#rainmaking

Dinny Nolan Tjampitjinpa is one of the most respected senior Warlpiri artists associated with the Western Desert Art movement. Renowned for his powerful Water Dreaming and Rainmaking paintings, he is recognised not only for his artistic achievements but also as a senior ceremonial leader responsible for important rainmaking ceremonies. After joining Papunya Tula Artists in the mid-1970s, Dinny became known for his confident compositions, deep cultural authority and major contribution to introducing Western Desert Art to audiences across Australia and overseas.

This illustrated biography explores Dinny Nolan Tjampitjinpa's life, painting style, ceremonial role, the stories behind his artworks, what his paintings are worth today, and why his works continue to be highly sought after by collectors of Aboriginal art.

Rainmaker: Dr. Wallace E. Howell, the city's $100-a-day rainmaker, stands in the snow at City Hall Park, April 14, 1950, while New Yorkers wonder whether his rainmaking efforts of the day before might have induced the freakish mid-spring snowfall. (NYPD planes had dropped dry ice into clouds over the Catskills, and a silver iodide generator on the ground sent the compound rising upwards to, the city hoped, create the perfect storm.) Horace Stoneham, president of the NY Giants baseball team, said, “Look at that snow, and us with our opening game coming up only four days from now. That guy had better work out a schedule.”

Rainmaking - Self-titled

Zegema Beach Records

Lord Josh Allen - Taoist Thunder Magick 

                          She always enjoyed Kazuchika’s work and him in general. It could have been maybe because her own father had thought so highly of him as well, but if you asked her if she ever really spoke to him? Well, maybe not so much. She had been considerably younger when Shinsuk.e had signed, but now she was coming as an adult. She felt homesick and found herself back in the Land of the Rising Sun for a job, it was really a cake walk kind of job, but it looked great on transcripts. Teaching English, which for her was very easy since she was raised both speaking Japanese and English thanks to her parents. She’d been invited to the last event just to see some familiar faces. So when she saw Kazu, she knew two would, of course, be introduced ( again ) and pleasantries would be exchanged. Because he was older than her and so respected in the company and her because she was who she was. “It’s nice to see you again, looks like they’re keeping you busy even without the title.”                       Well, Kazumi had actually never stepped in the ring, she understood how it worked backward and forwards and faith was never lost on the Rainmaker.

In time of drought the Serbians strip a girl to her skin and clothe her from head to foot in grass, herbs, and flowers, even her face being hidden behind a veil of living green. Thus disguised she is called the Dodola and goes through the village with a troop of girls. They stop before every house; the Dodola keeps turning herself round and dancing,  while the other girls form a ring about her singing one of the Dodola songs, and the housewife pours a pail of water over her. One of the songs they sing runs thus: " We go through the village;                   The clouds go in the sky;          We go faster.    Faster go the clouds;    They have overtaken us. And wetted the corn and the vine."

James George Frazer - "The Golden Bough", The Macmillan Company, New York, 1925, pp.69-70.

  “Hoooooooooly shit.” Toni couldn’t believe her eyes, which explains why she had to pull her sunglasses down, to make sure it wasn’t a dream.  “Kazuchika Okada? THEE  Kazuchika Okada?” Taking her glasses completely off, Toni bowed her upper body forward, in utmost respect.

‘ Your story must not be over yet. ‘

He didn’t understand what kind of place someone would have to be in to see themselves as a monster. He couldn’t understand that whatsoever. He quietly glanced over at Finn, his brows furrowed in thought as he tried to think of a way to answer this.

‘ Either that, ‘ he shook his head, ‘ or you’re not the monster at the end of this fairy tale. Perhaps… you’re less of a monster than you think you are. If that makes sense. ‘

He didn’t know that for sure. There was no way that he would be able to. But either way, he wanted to offer some kind of solace, no matter how bare.

He usually wasn´t this GRIM. At least not around other people. The DEMON wasn´t just a persona he had created, it had become an escape for him, but the problem with these kind of escapes was that things only became worse once you returned to reality.

He sighed, glancing over at the other as he did his best to pull himself together.

“Yeah…maybe,” He nodded, attempting some sort of smile, but failing miserably. Today was NOT his day, that was quite evident.