Flowers, art bring together Florence and outback town

By ERWIN CHLANDA
 
Florence, the capital of Italy’s Tuscany region and birthplace of the Renaissance, is home to masterpieces of European art and architecture. The Galleria dell’Accademia displays Michelangelo’s David while the Uffizi Gallery exhibits preeminent works such as Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus and da Vinci’s Annunciation.
 
Ampilatwatja (pronounced um-bludder-witch) has up to 650 residents. The language is Alyawarr. Access is by road via Alice Springs. The road is sealed for 100km and there is 230 km unsealed. Four Wheel Drive is required to make the journey after rain. Heavy rain will close the road.
 
These two places, at opposite sides of the world and lifestyles, are coming together in the art of Colleen Ngwarraye Morton (pictured above), invited to be shown at the Florence Biennale, with plants as the theme. It so happens, painting bush medicines, bush flowers, and landscapes are just what Ms Morton has dedicated her artistic life to.
 
“Her fine and detailed dot style and soft colours evoke a fragility and an elegance, so juxtaposed with the intensity of the red central Australian desert,” writes Caroline Hunter, of the Artists of Ampilatwatja.
 
“As such, her style appeals to a wide audience, making her in high demand.
 
“Her paintings take a long time to create, sometimes months for one single painting, which understandably can make her works hard to come by.”
 
Ms Hunter says the art center has created a range of beautiful silk scarves in Colleen’s designs to celebrate and support her ever growing career. The Department of Business assisted Colleen in exhibiting in Florence.