Utopia Batik
 

Utopia is about 240 kilometres north-east of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. Developed as cattle country by white pastoralists early this century under the Northern Territory Land Rights Act of 1976, Utopia Station was claimed by its traditional Aboriginal owners who now live in several extended family groups on the property. In about 1978 an adult education programme run by Jenny Green established a batik group. Since then several artists including Inga Hunter (born 1938) and Linda Jackson have introduced other techniques, including painted fabrics. As many as eighty women working in the family groups on the property participate in the batik group. Despite land being ravaged by introduced animals through grazing it has been possible for Aboriginal communities to largely maintain their traditional hunting and gathering existence. The production and sale of fabrics helps provide the community with a measure of economic independence. 

ada 1992