National Reconciliation Week 2021 - Keturah Zimran
This year, we had the honour of hosting an International Women’s Day event with Keturah Zimran of Ikuntji Artists. In celebration of National Reconciliation Week 2021, we wanted to share with you our interview with Keturah Zimran; sharing with us her story and the story of her community. Marking the 20th anniversary of Reconciliation Australia, National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. The dates for NRW remain the same each year; 27 May to 3 June. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey— the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively. Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Keturah Zimran (Ikuntji Artists)
Keturah was born in Haasts Bluff in 1978. She is the youngest daughter of Molly Napaltjarri Jugadai and Smithy Zimran.
Keturah’s grandparents on her mother’s side are Narputta Nangala Jugadia and Timothy Jugadai Tjungurrayi. Narputta was a founding member of Ikuntji Artists and had been painting since the beginning of the Central Desert Painting Movement of the 1970’s. Narputta was born at Karrkurutjintja (Lake Mcdonald). The rights to this country were passed to her from her father, Talaku Tjampitjinpa. This was then passed down to her mother, Molly and onto Keturah. Keturah’s grandmother and mother have since passed away, with Keturah being the only remaining daughter in this lineage of artist to still be painting this story.
Keturah’s father, Smithy Zimran is the younger brother of Ronnie Tjampitjinpa and Yuyuya Nampitjinpa. He is the youngest son of Uta Uta Tjangala’s older brother, Minpuru Tjangala. Uta Uta is the father to Artist Alice Nampitjinpa Dixon and one of the founding members of the acrylic painting movement. Smithy’s country is around Lampintja, Southwest of Kintore. Smithy was born in 1949 out bush in Pinari near Kintore. He came to Haasts Bluff as a child in 1956 with his parents and later joined the Pintupi exodus to Kintore 1981. Smithy was an important leader and educator over his life, leading CANCA (Combined Aboriginal Nations of Central Australia) with its landmark Kalkaringi Statement and the establishment of a dialysis unit in Kintore. Smithy painted with Papunya Tula Artists in the 80s and 90s. He passed away in 2000.
Coming from a lineage of established artists, Keturah began painting seriously in 2005. Developing her own distinctive and bold style, she is fast becoming renowned both nationally and internationally. Most notably, her work is now a part of the Parliament House Collection and has been a finalist in numerous art awards including the 2019 Vincent Lingiari Award.
Keturah is married to Ikuntji male artist Billy Pareroultja and is a mother of eight young children.
This is her life story in her own words:
“I was born here and grew up here. I stay here a long time, Ikuntji is my home. My mother is from here my father is from Kintore. He is in the graveyard near the church.
When I was little I would watch my grandmother and mother paint. It was when I was young I realized I wanted to paint. I started painting in 2005 and my brother paints as well. He paints waru, bush fire Dreaming.
I paint about the sand hills my mother also painted about the sand hills and the Napaltjarri sisters.
I have my own family now. I have seven children. I have two granddaughters and two grandsons. My husband is also a painter. He paints about his grandfather’s country: Lake Mackay.
I like to paint; painting helps me forget my troubles. I paint every day.
My Grandmother used to say to me when I was younger: “One day you will paint.”
She told me to not go wrongly and to look after myself and go strong.
When I look at my paintings I feel happy. My mother and I were closer when I was painting; I wish to be always able to paint.
When I was eight we went to Lake Karrkurrutingtja, we walked around the lake, I remember playing with the white sand and then we all went swimming. Joe Multa and Timmy Jugadai came looking for us at night.
The sand hills I paint are my mother’s story and the rocks I paint are my own story. My paintings are about my story and my mother’s.
Jeffery is my other brother he plays in a band and is also a painter. I am proud of my brothers.
Originally we grew up on my father’s side in Kintore. Then, when I was ten we moved here (Haasts Bluff) and I grew up with my grandmother. My mother joined us in 1985, a long time later.
When I was in Kintore, I went to school where my father worked in the office he was also a church person. He was a pastor and looked after people. He moved to Alice Springs when he got sick. My father gave me my name from the bible, it comes from the genesis 26. Keturah comes from the bible and it’s the name of Abraham’s wife. My mother worked in the Clinic as a Health worker.”
QUESTION 1: As a woman in your community what are the greatest challenges you face?
Ikuntji Artists are located in the remote community of Haasts Bluff, some 230 km’s drive from Alice Springs, with a variable population of 150 people. Women artists role in the community and art centre are invaluable and diverse, from looking after children and family, to attending meetings and making art. Most of the artists painting with the centre are parents, grandparents and great parents and also have important roles to fulfil in their community as future and current leaders and mentors and custodians of knowledge. Keturah Zimran is a proud mother of eight young children and is also one of the most prolific and known painters at Ikuntji Artists today.
Ikuntji Artists was the first art centre established by women in the Western Desert Art Movement. In the 1980s women began painting in Haasts Bluff in the aged care facility. They had been instructed by their husbands and fathers, and they had often assisted them in completing their paintings. By the early 1990s these women artists decided to pursue setting up their own art centre. This was the first time that women artists could get paid directly for their work. Despite the legacy of renowned and celebrated women artists, there remains a focus on male artists and their history. Today, Ikuntji Artists welcomes all genders and age groups, creating a community hub for art making and cultural celebration. Ikuntji Artists has a number of projects that focus on the acknowledgement and celebration of the strong women artists and leaders that built this hub, and continue to mentor and inspire future generations.
Q5: What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
International Women's Day is a day to celebrate and remember the legacy of those women who pioneered the Western desert Art movement. A legacy that continues today as a key vehicle for cultural production, celebration and intergenerational knowledge transfer. This is also a day to acknowledge and thank those women who continue today their invaluable roles in our families, community, and art centre.
QUESTION 6: What does it mean to be a woman in the part of the world and society you live in?
Women in our community are powerhouses of knowledge and culture. Their work in keeping culture strong through the art centre and in the community is invaluable. Women are passed down important knowledge from their mothers and grandmothers, and are then responsible for passing down this knowledge to future generations. In the art centre context, senior women artists take on the role of mentor for younger artists, sharing knowledge and skill through painting, song and story.
QUESTION 7: How does your social enterprise contribute to society?
Ikuntji Artists is key to community wellbeing in Haasts Bluff. As an Aboriginal owned and run art centre, it provides a space for art and cultural celebration and production as well as key economic opportunities for community members.
Ikuntji Artists is a member- based, not-for-profit, Aboriginal owned and managed organisation. As such the whole business model is structured to maximise returns to community members be it fiscally, socially or culturally. This guiding principle directs all of our business plans, structure and future directions and is best achieved therefore through the guidance and voices of community members. We are governed by a board of Indigenous directors all of whom live and work locally. Therefore, through Ikuntji Artists, community members have a voice, and the power to direct their own futures. Directors express local values, concerns, interests and aspirations.
One of the most important roles that Ikuntji Artists plays is in directly contributing to the social and cultural wellbeing of the Haasts Bluff Community. The art centre provides individuals with meaningful ways of cultural production and inter-generational transfer of knowledge. The studio is a safe place for people to gather with their friends and family, on their own terms. Art Workers skills are enriched through professional development opportunities and encouragement to take on increasing responsibility. Through our central activities of art- making and storytelling, visual and oral culture is passed from Grandmother, to daughter, to granddaughter. In these ways (and a myriad of others) we are contributing to future generations with strong connections to cultural practices and beliefs; a pride in their identity; the power to speak and act for themselves and for their communities.
We view the Art Centre as a community sanctuary and many of our projects are guided with this in mind. The following have been some of the most powerful of these projects:
Art workers continued work in the native garden at the art centre. The space was designed to be a productive garden, and to foster wellbeing in the community. It was planted with both native plants for medicinal and food purposes, to support a holistic approach to wellbeing.
It is the only Aboriginal-owned and run organisation in Haasts Bluff and it creates income for the largest number of Indigenous people in the community. As mentioned previously, through their management, Chrischona and Christian train and employ over 20 arts workers annually for various jobs including priming, packing artworks for freight, photographing, cataloguing, screen printing, and representation of Ikuntji Artists at art fairs and markets. They have also created culturally appropriate work such as cultural liaison, interpreters, making short films about country in language using interpreters for the subtitles.
Through empowering community members to speak up for themselves Ikuntji Artists promotes self-esteem, feelings of self-worth and ability. Community members have been supported and encouraged to travel throughout Australia and confidently present their views and stories.
As previously mentioned Ikuntji Artists organised and held a festival in 2014. As a charity (PBI and DGR status) Ikuntji Artists gives back to the community in all ways possible.
How To Support
Ikuntji Artists
Address: 8 Marks Street, Haasts Bluff Northern Territory 0872
Mon - Fri 10am - 4pm
Closed Sat & Sun
Website: https://ikuntji.com.au/
Phone: +61 (08) 8956 8443
Email: fineart@ikuntji.com.au