Gloria Petyarre

In this painting Gloria shows us the Bush Medicine Dreaming. The Bush Medicine painting depicts the leaves of a special plant that is used to aid in the healing process. The women go to different places around Utopia to collect leaves from special plants. Back at the camp the leaves are boiled to extract resin. Kangaroo fat is mixed into the resin, creating a paste that can be stored for a long time in bush conditions. This medicine is used to heal cuts, wounds, bites, rashes and also acts as an insect repellant. By painting about” Bush Medicine Dreaming” Gloria is paying homage to the spirit of the medicine plant in the hope that it will regenerate, enabling the people to use its healing powers. Women perform the bush medicine ceremony at different times of the year. In preparation for the ceremony the women paint their bodies with special markings for that particular ceremony. Ochre and Spinifex ashes are mixed with Kangaroo or Emu fat to make the body-paint. Body- painting ranges from simply smearing clay across the face, to intrinsic full body patterning. Ceremonies always involve song, dance and body decoration. The ownership, management and performance of the ceremony is dependent upon knowledge and status.