Amwekety (Bush Plum), 2001 by Gracie Morton 91x152cm Cat 7474GM

"Amwekety (Bush Plum)" (2001) by Gracie Morton is a captivating painting, rich in warm tones and dynamic movement. It symbolises the warmth of summer when bush plums are plentiful, and the desert transforms into shades of purple as the plums fall onto the ground. This artwork beautifully captures the seasonal abundance and vibrant transformation of the desert landscape.

The Bush Plum, scientifically known as Santalum lanceolatum, is a prostrate plant in the Santalaceae family. It is a valued bush food, rich in vitamin C. Gracie Morton, a senior custodian of this important ancestral dreaming story, skillfully illustrates this cultural and botanical heritage.

Gracie Morton Pwerle belongs to the Alyawarre language group from Utopia, southeast of Alice Springs. She began her artistic career in 1978 with the Utopia Women’s Batik group, working alongside her great aunt, Emily Kngwarreye. Gracie's mother, Myrtle, was one of the famous seven Petyarre sisters, including Gloria and Kathleen Petyarre. In 1988, Gracie transitioned to using acrylic paints during a summer project offered by CAAMA.

Her surname is spelled variably (Pwerle, Pwerl, Purle, or Ngale) due to different linguistic interpretations.