1957
Language Group:Alyawarre
Country:Ampilatwatja, North East of Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Medium:Acrylic on Canvas and Linen, Batik on Silk
Subjects:Country, Bush Medicine, Awelye (Women's Ceremony), Women Collecting Bush Medicine, Women Collecting Bush Tucker, Women Collecting Imuna (Bush Food) and Bush Medicine, Ceremony
Colleen was involved in the Utopia Women's Batik Group. Her work is represented in 'A Picture Story', a project initiated by CAAMA in the late 80's. When Colleen was a child, she was taught about bush medicines and how to collect them from her mother and grandmother.
Colleen paints Awelye (Women's Ceremonial and Body Paint Designs) for the ancestral dreamtime stories which belong to her country, Ampilatwatja.
Linear designs represent Awelye. These designs are painted onto the chest, breasts, arms and thighs. Powders ground from red and yellow ochre (clays), charcoal and ash are used as body paint and applied with a flat stick with soft padding. The women sing the songs associated with their Awelye as each woman takes her turn to be 'painted-up'. Women perform Awelye ceremonies to demonstrate respect for their country and the total well-being and health of their community.