Felicity Wanambi & Steven Bara

Felicity
Clan: Wanambi
Language: Yolngu

Steven
Clan: Bara
Language: Anindilyakua

Felicity Wanambi was born at Groote Eylandt at Umbakumba. When she was a young child she would watch the elders paint and carve. Felicity moved to Baniyala with her first husband who taught her to paint and carve birds. When her husband passed away she moved back to Groote Eylandt, there she met and married Steven bara whom she taught to carve.

These days they work together on most carvings. Steven and Felicity live at an outstation on Groote called Bartalumba Bay.

These artists use milk wood or Hibiscus wood which, after cutting, is carved into a bird, a dugong or other animals significant to their culture. Totems and stories are carved and painted onto the piece, which is then painted in ochre’s. Felicity and Steven also produced beautifully carved canoes and painted canvases.