Tue 8 Jul 2014Sun 19 Oct 2014

9:30am5:00pm

Painting of Nana Purple

Bush Babies: Honouring our Elders, is a portrait exhibition co-ordinated by CAN WA (Community Arts Network WA) that celebrates the strength and resilience of 16 Noongar Elders from across the Wheatbelt.

These Elders, who have now been immortalised on canvas, are part of CAN WA’s Bush Babies community arts project, which aims to capture the unique stories of Noongar babies who were born in the bush, reserves, missions or fringes of towns.

Artist Graham Smith inspired the project when he saw a Bush Babies photo of the oldest living Ballardong woman, Hazel Winmar and felt compelled to paint her.  Mrs Winmar, popularly known as “Nana Purple”, celebrated her 100th birthday on 28 June this year.

On behalf of the WA Museum and CAN WA we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Noongar Elder, Nana Hazel Winmar, also affectionately known as Nana Purple. Nana Purple passed away on Tuesday 19 of August surrounded by her loving family.

A fluent speaker of Noongar language, a woman rich in traditional knowledge, she was believed to be the oldest Ballardong person in the Wheatbelt as she celebrated her 100th birthday in June.

It is her family's wish that her portrait continues to be exhibited in honour of her memory.

She will be dearly missed

 


Painting of Nana Purple

Nana Purple portrait

Painting by Graham Smith

Getting Here

Western Australian Museum - Perth Map

Address

Perth Cultural Centre,
James Street
,
Perth,
Western Australia,
6000,
Australia

 

Phone
1300 134 081