Jeannie Mills Pwerle

DOB: 1965
Born: LANGUAGE: ALYAWARR
REGION: ATNWENGERRP
LANGUAGE ALYAWARR
REGION ATNWENGERRP

About Artist:
Jeannie Mills Pwerle is a daughter of a famous Utopian artist Dolly Mills Petyarre and a niece of Greeny Purvis Petyarre. Raised by a generation of indigenous artists who were part of the batik producing generation of the 1970s, Jeannie was exposed to the success that these artists experienced as they began to experiment with acrylic on canvas. Jeannie inherited the Yam Dreaming from her mother, however she created her own distinct style using warm and beautiful colours, depicting with intricate detail the flower and seeds of the Anaty- the Bush Yam, or potato.

Jeannie's Dreamings include the desert yam, women's ceremony, and the flowers and seeds of the Anaty. The Bush Yam Dreaming is shared by several other Utopia artists, including the prominent artist Emily Kame Kngwarreye. The yam is staple part of the bush tucker diet of many indigenous people from the Central Desert region. The yam has an impressive root system, spreading up to twelve metres from the stalk, and is commonly found in woodland areas nearby a water source. The plant has bright green leaves and yellow flowers, which spread over quite a wide area. The yam is harvested after rainfall months, when it is dug up from the ground and gathered. By depicting the Yam Dreaming in their paintings, indigenous artists are able to pay homage to this significant plant and encourage its continual rejuvenation.

Awards:
In 2008, Jeannie was a finalist in the prestigious 25th Telstra Award for Aboriginal Art with her entry Ánaty - Bush Yam.

Collections:
Jeannie is successful midrange artist whose works are included in many private collections in Australia and overseas.