Coolamon
Billy Stockman1970
Museums Victoria
Carlton, Australia
This Coolamon, or panth - to use the Anmatyrre word for ‘carrying dish’ - was made by Billy Stockman in 1970. Although no information was recorded about the meaning of the iconography painted on the dish, it no doubt relates to the artist’s totemic ancestors, or personal ‘dreamings’. Among the many ‘dreamings’ Billy Stockman depicted in his painting, the budgerigar or atetherr was prominent. The small stylized bird painted on the side of the coolamon is most probably a budgerigar ancestor associated with Stockman’s country. The coolamon is also important in an historical sense. Stockman was one of the founding members of the now famous western desert movement that originated in Papunya in mid 1970. It is very likely that he painted this coolamon at the outset of this highly influential movement - perhaps prefiguring his transition to works on canvas.
- Title: Coolamon
- Creator Lifespan: Circa 1927
- Creator Nationality: Indigenous Australian
- Creator Gender: Male
- Creator Birth Place: lpitirri, near Mt. Denison, Central Australia
- Date Created: 1970
- Physical Dimensions: w200 x h640 x d85 mm
- Type: Carving, painting
- Rights: Copyright Billy Stockman. Source: Museum Victoria. Indigenous or Cultural Rights apply, Copyright Museum Victoria: Source: Museum Victoria / Maker: Billy Stockman / Photographer: Jonathon Augier. Indigenous or Cultural Rights apply
- External Link: Museum Victoria Collections
- Medium: Paint, natural pigments on wood
- Subject: Aboriginal art
- Artist Information: Billy Stockman was born circa 1927 at Ilpitirri near Mount Denison in Central Australia, of the Anmatyerre/Western Arrernte Aboriginal group. He grew up on Napperby cattle station where he became a proficient stockman. He later moved to the Aboriginal community of Papunya where he spent most of his adult life. Inspired by the work of his cousin, the celebrated artist Clifford Possum, Billy took up woodcarving and at a later point, painting. In 1971, he helped establish the Western Desert Art Movement and was for a time, Chairman of Papunya Tula Artists Pty. Ltd. He held several important positions including membership of the Papunya Town Council, the Aboriginal Arts Board and was a delegate to the National Aboriginal Congress. He also visited New York in 1988 for the opening of the exhibition, 'Dreaming: Art of Aboriginal Australia'. His work is represented in a number of major Australian cultural institutions including the National Gallery of Australia, Art Gallery of South Australia, Art Gallery of NSW and the National Museum of Australia.
- Artist: Billy Stockman
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