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 | Born: 1961 Deceased: 2019 Language Group: Alyawarre Country: Ngkwarlerlaneme and Arnkawenyerr, Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs Medium: Acrylic on Canvas and Linen, Batik on Silk, Wood Carving Subjects: Ilyarnayt (Acacia validinervia), Country, Awelye (Women's Ceremony), Narrative Camp Scene, Alpeyt (flowers), Rainbow Story (Boor-la-da), Tharrkarr (Sweet Honey Grevillea), Yerrampe (Honey Ant), Bush Foods, Bush Medicine |
Sarah is the third daughter of Utopian artist Mary Morton Kemarre and second wife to Louie Pwerle (now deceased). Sarah, with her mother and sisters, Lucky, Audrey, Ruby, Janice and Hazel, were all part of the batik workshops in the 1980's at Utopia. Sarah's work is featured in the 'Robert Holmes á Court' exhibition and collection which has toured extensively within Australia and abroad.
Sarah began painting in the summer of 1988-9 as part of the CAAMA project with the Utopia women's paintings: 'The First works on Canvas, A Summer Project'. She has continued to paint with acrylics on canvas and has also participated in batik work, and wood sculptures.
Sarah first started painting for Mbantua Gallery in 1990-1. In 2003 Sarah traveled with her sister Lucky to Melbourne for her paintings. Sarah resides at Arnkawenyerr in the Utopia Region with her sisters and extended family. Painting was a part of life for Sarah in which she enjoyed doing when not traveling for her education or participating in cultural business. She attended Bachelor College periodically which has seen her travel to Darwin, Tenant Creek and Alice Springs.
Sarah painted a variety of different stories which she said came from two different Countries of which she belonged to. These two countries are Ngkwarlerlaneme and Arkawenyerr. She also painted the ceremonial body paint designs that came from these countries and also her mother's country, Antarrengeny.
Collections
Museum of Victoria, Melbourne
The National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
Mbantua Gallery Permanent Collection, Alice Springs
The Holmes á Court Collection, Perth
Exhibitions
| 2007 | Patterns of Power, Art from the Eastern Desert, Simmer on the Bay, Sydney |
| 1989 | Utopia Women's Paintings, the First Works on Canvas, A Summer Project, 1988-1989 SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney |
| 1990 | 'Utopia – A Picture Story,' an exhibition of works on silk from the Holmes á Court Collection by Utopia artists which toured Eire and Scotland |
| 1991 | Aboriginal Women's Exhibition, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney |
| 1993 | ARATJARA, Art of the First Australians Touring: Kunstammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Dusseldorf, Hayward Gallery, London; Louisiana Museum, Humlebaek, Denmark |
| 1999 | Mbantua Gallery, Alice Springs, NT |
| 2000 | Mbantua Gallery, Alice Springs, NT |
| 2001 | Mbantua Gallery, Alice Springs, NT |
| 2002 | Mbantua Gallery - Art and Soul Gallery, Nashville, Tennessee, USA |
| 2002 | Mbantua Gallery - 'The Cove Gallery' Portland, Oregon USA |
| 2002 | Mbantua Gallery - Urban Wine Works, Portland, Oregon USA |
| 2002 | Mbantua Gallery - Mary's Woods, Portland, Oregon USA |
| 2004 | Evolution of Utopia, Mbantua Gallery Cultural Museum, Alice Springs, NT |
| 2005 | Evolution of Utopia, Mbantua Gallery Cultural Museum, Alice Springs, NT |
| 2006 | Evolution of Utopia, Mbantua Gallery Cultural Museum, Alice Springs, NT |
| 2008 | Emily and Her Legacy, Hillside Gallery, Tokyo with Coo-ee Art Sydney in conjunction with the opening of the landmark retrospective exhibition Utopia – the Genius of Emily Kngwarreye at the National Art Centre, Tokyo, Japan |
Further References
| Brody, A. | Utopia Women's Paintings: the First Works on Canvas, Summer Project, 1988-89, exhib. Cat., Heytesbury Holdings, Perth, 1989 |
| Brody, A. | Utopia: a Picture Story, 99 Silk Batiks from the Robert Holmes á Court Collection, Heytesbury Holdings, Perth, 1990. Aratjara, Art of the First Australians: Traditional and Contemporary Works by Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander Artists, exhib. Cat., Dumont, Buchverlag, Koln, 1993. Aboriginal Women's Exhibition, exhbit. Cat., Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 1991 |
| NATSIVAD | Biographical detail |
| Latz, P. | Bushfires and Bushtucker, IAD Press, Alice Springs, 1995 |
All of Sarah's Dreamtime stories belong to her countries Ngkwarlerlaneme and Arnkawenyerr. This painting is inspired by the Dreamtime story of the Ilyarn or Ilyarnayt, a common variety of acacia. The delicate designs in this painting represent the beautiful flower of this plant.
This plant is particularly favoured for the abundance of edible grubs living in the roots, known simply as Ilyarnayt.
