Elaine Wanatjura Lane Australian, Ngaanyatajarra, b. 1940

Elaine was a bush baby, born in the traditional way, close to Kutukampara rockhole, the other side of Mantamaru (Jameson). "There was no blanket, no hospital, just ashes to keep warm". As a young child she travelled the region with her parents living off the land and following a traditional life. Her family would travel between Papulankutja (Blackstone) and Mantamaru and then back to Warburton Ranges visiting Wirtapiwara, Illinpiri and Watatjara. Living 'bush way' with her family has given Elaine a deep attachment to and profound knowledge of her culture and her country. As a child she also spent some years attending school in the Warburton mission and later met her husband there, Paddy Lane, who was working on the station at the time. They had five children together. Elaine now lives at Blackstone, close to her brother Jimmy Donegan, a senior Law Man and artist, in remote Western Australia. She is a respected senior law woman and is the sister of the well known painter Pantjiti Maclean. Her father was a Donegan and she is sister to Pantjiti Mary McLean. Elaine is also a leading fibre artist. She first began making baskets and animal sculptures in 1995. She has always made outstanding baskets and in 1999 she first started to experiment with animal sculptures. Elaine has travelled to Perth with the touring exhibition, Manguri Weaving, opened the exhibition and gave a workshop at the Fremantle Arts Centre. Elaine was part of the team of women from Blackstone who made the full sized grass toyota that won the telstra award. More recently, Elaine has been experimenting with natural bush dyes for her baskets. Elaine paints country around Blackstone, her work reflects the seasons, using the wonderful colours that surround her every day of her life. Many layers overlapping and melding together, expressing the texture and flow of the land.