By Samantha Wortelhock
Original Painting and Limited Edition Giclee print size: 1000 x 650mm

The Story Behind The Painting
Painted while on location as Artists in Residence at the Ayers Rock Resort, Close Encounter was inspired by the giant mesa you see on the Lasseter Highway which leads to Uluru. Often mistaken for Uluru, Mount Connor (Antilla in Pitjantjatjara dialect) is a stunning feature. When Samantha first sighted it she imagined it to be a perfect landing pad for spaceships. So, in the painting sitting atop of Antilla is an alien craft, something the emu is oblivious of as it is startled by a frill-necked lizard. While an old painting, therefore lacking the detail and sophistication of their latest works, Close Encounter remains as popular as ever.