandy has been widely exhibited throughout Australia.

Selected Exhibitions

2007
• Patterns Of Power, Art from the Eastern Desert, Simmer on the Bay, Sydney
• Eastern Desert Dreaming, GalleryG, Brisbane

2008
• Power of Place, Tandanya, National Aboriginal Cultural Institute Inc., Adelaide

2009
• East-West, Prairie Hotel, Parachilna, South Australia

2010
• The Utopia Story, Australasian Arts Projects, Singapore – May
• Western and Eastern Desert Art, Blaxlands Inn, Hunter Valley, NSW
• Desert Icons, Australasian Arts Projects, Singapore

2011
• Desert Visions, Prairie Hotel, Parachilna, South Australia

Sandy Hunter’s dreaming is Caterpillar Dreaming. His painting depicts an aerial view of the lay of the land as created by the Caterpillar Ancestor. These designs are copies of the ground designs used in ceremonies to celebrate the Caterpillar. Sandy’s paintings are characterised by meticulously executed minute dot-work.