Colorful Vintage Indigenous Australian Printed Crossbody Bag with many Pockets

Purchased in Australia in early '00s but never used, the original sale directly benefited the artist and their community. This brightly colored red, navy and gold printed bag features two carrying handles, and an adjustable, removable shoulder strap with metal d-ring attachments. On the front face are three zippered compartments for easy small storage. The main compartment is lined in a beautiful contrasting solid marigold color and contains an additional zippered compartment on the back interior wall. The bag's back side also has a sixth convenient zippered pocket for easy phone access. Bag dimensions: 12"L x 6"W x 4.5"deep. The print tells the story of Earl Jukurrpa (Bush Potato Dreaming), from Cockatoo Creek. The tag reads (in part): "This Yarla Jukurrpa belongs to men of the Japaljarri/Jungarrayi subsections and to Napaljarri/Nungarrayi women. It comes form an area to the east of Yuendumu called Cockatoo Creek. 'Yarla' (bush potato [lpomea coastal]) are fibrous tubers that grow beneath a low spreading plant, found by looking for cracks in the ground. This edible tuber grow from 'yartura' (roots) which seek out moisture to spout new plants. Earl are good to eat, when cooked they are really soft and tasty. The Jukurrpa tells of 'Carla' and 'wapirti' (bush carrot [Vigna lanceolata]) ancestors fighting a big battle in this area. The specific site associated with this painting is a 'mulju' (water soakage) called Ngarparapunyu.' This painting was by Debbie Napaljarri Brown.