artists profiles
Ralph Gumurdul:
Skin: Gumurdul
Clan: Kunwinjku
Moiety: Yirritja
Homelands: Ngarlu-Ngarlu (King River)
Date of Birth: 10th April 1942
Ralph Gumurdul was born near the billabong on Goulburn Island and this is his birth land.
Ralph's father taught him how to paint, carve and hunt. Ralph is a very talented carver and his work has been in many exhibitions around Australia. Ralph paints his dreamings, along with his mothers, who was from the Sandy Creek area in West Arnhem Land and his fathers dreamings and stories.
Ralph loves to hunt for kangaroo's; they are his favourite food, along with turtle and fresh and salt water fish.
Ralph is a very well respected man within the community of Warruwi and is a real pleasure to meet with. He is always happy to stop and have a chat with his lovely big infectious smile and is passionate about the success of Warruwi and Mardbalk Art & Craft Centre.
did you know?
Mardbalk Art & Craft Centre employs nine local indigenous artists on the CDEP program. Each artist is highly skilled in the areas of painting, bark stripping, carving, jewellery making or pandanus weaving. Artists from the communities of both Warruwi and Minjilang sell works to Mardbalk Art & Craft Centre which supports artists, their families, and creates an extra interest for many people.
