Indigenous Canvas Painting - Barramundi & Mini Spirits

TITLE: BARRAMUNDI & MIMI SPIRITS

ARTIST: EDWARD (EDDIE) WATTS BLITNER

Region: Katherine NT

Language: Marra - Borroloola

Circi: 1961

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas

Completed: 29 July 2019

Dimensions: H104cm x W82cm

Stretched on frame: NO

Artwork Title: The Turtle Boat Couple represents Eddie’s coastal ancestors who would use canoes and go diving for pearls in the Gulf. Eddie’s coastal ancestors including his grandfather Fred Blitner and Great uncle Gerry Blitner, passed down his Dreaming and taught him how to paint. These men spent time in Yirrkala, North East Arnhem Land living on the coast, as fishing coastal people. They also had a strong involvement in the development of Yirrkala. 

Biography: Eddie grew up on Victoria River Downs Cattle Station in the NT along with other families including the Wavehill boys. Like many of the Indigenous men on the cattle stations, Eddie became a hard working stockman on Vic Station, also helping his grandfather at Beswick Station. Whilst helping at Beswick Station his grandfather Fred Blitner showed him the artefacts that the old men had done and how they painted on bark. Eddie was keen to learn and started to help the old men. His cousin Blanazi helped teach Eddie the old men ways and the stories.

Artwork can be posted and protected in a postal tube