Talk:Albert Namatjira

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[edit] Sentence meaning

"...and did not paint again until he died soon after in 1959 in Alice Springs..."

Surely they don't mean he painted after his death? Bihal

[edit] wikipedia 4 kids!

'Why dont they make a version of "Wikipedia 4 KidZ" with project ideas it will improve the site alot! —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 143.238.24.24 (talk • contribs) .

Passing comments

I don't know where the contributor got the Name "Elea Namatjira". As was customary at the mission, all aboriginals were only given a first name at christening. He was named only Albert. His first paintings of which there were aproximately twenty many painted on both sides. reflected this and they were only signed "Albert" His tribal name was Tonanga and this is quoted in the notes to one of the astronomical legends he related which was accredited to him. Namatjira was the name of his totem (ant-eater) and was taken as a surname mainly for legal reasons. He may have also had another childhood aboriginal name which is dispensed with after initiation. The name of the tribe was originally also spelt Arunta. The Hermannsburg Mission was German Lutheran and the german pronunciation abounds ie tj is pronounced ch i.e. tjuringa is pronounced churinga. But most australians don't know this so pronounce it incorrectly.

Further notes: the ABC external reference quotes Elea. Using the basis that they later converted to christianity and changed his name. This is not strictly correct. Albert has an older half sister not generally known Clara on his mothers side. Clara was half-caste fathered eight years previously to a lutheran goat herder. He was sent back to Adelaide for mis-behaviour. The Christian marriage between Jonothan and Amelia was, it appears forced on them by Carl Strehlow the missionary at the time. The only child to this marriage is Albert. so I'd say they were converted and married before he was born. Albert was granted a pastoral lease. This is one of the few documents available in the Canberra Federal Archive. Albert was granted citizeship by being left off the register of natives. Or Register of Wards as the name "natives" was about to go out of favour under Harry Giesie. I have never seen a copy of this register. All copies seem to have been expunged. This would have formed a good compensation list for the families of stockmen etc,. There were six names left off this register in 1956. Albert, his wife Rubina and their sons.

[edit] Reference from Namijira

Would it be appropriate to have an alternate spelling of Namatjira's name (namely, "Namijira")lead to this page? I was curious about who this man was after reading the lyrics of a Midnight Oil song, "Truganini," where, as in other references to the lyrics, his name was spelled "Namijira."

[edit] Artwork

It seems a pity there are no examples of his work in the article. Some other 20th century artists have pictures of their art in their articles (e.g. Lucien Freud & Tamara de Lempicka) so presumably it is not against copyright law. It would definitely improve the article. Robina Fox (talk) 19:24, 14 April 2008 (UTC)