Amwekety (Bush Plum), 1999 by Gracie Morton 41x41cm Cat 4183GM

Gracie Morton’s 1999 artwork, "Amwekety (Bush Plum)," is a captivating piece inspired by the Central Desert region of Australia. The painting features an ochre red background, reflecting the rich desert soil. Morton uses soft green and grey dotting, along with white, to depict native grasses found in her homeland. This creates a dynamic sense of movement, reminiscent of grass swaying in the winter wind.

Morton's artwork not only captures the beauty of her native landscape but also preserves and shares the cultural significance of the Bush Plum Dreaming.

As a senior traditional custodian for the Bush Plum Dreaming, Morton’s work is deeply connected to her heritage and traditional country, Mosquito Bore, located 263 kilometers north of Alice Springs. The Bush Plum plant, thriving in vibrant colors after rain and fading during hot summer months, is notable for its small fruit with black seeds. This fruit, high in vitamin C, can be eaten raw or cooked into bush damper.

Gracie Morton Pwerle belongs to the Alyawarre language group from Utopia, southeast of Alice Springs. Variations in the spelling of her surname (Pwerle, Pwerl, Purle, or Ngale) arise from different linguistic interpretations.