Geraldine Napangardi Granites Warlpiri, b. 1978

Geraldine Napangardi Granites was born and has lived in Yuendumu all her life. Yuendumu is a remote Aboriginal community located 290 kms north-west of Alice Springs in the NT of Australia. Geraldine is the daughter of Alma Nungarrayi Granites, a strong participant of Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation and granddaughter of Paddy Japaljarri Sims (dec) and Bessie Nakamarra Sims (Dec): two of Warlukurlangu Artists founding artists. She attended the local school and has two sisters and one brother who also paint with Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation, an Aboriginal owned and governed art centre located in Yuendumu. She also has four children, 2 sons and 2 daughters. She is a shy person who is very involved with her large extended family and enjoys being around children and helping the family’s grandchildren. Geraldine learns by observing her grandfather’s art works as well as Judy Napangardi Watson’s work (a Warlpiri artist who is at the forefront of a move towards more abstract rendering of Jukurrpa /Dreaming stories). When Judy visits Yuendumu and the Warlukurlangu Art Centre Geraldine loves to listen to Judy’s stories about a special country, Mina Mina. She also painted alongside her mother Alma and sister Sabrina and observed them while they painted. Geraldine is working hard to develop a modern interpretation of the traditional culture. Geraldine started painting at the Centre in 2001 and paints the Mina Mina Dreaming story which is an important woman’s story.