Mark Reid

The Reids are a central part of Maraku Arts, an art centre based at Mutitjulu community, behind Uluru. Maruku, literally means “belonging to black”. This is because Maruku is owned and operated by Anangu (Aboriginal people from the Western and Central Deserts of Australia). For over 30 years Maruku has operated as a not-for-profit art and craft corporation.

In 1981 one of the first informal tent exhibitions was held at the base of Uluru when artists from Amata packed everything in a convoy of cars and trucks and travelled over to sell their work.

Later in the 1980’s a series of traditional shades were built near the site of the current ranger station called Punu Ngura (home or place of wood), closer to the base of Uluru. This became the selling point for artists of that Maruku collective and a place where they could demonstrate the making of punu (wood sculptures) so visitors could learn about Anangu culture. This was Maruku’s beginning.

Today, Maruku isstill  conducting regular bush trips to collect punu and bring it back for sale at Uluru.

The Maruku logo is ‘tali’ design. ‘Tali’ means sand dunes. You will see this pattern describing country is significant throughout artists’ art and woodcarvings. The desert, this sand dune country is what they call home.

Approximately 900 Anangu artists make up the collective that is Maruku, whose purpose is to keep culture strong and alive, for future generations of artists and make culture accessible in an authentic way to those that seek a more in-depth understanding. They also provide an important form of income to artists living in remote communities across Anangu lands.