in the outback, it's gotta be a toyota

In 2005 Tjanpi artists from the Ngaanyatjarra Lands in remote Western Australia won the 22nd Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award with their life-size Tjanpi Toyota

Tjanpi Desert Weavers

(things to do in Alice Springs)

Known for endearing, quirky and beautiful contemporary fibre art work, Tjanpi Desert Weavers use primarily native dry desert grasses (Tjanpi), bound and stitched with string, wool and raffia in their baskets and sculptures. Sometimes the grasses are dyed with native plants, and decorated with Emu feathers and seeds.

Today over 400 women across three states and twenty communities make baskets and sculptures out of local grasses, and working with fibre in this way is now firmly embedded in central and western desert culture.

Tjanpi Desert Weaver's philosophy is to keep culture strong, maintain links with country and provide meaningful employment to the keepers and teachers of desert weaving.

Tjanpi Desert Weavers is an indigenous arts enterprise and profits from sales support the 100 per cent Aboriginal-owned and governed Tjanpi.

In 2005 Tjanpi artists from the Ngaanyatjarra Lands in remote Western Australia won the 22nd Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award with their life-size Tjanpi Toyota. Tjanpi artists are also experienced tutors, sharing their weaving skills and cultural knowledge with people around the world at festivals and conferences.

Open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm and closed for the month of January and all public holidays and weekends.