Community: Ernabella
Art Centre: Ernabella Arts (Pukatja, S.A)
Area: APY Lands, South Australia
Born:
Biography:

Imiyari (Yilpi) Adamson was born in Ngunaratjara, near Uluru in the Northern Territory. Her mother’s country is Pipalatjara, and her father’s country is Yankunytjatjara. Her family travelled to Ernabella (Pukatja) by camel when she was very young. This is where Imiyari grew up, and worked at Ernabella Arts, and also made art at Nyapari and Amata Art Centres. The first things she learned to make at the art centre were floor rugs and batiks. She is a busy lady with many skills, she is an accomplished basket weaver and also makes mukata (beanies). Imiyari has been painting for many years and she often illustrates two important dreaming stories - Kungkarankapla (the Seven Sisters Story) and Wati Ngintaka – the story of a big lizard who steals a grinding stone. Imiyari also makes punu – wood carvings, painted ininti seed jewellery, woven tjanpi animals and ceramic works. Imiyari has travelled to Adelaide to stay with her youngest son Mervin, and has five grown up children. Imiyari has recently had her prized batik work selected by National Museums Scotland for their collection, and it will be displayed in a new Australian Gallery opening at their Edinburgh museum. Imiyari won the ‘Spirit of the Land’ special mention at the 2007 Alice Springs Beanie Festival. She has been asked to travel to Brisbane for a week’s residency teaching weaving mid 2008, and has recently exhibited her paintings in Better World Arts’ inaugural exhibition ‘Ngapari Ngapari’. In July 2008 Imiyari will be exhibiting her paintings with other Anangu artists from the Pitjatjantjara Lands at Australia Dreaming Art in Melbourne, Victoria for ‘Anangu Dreaming, City Life.’