Debbie Brown is the “custodian” of the site where the bush tomato grows, and as such, she is responsible for performing the rituals that maintain the fertility of this area.
To convey a spiritual force to the land that will support plant growth, the artist and the women of her clan group apply body paint, sing, and dance during sacred ceremonies known as “awelye.”
Painting is also a ritual act that helps preserve ancestral techniques, including the distinctive dotting style endemic to the region.
