Gracie Pwerle Morton
About Gracie
Born on Utopia Station, c.1956, Gracie Morton Pwerle is the daughter of well known artist Myrtle Petyarre. As with other women artists from the Utopia region of Australia, Gracie began her painting career in the 1980s working with batik, then commenced painting with acrylics on canvas.
Gracie Morton Pwerle's style of painting is distinctively minimalist: she uses a very delicate dotting technique and traditional colours, which derive from the colours of natural ochres.
About the artwork
In this painting, Gracie paints the Bush Plum seeds. The Bush Plum is a highly nutritious small fruit with black seeds, rich in vitamin C that can be eaten raw or cooked. Growing in a great profusion of flower and fruit throughout the winter months, the women, accompanied by the children collect the bush plums, while at the same time reconfirming their confirmation to the land.
The flourish of colour that distinguishes the bush plum after the fall of the rain is quickly transformed with the long hot summer months. Dried and separated, the seed and husk are scattered over the vast sunbaked landscape by the hot summer winds
