Old Papunya Men & other works

2 AM 3915/06
Goodwin Kingsley Spear Straightening 2001
Acrylic on linen 410 x 1200mm $2200
Painted in 2001 in Papunya

This painting represents a traditional men’s ceremony of Spear Straightening. In the dreaming a large group of
men were traveling from a claypan at Tjukula to Llyingaungau, where they made camp. At the same time a group
of men entered the country from Tjikari and the men challenged them to a fight. The Tjikari men willingly took
up the challenge. Afterwards, the men traveled to a nearby cave where they had ceremonies. The spears are
depicted by the parallel bands.

Goodwin Kingsley born 1950 – Jan 2002. Goodwin was born at Haasts Bluff and his family came to Papunya in
1960 when the settlement was founded. During the 70’s Goodwin worked as a stockman at Haasts Bluff,
Hermannsburg, Vaughan Springs, and Orange Springs. Goodwin was very close to Old Mick Namarari whose
involvement with the painting movement from its beginings must have been observed by Goodwin during his visits
to Papunya. Goodwin learnt from Charlie Egalie and also Turkey Tolson on the dreaming stories which he was
entitled to paint. Goodwin’s traditional country was in Pintupi territory Nyuuman, south-east of Kintore, where
old Mick Namarari had his outstation. Goodwin painted Dingo and Rock Wallaby. Collections: Holmes a Court.