Betty Chimney

Betty Chimney was born in Port Augusta and grew up in Coober Pedy before coming to live in Indulkana as a young girl.

Betty Chimney is a long-time artist and director of Iwantja Arts. A dedicated painter, Betty’s work is inspired by her ancestral Yankunytjatjara country and a determination to maintain her strong connection to country and culture.

Iwantja is the name of a creek where the Indulkana Community was established. The creek runs from high up in the rocky ridge all the way down to the community. There’s a tjukitji (soakage) there and different tjukula (rock-holes) too – these were important water sources for Anangu before there were bores or water tanks. There’s also a very special site: a specific tree that holds the Tjurki (native owl) Tjukurpa. The artists’ paintings include all these sites, and their colours and marks reflect the way the landscape changes from the rocky ridge to the sandy creek beds.