A5
Based on the artwork 'Janganpa Jukurrpa' (Possum Dreaming) by Paddy Stewart. Includes information about the artist and artwork.
- Paddy Japaljarri Stewart is from Mungapunju, just south of Yuendumu. When he was a young man he was a station worker at Mt Allen, Mt Dennison and up the top end. He worked as a chef in Papunya, hence his nickname ÂCookieÂ. For a very long time now he has been living in Yuendumu. Cookie worked at the Yuendumu school teaching young kids, both kardiya and yapa (non aboriginal and aboriginal). He taught painting, jukurrpa (dreaming), tracking (dingo, kangaroo, goanna etc...), how to make wax for the sand painting, dancing, making boomerangs and many other important culture traditions. Each day Paddy drove the school bus that collected the kids. He was also involved in the council here and in Night Patrol. Night Patrol has been absolutely invaluable as a yapa (aboriginal) policing body. Cookie has been drawing and painting for a long time, including working on the Yuendumu School Doors. He is presently the chairman for the Warlukurlangu Artists Committee, and paints regularly.
In 1988 Paddy Stewart was selected by The Power Gallery, Sydney University to travel to Paris with five other Warlpiri men from Yuendumu to create a ground painting installation at the exhibition 'Magiciens de la Terre' at the Centre Georges Pompidou. The trip took place in May 1989 and the painting was received with world wide acclaim. Paddy Japaljarri Stewart has been exhibiting artwork since 1985 throughout Australia & around the world; including exhibitions in France, USA, Germany, UK, French Polynesia & Amsterdam. Paddy Japaljarri Stewart is featured in the collections of Major Art Institutions in Australia and around the world.