Basket (Ruth Bates)

Material: Tjanpi (grass), wool, raffia

Dimensions: D21cm x H8cm

About the Maker: Ruth Bates was born in the bush in between Patjarr and Wanarn in Western Australia. She grew up near Wiluna then moved to Warburton where she a􀆩ended school. Ruth then went to high school in perth before returning to the Ngaanyatjarra Lands. Ruth now lives in Warakurna Community in WA with her family and makes lovely large baskets and wonderful character-filled sculptures. Ruth enjoys making Tjanpi because it is a nice thing to do for relaxing.

About the Group: Tjanpi Desert Weavers, a signatory to the Indigenous Art Code, is a dynamic social enterprise of the NPY Women's council. Tjanpi (meaning 'dry grass') supports Aboriginal women living in remote Central and Western desert communities to create contemporary fibre art.

When collecting desert grasses (minarri, wangurnu and yilintji), women visit sacred sites and traditional homelands, hunt and gather food for their families, and teach children about country. Grass is bound with wool, string or raffia and combined with yinirnti (red seeds of the bat-wing coral tree) and wipiya (emu feathers).

Photos: Tjanpi Desert Weavers