Tjanpi Desert Weavers


Tjanpi Desert Weavers is a social enterprise of the NPY Women’s Council, representing over 400 women from 26 unique communities in the NPY region. Tjanpi is the Pitjantjatjara word for a type of spinifex grass. The weavers harvest and weave local grasses and some other materials to create handmade works and pieces of art. In producing these works, which mostly consist of baskets, jewellery, beads and fibre sculpture, the enterprise encourages women's employment and economic independence.

History

Grass weaving is not a traditional pursuit in Central Australia, but once shown the basics in 1995, the women quickly applied their existing skills in spinning human hair, animal fur, string and wool. By building on these existing skills, and working together, the Tjanpi weavers maintain a strong cultural connection and connection to each other and, as a part of the program, the women come together to collect grass for their art as well as hunt, gather food, visit sacred sites, perform inma, and teach younger people.
The social enterprise of the work also enables the women to 'stay on Country' and, as one senior artist says:

Accolades

The Tjanpi Desert Weavers are represented in national and international public and private art collections. In 2005 a collective of 18 artists won the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award for their work Tjanpi Toyota.

Artists

Tjanpi Desert Weaver artists include the following women: