Design and Art Australia Online

Ivy Laidlaw, a Pitjantjatjara artist, was born around 1945 at a rockhole called Walpapulka near Irrunytju. Her mother was ill and unable to care for her when she was a baby so Ivy and her sister spent much of their early childhood on the mission at Warburton. Ivy spent some time at school and learnt English, hymns and Bible stories. Ivy frequently walked back to her country with her family where she learnt tjukurpa and how to survive in the desert. When she grew up Ivy worked in the mission bakery and clinic before returning to Irrunytju where she married Patju Presley, who she knew from childhood days in the mission.

Ivy is a founding member of Irrunytju Arts and a highly regarded sculptor, weaver and storyteller. As well as developing her own art practice and participating in exhibitions, Ivy works at Irrunytju Arts supporting the cultural development programs and bush-trips. Ivy runs workshops and teaches emerging artists how to weave; where to find organic materials; and how to make dyes, resins and traditional medicines. Some of Ivy’s paintings depict important tjukurpa relating to women’s business which are carefully stored and only taken out to teach the young women. Others illustrate dramatic tjukurpa narratives, structured like fables with strong moral overtones.

One tjukurpa story explains why the crow is black. It is from the country near Wannan, north-west of Irrunytju in the Gibson Desert. The eagle had two wives. His first and favourite wife was a white cockatoo and his second wife was a brown crow. Eagle really loved his first wife and gave her the best bits of kuka (meat). Crow was very jealous of cockatoo. One day when the two wives went to collect water they had a big jealousy fight, hitting each other with their wana (digging sticks). The crow hit the white cockatoo very hard on the head and killed her. When crow went back to camp the eagle asked where his first wife was. Crow said 'I have good news, cockatoo has gone to the women’s business camp to give birth.’ Eagle was delighted and that night gave crow the best cut of malu.

Each day eagle would ask after his first wife and crow would respond with how the birthing was progressing and eagle would give her kuka and other delicacies. After several days crow told eagle that cockatoo had given birth to a baby boy and that the child looked just like eagle. Eagle was anxious to see his first wife and son but knew that the mother and baby had to be smoked and that his first wife could not return to camp until all of the women’s business associated with birthing was finished. Many days passed and day after day crow told eagle about the new baby and how strong he was growing. One day eagle decided to see what was keeping his first wife away so long. He walked around near to where the women’s business place was and looked for his wife. In the tali (sand dunes) he saw the tracks of his wives and found the remains of cockatoo and realised that crow had been lying to him about everything. That night crow again regaled him with stories about his first wife and the new baby. He listened quietly and gave crow the best pieces of kuka and told her that the next day they were going somewhere to collect something special. They walked a long way and she started complaining, but he encouraged her until they got to a very deep and narrow cave. Together they went into the cave and when crow got to the bottom eagle rushed out, blocked the entrance with firewood and made a huge fire. The fire raged. Crow was screaming. After many minutes had passed crow flew out of the flames burnt black as charcoal.

Writers:

Knights, Mary

Date written:

2006

Last updated:

2011