Armstrong, Marilyn

Marilyn Armstrong was born at Jay Creek near Hermannsberg. She was born into a famous artistic family and influenced by outstanding artists Albert Namatjira and Clifford Possum. Marilyn is not only an artist in her own right but also a tireless advocate for her people.

She has attained national and international notoriety for her work and has also aided her community as counsellor at the women’s and children’s centre, and the Aboriginal Congress plus as a health worker.

Her art reflects the images of her “dreamings” given to her by her family and attributes her understanding of colour to Albert and her motivation to Clifford.

This is a quote from an ABC radio interview in 2004:”I do it differently because as an artist, when men give me the dreaming I change it and do it the woman’s way”.”

(Source: http://jantownend.com/australian-aboriginal-artist-marilyn-armstrong.html)

Further information about Marilyn Armstrong below, source http://ngurart.com.au/artist/marilyn-armstrong/)

Marilyn was born in the Jay Creek community, but grew up in Hermannsburg where her father worked for the Finke River Mission as an engineer. It was here that Marilyn remembers watching Albert Namatjira and Clifford Possum painting and being inspired by them and being given permission to paint the dream time stories.

As a teenager she was a vocalist with the Aranda band in Hermannsburg. She started to paint back in 1988 as a stress reliever. Clifford encouraged Marilyn to develop her skills with her dot painting, helping her to understand and paint the Dream time stories of the area they are from. Marilyn has many skills and worked as a counselor at the women’s and children’s centre also with Aboriginal congress as a health worker.

Marilyn moved back to Jay Creek in 1974. Although she spends a lot of time with her young family, she still likes to do beadwork, paint and do leather work which she learnt from her father.

Marilyn has been on the board of Ngurratjuta Aboriginal Corporation for many years and it was at her suggestion that the Art centre was formed to create a place for artists to come and paint when they are in town and pass on their knowledge to the younger generations.

EXHIBITIONS:
2003 Desert Mob Exhibition, Alice Springs, NT
2004 Advocate Central Australian Art Award, Alice Springs, NT
2004 Desert Mob Exhibition, Alice Springs, NT
2005 Desert Mob Exhibition, Alice Springs, NT
2007 Desert Mob Exhibition, Alice Springs, NT
2008 Desert Mob Exhibition, Araluen Galleries, Alice Springs, NT”