Stories

Behind the scenes at Tingari Arts Before the artists paint their magic, every painting surface must be carefully prepared. At Tingari Arts, this process takes time, patience, and skill. The material used is often called “canvas”, but it is actually Belgian linen, a beautiful and expensive fabric that provides a superior painting surface. My colleague and friend Sonnie Chalmers from Utopia’s Eastern Desert Art and I would jointly purchase large...

Life in the office, Alice Springs   "So how does a high-flying city dweller end up cooking barbecues and preparing endless cups of teeth-numbingly sweet tea for artists and their extended families, who regard the painting house as their second home?"- Diana Streak, Canberra Times 2005 The office was a very large open room surrounded by large windows, with a basic kitchen area, bathroom including shower and large outside area....

When Gloria Petyarre came to paint with Tingari Arts she would usually arrive quietly and settle herself on the floor, sitting cross-legged with her canvas and paints. But before anything began there was always one small request.    “Make me a cup of tea.”    It became our ritual. Gloria would paint, and I would make the tea. Often family members would come and go during the day, sitting nearby...