This painting depicts the traditional staple foods, much sought after by aboriginal people. Top left hand and bottom right hand corners - Desert figs grow on large shrubs 4 metres high and 6 metres in diameter, with the fruit maturing from yellow to red-brown. The desert figs grow on hills and gorges or other sheltered areas, and fruits anytime of the year. They taste a little tart and large amounts can be gathered from a single bush repeatedly, even months later. Far top right hand and bottom left hand corners - Quandongs or native peach are found on small trees 4 metres high with the fruit being bright red and fleshy with a round pitted stone like seed the size of a marble. The trees grow in sandy areas where Spinifex (native grass) grows. The fruit is eaten fresh and can be also dried. Witchetty grubs - The witchetty grub bush is a very important plant in Central Australia because of the large tasty grubs found in the roots of the Acacia tree. The witchetty grubs can be eaten raw or cooked. They are cooked by being placed in the hot earth after the fire has died down. Honey ants - The honey ant is found in a nest in the ground in Mulga country. A hole is dug, scooping out the dirt to get to the honey ants at the main part of the nest. Honey ants are eaten by placing them on your tongue and biting the abdomen and sucking out the honey from it. In the centre the women are sitting with their digging sticks and coolamons around the camp fire eating and talking about the day’s events.
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Titjipuaka (Heather Andrews) was born in Alice Springs and is a Southern Arrernte, Pertame Aboriginal woman from the Central Desert area in the Northern Territory. She is married and has 4 sons, one of whom has left home and another who goes to school in Alice Springs. Her two younger sons live at home with her. Heather has lived in Mount Isa for over 25 years. She feels that it’s a friendly place to live, and has lots of friends and family who she enjoys spending time with. Heather says that while Mount Isa is a small town, she is able to find everything she needs here. She likes to read, garden and spend time with her family and visiting people. Heather started to paint on canvas in early February 2008. She says that she likes painting because she can do it when, where and how she wants to. She finds it relaxing and it is “her time”. Heather gains pleasure from doing her art work and seeing what can be created and how it turns out. She also loves when people connect with her paintings. Heather paints about her life and uses traditional stories learned from her elders as inspiration.
You can contact Titjipuaka by clicking this link: Titjipuaka