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ONE OF THE FOUNDING FATHERS OF WESTERN DESERT ART

Long Jack Tjakamarra and Billy Stockman were key figures behind the designs that covered the first Papunya school mural in 1971, and four years later Long Jack was elected the cooperatives chairman in 1975 and again in the early 1990's. He is considered as one of the most important artists of the original Papunya group and the only living member who continues to paint to this day. During his childhood, Long Jack and his family lived traditional lives similar to their ancestors before the arrival of the Europeans in the 18^th Century, then settling at Haasts Bluff when Long Jack was in his teens. In 1984 he was ordained as a Lutheran pastor and in the same year won the Alice Springs Caltex Art Award. This painting is a clear example of the ability that two apparently contradictory worlds can survive side by side, that is, the belief in a Christian faith without forgetting the traditional stories of the ancestors. Three of his works are now on show at the National Museum of Australia: Papunya Tula: Out of the Desert – a homage to the founding artists of Contemporary Aboriginal Art.
 

“He was very tall – at least 188 centimetres [his name 'Long Jack' comes from his tall stature]. Although strongly loyal to his Christian upbringing, he had an excellent tribal knowledge. He was a good hunter and a family man with five children. I first met Long Jack when he was one of the school yardmen [...] responsible for the school murals. This was my first confrontation with questions of tribal and personal 'custody' of Dreamings and the issue of secrecy.”¹

Geoffrey Bardon.

 

PAINTINGS CURRENTLY IN STOCK

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