Michael Nelson Jagamarra

Possum Dreaming: The Possum Dreaming is near Mt Singleton. This dreaming refers to the Possum ancestors of the Jakamarra people. A Jakamarra man wanted a Nangala woman who had fair hair. The Nangala woman was of the wrong skin group and the elders forbid their marriage. The couple eloped and on their journey travelling west they transformed themselves into Possums. The Jakamarra people were angry for breaking law and pursued them until they were caught and killed by the tribe. This ceremony can produce great magic which can punish those who have broken tribal laws. This is Michael’s grandfather’s dreaming. The E symbols represent the Possum prints. Rainbow Serpent & Storm: Rainbow serpent site is at Yirlkiri near Mt Singleton. This is where a dust storm (willy willy) turned into an ancestral Rainbow serpent. The Serpent traveled on his journey creating a great electrical storm, shown by the bars surrounding the body of the snake. This dreaming is from Michael’s father. Stone Knife: This symbol represents a dreaming of the Stone Knife. The Stone Knife dreaming site, Kunti near Mt Singleton is where the first ancestors gave the Jakamarra people these implements. Stone knives can still be found at this site today. Michael’s father dreaming site: This symbol depicts the rockhole site of Pikilyi (Vaughan Springs). There are a number of stories associated with this site. This is Michael’s birthplace, his country. Red Kangaroo Dreaming: The Red Kangaroo Dreaming shows footprints on his journey to discover the rock hole which is a fresh water source between Vaughan Springs and Mount Singleton. Michael’s fathers dreaming. Bush Turkey: This print depicts the Bush Turkey searching and looking around for bush tucker and water in Michael Nelson’s country near Mount Singleton. Yam Dreaming: This painting tells the Dreamtime story of the Bush Potato Dreaming (Yam Dreaming). The Bush Potato ancestors on their travels originally came up from Yutalu and then rested at Yamapunta before continuing their journey to the north west. Abundant supplies of bush potatoes bear witness to the Dreamings continuing presence. The design represents the bush potato vine. Lightning: This painting tells the Dreamtime story of two Kangaroo ancestors who wake up the Rainbow Snakes at Mawarriji, a sacred site near Mount Singleton, in Michael Nelson’s country. The two Kangaroo Men have cooked and eaten a joey which they mistakenly believe to be another animal. The Rainbow Snakes can smell the cooking and try to kill the two Kangaroo Men with a ferocious storm of wind, rain and lightning. The Kangaroo Men hide out in a cave for many days until the storm passes and then continue on their journey. This painting depicts the lightning from the storm and the Rainbow Serpents. All of these Dreamings are related to Michael Nelson’s country – some of them to his birthplace which is Pikilyi (Vaughan Springs). Michael always says “that without the story there is no painting, without the country there is no dreaming”. Notes: A second version with some colour changes was done in late 2001. Editioning record: Artist: Michael Nelson Jagamara Community: Warumpi Arts Collaborator: Basil Hall/Simon White Title: Eight Stories Medium: Silkscreen Paper size/Type: Arches Cover (White) 120 x 80cm Image size: 73 x 101cm Printer: Simon White Publisher: Warumpi Arts Colour proofs: 0 Trial/State proofs: 0 Workshop proof: 1 Printers proof: 1 Artists proofs: 2