1977
Language Group:Alyawarre
Country:Artekerre (Three Bores), Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Medium:Acrylic on Canvas
Subjects:Awelye (Women's Ceremony), Women's Dreaming, Ahakeye (Bush Plum) Dreaming, Kangaroo
Kathy began painting in October 2018. Her stories, ahakeye (bush plum) and kangaroo dreaming, have been passed onto her from her father (deceased). She also learnt to paint from him. Kathy's cousin, Tanya Price has been painting for Mbantua Gallery for a long time.
Kathy paints Awelye (Women's Ceremonial and Body Paint Designs) for the ancestral dreamtime stories which belong to her country, Artekerre (Three Bores).
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.
