Acrylic on linen

30cm x30cm

Nakamarra/Napurrurla women and Jakamarra/Jupurrurla men. The Jukurrpa is associated with a place called Jaralypari, north of Yuendumu. Lukarrara is a species of Fimbristylis, a grass that bears edible seeds in the winter-time. The seeds are traditionally ground on a large stone (‘puturlu’) with a smaller stone (‘ngalikirri’) to make flour. This flour is mixed with water (‘ngapa’) to make small seed cakes. In contemporary Warlpiri paintings traditional iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa, particular sites and other elements. In paintings of this Jukurrpa large concentric circles are used to represent Jaralypari and dots surrounding these circles are often depicting the ‘ngurlu’.

Senita spend most of her childhood in Murray Bridge in South Australia where she lived with her paternal grandmother and other members of the family. Her family consisted of Dolly Daniels, Cecily Granites, Elsie Granites, Cherylyn Granites, Nathaniel, Vicky and Christopher. She attended school in South Australia.

In early 2001 the family moved back to Yuendumu, where she continued her schooling. in early 2008 she started painting at the art Centre, mainly following her grandmother’s dreamings and stories (jukurrpa).

After a couple of years Senita felt that her grandmother’s traditional stories were not enough, she decided to try something different, her love for dogs and a close connection to the dog program established by the art centre inspired her to paint dogs portraits.

Senita also started to help her partner Jason Japaljarri Woods to paint, she told him that it would be a good idea for him to paint birds. They often collaborate on some of the larger paintings, she mainly helps him with the backgrounds.

Senita and Jason have been together since 2014 and they have a daughter called Mikaella.