Patricia Parry

‘I was born in the bush at a place called Christmas Creek, they had to cut the cord with the edge of a mud mussel shell and wrapped me in paper bark. I was born at the same time as my cousin. My totem is Watjan Kurribek (dingo). I lived in Daly, then moved to Peppimenarti with my mum and grandparents. I went to school at Kormilda College. We were in school when Cyclone Tracey hit in 1976, we hid in the library, it was the only safe place for us.

When a family member passed away at school, we all moved back to Peppimenarti and we started working there. I worked at the shop helping my aunty. This is when I started watching her weave after work, I didn’t know about painting.

I was around 19 when I moved to Wudikapildayerr, I stayed with my dad and grandpa. I met my husband at Wudy, we moved to Daly where his family was, and we had four children. I moved back to Daly with my children and still live here. I have watched my children have their own children.

Deewin Kirim (CDP) from Peppimenarti would visit Wudi they brought canvas, paint and paintbrushes, and this is when I started to paint. I love to paint anything that comes from my mind and my country. I have been painting for a long time and still going. My paintings have taken me to big cities, Perth, Margaret River and Canberra. I like to sell my paintings at Barunga Festival’

Wudikapildayerr, NT