Janangoo Butcher Cherel was born around 1920 at Jalnganjoowa, near the original homestead on Fossil Downs Station. His Gija mother and Gooninyandi father both worked on the station and around the homestead, during which time Cherel recalled being taken out bush for ‘walkabout’ and law. Cherel spent most of his working life on Fossil Downs, often droving cattle from Fitzroy Crossing to as far away as Derby and Broome.
He began painting regularly in the early 1990s following the establishment of Mangkaja Arts Resource Agency in Fitzroy Crossing. His works were included in a number of museum shows, including Cross currents: focus on contemporary Australian art, curated by John Stringer at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, in 2007; 2006 Clemenger Contemporary Art Award, Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Melbourne; and Breaking boundaries— contemporary Indigenous Australian art from the collection, Gallery of Modern Art— Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane, 2008.
As a key elder of the Gooniyandi language group Cherel was instrumental in the revival and retention of law ceremony at Muludja community where he lived in his later years. In 2005 he was officially recognised as one of Western Australia’s State Living Treasures. He passed away at Fitzroy Crossing in 2009.
Cherel’s work is held in numerous Australian public and private collections, including the National Gallery of Australia, National Gallery of Victoria, and Art Gallery of Western Australia.
- Writers:
- Sprague, Quentin
The Ian Potter Museum of Art, The University of Melbourne
- Date written:
- 2011
- Last updated:
- 2012
