When the Purple House was donated a rare Albert Namatjira painting in December 2017, we assumed it would be a once-in-a-lifetime moment.
The painting by the famous Central Australian watercolour artist was donated by Ngurratjuta Aboriginal Corporation to fund a salary for a dialysis nurse.
Then in June 2018, it happened again.
The Purple House received a call out of the blue from a man in New South Wales who was in possession of his parents’ Namatjira watercolour painting, which was hanging in their home for more than 60 years. He wanted to donate it.
The donor, who wants to remain anonymous, then worked with his friends at the local men’s shed to build a special crate to safely transport the work to Alice Springs. Upon its arrival, a local Aboriginal corporation, who also wishes to remain anonymous, bought the painting from Purple House for $18,500, then offering it on long-term loan to the Araluen Art Centre.
“This is such a lovely story of somebody deciding to help us out, but in the process Central Australia gets another Albert Namatjira back and everyone will get to see it,” CEO Sarah Brown said.
“That money will go into helping get more people back to country and to help them suck the juice out of every day that they’ve got left, and make sure they’ve got time to spend with their kids and grandkids and pass on their cultural heritage.”
Thank you to all the donors.
A special thank you also to Araluen Arts Centre, Paul Johnstone Gallery and Chapman and Bailey in Alice Springs for your help with valuing, framing and preserving the work.
Read more
Purple patch: Indigenous dialysis clinic gets surprise second Namatjira, The Guardian
Aboriginal corporation donates Albert Namatjira painting to help pay for remote dialysis, The Guardian
Albert Namatjira painting gifted to Alice Springs Aboriginal dialysis centre to raise funds for nurses’ wages, ABC News