COOLEY WALYTJA-KU WALKA

The Cooley Family

17 Aug

2024

2024

31 Aug

2024

For over 50 years Anangu, Aboriginal people from the Central and Western Deserts, have used heated wire to create markings, filled with stories, on their traditional wooden artifacts and tools. First seen by Anangu on the stations when cattle were being branded, they discovered heated fencing wire created a precise line that they adapted to create their own designs on their wooden objects. Modern times and various influences have seen the artists techniques diversify, with each piece and its markings unique to the individual creator.

The Cooley family is an artistic mob who spent a lot of their life making spectacular wood carvings on their homeland, Ulaipa near Amata on the APY Lands of South Australia. Billy & Lulu Cooley who lived extraordinary bush lives as a stockman and nanny while closely raising their 6 children who now take on Billy’s life like carving of Wanampi (water serpent) and Lulu’s Tali- sand dune burnt etching design live throughout Amata community in S.A and Mutitjulu community in Uluru NT as directors for Maruku Arts.  The Cooley family’s art & designs have been shown nationally and around the world.

Maruku Arts, incorporated in 1984, is celebrating 40 years of supporting Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara people to continue traditional carving practices with wood, sourced ethically and on country. A pivotal Uluru based organisation providing a means of economic independence for all ages and ensuring the continuation of cultural practices.

This exhibition showcases how the highly skilled punu artists from Maruku have revived old traditions while carving out a new artistic practice for themselves.

Courtesy of Verity May, Manager (Anangu Malpa), Maruku Arts

Installation View

No items found.

Artworks

Billy Cooley
Wanampi - Water serpent
2018
Wanaṟi ~ Mulga Wood
78.3
13.5
34.5
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3050
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Billy Cooley
Wanampi - Water serpent
2019
Wanaṟi ~ Mulga Wood
173
4.5
20.0
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6500
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Billy Cooley
Wanampi - Water serpent
2020
Wanaṟi ~ Mulga Wood
180
30.5
46.0
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7000
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Billy Cooley
Wanampi - Water serpent
2020
Mallee
117
19
11.0
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5200
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Billy Cooley
Wanampi - Water serpent
2021
Wanaṟi ~ Mulga Wood
116
3
6.0
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5200
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Billy Cooley
Wanampi - Water serpent
2022
Wanaṟi ~ Mulga Wood
25
3
104.0
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5650
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Billy Cooley
Wanampi - Water serpent
2023
Iṯaṟa ~ River red gum
109.5
33.5
22.5
This is some text inside of a div block.
6500
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Billy Cooley
Wanampi - Water serpent
2023
Iṯaṟa ~ River red gum
95.5
36.5
30.0
This is some text inside of a div block.
6500
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Billy Cooley
Tjutinypa ~ Club
2020
Iṯaṟa ~ River red gum
39
4
4.5
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350
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Billy Cooley
Kuturu ~ Woman's Club
2024
Iṯaṟa ~ River red gum
4
5
74.0
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350
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Billy Cooley
Kali ~ Boomerang
2018
Wanaṟi ~ Mulga Wood
84.5
11.5
1.5
This is some text inside of a div block.
1090
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Billy Cooley
Kali ~ Boomerang
2011
Wanaṟi ~ Mulga Wood
77.5
12
2.0
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870
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Billy Cooley
Kali 'Nampa 7' ~ 'Number 7' Boomerang
2020
Wanaṟi ~ Mulga Wood
82.5
22.5
5.0
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1300
Sold
August 20, 2024
Billy Cooley
Tjara Walkatjara ~ Incised Shield
2013
Iṯaṟa ~ River red gum
53.5
13.5
6.5
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1300
Sold
August 20, 2024
Billy Cooley
Tali ~ Desert Dunes
2023
Burned etching on plywood
60
90
This is some text inside of a div block.
2600
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Billy Cooley
Wanampi - Water serpent
2024
Burned etching & acrylic paint on plywood
60
90
This is some text inside of a div block.
2600
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Catherine Cooley
Ngura Talitja ~ Sand Dune Country
2023
Burned etching & acrylic paint on plywood
80
120
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3050
Not Available
November 14, 2024
David Cooley
Wanampi - Water serpent
2018
Kuṟumaṟu ~ Wheel fruit tree
127.5
16.5
34.5
This is some text inside of a div block.
3250
Not Available
November 14, 2024
David Cooley
Wanampi - Water serpent
2022
Iṯaṟa ~ River red gum
104
57
7.0
This is some text inside of a div block.
2600
Not Available
November 14, 2024
David Cooley
Wanampi - Water serpent
2022
Wanaṟi ~ Mulga Wood
101
22.5
13.5
This is some text inside of a div block.
1950
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Lulu Cooley
Tinka ~ Sand Goanna Carving
2019
Iṯaṟa ~ River red gum
59.5
7
8.5
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780
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Lulu Cooley
Tinka ~ Sand Goanna Carving
2022
Mallee
8
6
52.0
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650
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Lulu Cooley
Tinka ~ Sand Goanna Carving
2022
Wanaṟi ~ Mulga Wood
18.5
6.5
72.0
This is some text inside of a div block.
900
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Lulu Cooley
Tinka ~ Sand Goanna Carving
2022
Iṯaṟa ~ River red gum
83
15
11.5
This is some text inside of a div block.
1300
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Lulu Cooley
Tjulpu ~ Bird Carving
2024
Iṯaṟa ~ River red gum
5
6
21.0
This is some text inside of a div block.
325
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Lulu Cooley
Tjulpu ~ Bird Carving
2024
Iṯaṟa ~ River red gum
10
9
26.0
This is some text inside of a div block.
450
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Lulu Cooley
Tjulpu ~ Bird Carving
2024
Iṯaṟa ~ River red gum
7
10
28.0
This is some text inside of a div block.
520
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Lulu Cooley
Wira - Small Bowl
2017
Iṯaṟa ~ River red gum
34.5
18
9.5
This is some text inside of a div block.
1300
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Lulu Cooley
Wira - Small Bowl
2017
Muur-muurpa ~ Desert Bloodwood
35
10.5
7.5
This is some text inside of a div block.
780
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Lulu Cooley
Lulu Piti - Collecting Bowl
2020
Iṯaṟa ~ River red gum
44.5
14
7.5
This is some text inside of a div block.
1400
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Lulu Cooley
Kanilpa ~ Winnowing Bowl
2020
Iṯaṟa ~ River red gum
43.5
17
10.0
This is some text inside of a div block.
1400
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Lulu Cooley
Kanilpa ~ Winnowing Bowl
2020
Iṯaṟa ~ River red gum
42
15
12.0
This is some text inside of a div block.
1400
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Lulu Cooley
Wira - Small Bowl
2020
Iṯaṟa ~ River red gum
32.5
7.5
6.0
This is some text inside of a div block.
520
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Lulu Cooley
Wira - Small Bowl
2023
Iṯaṟa ~ River red gum
34.5
8
11.5
This is some text inside of a div block.
870
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Lulu Cooley
Tali ~ Desert Dunes
2019
Burned etching & acrylic paint on plywood
40
60
This is some text inside of a div block.
780
Sold
August 20, 2024
Lulu Cooley
Tali ~ Desert Dunes
2021
Burned etching on plywood
90
90
This is some text inside of a div block.
3500
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Marlene Cooley
Tali ~ Desert Dunes
2023
Burned etching & acrylic paint on plywood
90
90
This is some text inside of a div block.
4350
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Marlene Cooley
Ngura Talitja ~ Sand Dune Country
2023
Burned etching & acrylic paint on plywood
60
60
This is some text inside of a div block.
2170
Sold
August 20, 2024
Marlene Cooley
Ngura Talitja ~ Sand Dune Country
2023
Burned etching & acrylic paint on plywood
90
90
This is some text inside of a div block.
4350
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Marlene Cooley
Ngura Talitja ~ Sand Dune Country
2023
Burned etching & acrylic paint on plywood
120
116
This is some text inside of a div block.
7800
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Marlene Cooley
Ngura Talitja ~ Sand Dune Country
2023
Burned etching & acrylic paint on plywood
89
122
This is some text inside of a div block.
3500
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Marlene Cooley
Tali ~ Desert Dunes
2024
Burned etching & acrylic paint on plywood
60
60
This is some text inside of a div block.
2600
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Marlene Cooley
Ngura Talitja ~ Sand Dune Country
2024
Burned etching & acrylic paint on plywood
30
30
This is some text inside of a div block.
520
Not Available
November 14, 2024
Marlene Cooley
Ngura Talitja ~ Sand Dune Country
2024
Burned etching & acrylic paint on plywood
30
30
This is some text inside of a div block.
520
Sold
August 20, 2024
Marlene Cooley
Ngura Talitja ~ Sand Dune Country
2024
Burned etching & acrylic paint on plywood
30
30
This is some text inside of a div block.
520
Sold
August 20, 2024
Raschelle Minutjukur
Tali ~ Desert Dunes
2023
Burned etching on plywood
90
90
This is some text inside of a div block.
4350
Not Available
August 20, 2024
Raschelle Minutjukur
Ngura Talitja ~ Sand Dune Country
2024
Burned etching on plywood
90
120
This is some text inside of a div block.
5200
Not Available
August 20, 2024
No items found.

Artist Profile/s

Billy Cooley

Born
1952
1952

Lives

Skin
Language
Pitjantjatjara

Billy Cooley was born on a cattle station on the Barkly Tablelands of the Northern Territory and spent much of his early life as a stockman. He and his Pitjantjatjara wife, Lulu have always worked closely together raising their six children and making spectacular carvings on their home land, Ulaipa near Amata on the APY Lands of South Australia. They have been long term directors of Maruku, working closely with management for decades. The couple has participated in many exhibitions and carving demonstrations at Uluru as well as nationally and overseas.

Billy’s snakes are in high demand worldwide. His distinctive design was copied from a real snake. His great carving skills can be seen in the way his snakes are shaped. They have also collaborated with Sydney designer Tony Hurd on a furniture series with Altone Design. Billy and Lulu now take great pride in passing on their skills not only to their children but grand and great-grandchildren as well.

View works

Lulu Cooley

Born
1953
1953

Lives

Skin
Language
Pitjantjatjara

Lulu Cooley is minyma ulkumunu, a senior Aboriginal woman. She is a consummate carver of many years experience specialising in piti and wira, traditional bowls, as well as walka boards. Lulu remembers learning her carving skills from her mother and other female relatives in the 1960s. Long and close observation and practice has led to her beautiful, distinctive ‘scallop’ style.

Lulu and husband Billy Cooley, snake carver extraordinaire, have always worked closely together, raising their six children and making spectacular carvings on their home land, Ulaipa near Amata on the APY Lands of South Australia. They have been long term directors of Maruku, working closely with management for decades. In recent years the couple have spent extended time based at Mutitjulu and have participated in many exhibitions and carving demonstrations at Uluru as well as nationally and overseas. Lulu and Billy now take great pride in passing on their skills not only to their children but grandchildren as well.

View works

David Cooley

Born
1973
1973

Lives

Skin
Language
Pitjantjatjara

David Cooley is the eldest son of Billy and Lulu Cooley, a renowned husband and wife carving partnership from the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands in South Australia. Born in the bush at Mulga Park Station, David lives with his family on their homeland east of Amata Community. He has worked variously with the CDEP Community works program, as a Community Police Aide and currently works with the local Amata Community School.

View works

Marlene Cooley

Born
1974
1974

Lives

Skin
Language
Pitjantjatjara

Marlene Cooley is the daughter of Billy and Lulu Cooley, a renowned husband and wife carving partnership from the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands in South Australia. Their skills have been passed on through the Tjukurpa, the Law and way of life governing their country and they have raised their children in this strong tradition. Marlene has long assisted her parents, going with them on trips to collect wood and helping to etch the design work under her mother’s instructions. She has been making and selling carvings in her own right since about 2001.

View works

Raschelle Minutjukur

Born
1992
1992

Lives

Skin
Language
Pitjantjatjara

Raschelle Minutjukur Cooley is the daughter of Marlene Cooley and granddaughter of Billy and Lulu Cooley, a renowned husband and wife carving partnership from the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands in South Australia. Their skills have been passed on through the Tjukurpa, Law and way of life governing their country and they have raised their children in this strong tradition. Raschelle has recently begun learning from her mother and grandparents to etch and paint the distinctive family design work on walka boards and canvas.

View works

Catherine Cooley

Born
1999
1999

Lives

Skin
Language
Pitjantjatjara

Catherine grew up with her grandparents Billy & Lulu Cooley on their homeland near Amata, SA and spent her recent time in Port Augusta, SA.

She learnt from her Cooley family burning Walka boards and dot painting and created her first art piece at Maruku in August 2023 while staying with aunt Marlene Cooley at Maruku in Mutitjulu Community.

View works