Ruth Bates Pirrnku, 3 Mamuls. 2019. 770mm x 570mm. Ink on archive paper. Warakurna Artists. (#223-19)

Ruth Bates is the daughter of Kayili artist Manupa Butler (dec). Ruth grew up in Patjarr and paints the rockholes, country and dreamtime Tjukurrpa associated with Patjarr and the Gibson Desert. In addition to painting, Ruth is an active weaver and artefact maker, and is known for her skillful carving.

Ruth developed this design for the streetwear workshops in 2019. The focus for the annual streetwear design workshops is to create print-ready designs, which use the t-shirt as a canvas to express self, Ngaanyatjarra culture and life in a remote community. This design is another iteration of the mamu (devil or evil spirit) taking the kids because they are not sleeping.

The Ngurra Streetwear Project was initiated in 2014 in response to artists and directors request to design fashion within the community. Working with graphic designer, Jack Searls, each year we host a week-long intensive design workshop to create aesthetic elements that are new and original. Participants use paint, textas and photography to create a host of imagery from around the community, which are then workshopped to create the best images for screen printing as well as creating a design direction for the overall project.

The workshops include photography, collage and digital manipulation using design software. Participants then made the final designs print ready and worked out costing, sizes and market development