c. 1931
Deceased:2016
Language Group:Alyawarre
Country:Antarrengeny, Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Medium:Acrylic on Canvas and Linen, Batik on Silk, Seed Jewellery, Wood Carving
Subjects:Country, Awelye (Women's Ceremony), Apeng (Kurrajong) Dreaming, Merne Altwerr (Split-Jack), Camp Scene, Awelye (Women's Ceremony) for Ngkweyang (Kurrajong Seed)
Mary Morton Kemarre was a well known Utopia artist. She was involved in the batik movement established at Utopia in the late 1970's.
Mary painted her country (Antarrengeny) and the ceremonial body paint designs belonging to her country. She lived in the Utopia region with her large extended family with a bright and bubbly personality. Mary had four daughters, Lucky, Audrey, Sarah and Ruby who are also well known in the Aboriginal art industry.
Mary paints the story of Apeng, the Alyawarre word for the desert kurrajong tree. There is an ancient Dreamtime story belonging to apeng and its seed, ngkweyang, which lies in the heart of Alyawarre land in Mary's country, Antarrengeny, north east of Alice Springs. Ngkweyang is an important and nutritious food source. Not a habitual practice now, the Aboriginal people would collect these seeds, burn them to remove small hairs, and grind them into a paste for making damper (bread).