Portrait Gracie Morton Pwerle Gracie was born on Utopia Station, approximately 230 km northeast of Alice Springs, around 1956. She is the daughter of the well known artist Myrtle Petyarre. Gracie continues the rich artistic tradition that encompasses family members including Myrtle’s sisters Kathleen, Gloria, Violet and Ada Bird Petyarre. Her language is Alyawarre, her tribe is Eastern Amatyerre and her country is Alhalkere. Gracie spent her early years in the traditional way of life for central desert families throughout the generations just as her mother and grandmother had done before. Her education involved living and surviving in a desert environment, collecting bush foods and living off the land. Like many of her relatives, such as her aunt Gloria Petyarre, Gracie gained recognition as an artist working in the medium of batik. In 1988 Gracie and the Utopia Artists started painting on canvas using acrylic paint. They appreciated the medium of acrylic paint because it gave them greater freedom and control. Gracie quickly flourished in the new medium. Her earlier works include much line work depicting body-paint designs. Many traditional symbols are seen in her early dot paintings. Gracie further developed her dot work into intricate and layered patterns, using a very delicate dotting technique as can be seen in her Bush Plum Dreamings, known to Alyawarre people as Arnwekety. These paintings represent the fruit growing on low shrubs, the different colours indicating the seasonal changes. The bush plum is one of the main food staples, a small fruit with black seeds. It is eaten raw or cooked and the plant produces a profusion of flowers. Gracie sometimes adds the walking tracks meandering through the bush that are used by the women and children who collect this fruit. Older women use this time to teach the children about their tradition and the land. Gracie also incorporates Awelye into her paintings, i.e. the body paint designs used in ceremonies and rituals that are the basis of her culture. Gracie’s paintings have become eagerly sought after by collectors from around the world. She has appeared in many exhibitions starting from the mid 1980s, both in Australia and in Europe. Copyright 2012-2013 The Aboriginal Art House