Senior Anmatyerr woman, Josie Petyarr Kunoth shares story of her Country, Urlerrperl. An artist for more than 20 years, Josie has participated in group exhibitions in South Australia, Northern Territory, New South Wales, Queensland and the United Kingdom and was shortlisted for the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA) in 2008. Josie's first major solo exhibition at RAFT Gallery in Alice Springs in 2022 was a sell-out show.

Of her practice, Josie says: "Me and my brothers and sisters. We lived at the station when we were young. Nothing left at Aniltji anyone. Everyone shifted away from that old country. Station now. Living bush close by. My aunty singing all the time. Walking in the bush.

No car. My aunty was getting everything, bush tomato, something, kangaroo, no worries. Young girls. We went with my
two sisters to Pigeon Bore. With our aunties Kathleen, Gloria and Emily. Lily Sandover too. We painted up for dancing. That old lady Emily she was singing. That old lady told me 'You sing this one. This is your country. Awelye. Alhalkere.'

We started doing batik first. Jenny Green and Julia Murray at homestead. At homestead and three bores and soakage later on.
We worked the whole lot. I was following my mum and my aunties too. Emily, my aunty, shifted to soakage. We were working there doing batik. No houses. Batik finished and then canvas. I was watching my aunties and mother.

I’m making my own style now. My way. Mwerr-way. I still sing. No one’s singing anymore but I’m singing my canvas."