Dreamtime Sisters

Colleen Wallace Nungari

1974

Eastern Arrernte (Aranda)

Arnumarra, near Gem Tree, North East of Alice Springs (father) and Arrulka, near Conniston, North West of Alice Springs (mother), Northern Territory

Acrylic on Canvas and Linen, Decorative Art

Dreamtime Sisters, Awelye (Women's Ceremony), Arlatyeye (Pencil Yam) Dreaming, Number 7 Boomerang - Dreamtime Sisters

Colleen is a self-taught artist who comes from a strong family tradition of Eastern Arrernte painters, including Therese Wallace (Colleen's mother) and Gabriella Wallace (Colleen's aunt). Colleen was raised by her stepmother, Kathleen Wallace, at Santa Teresa and Alice Springs. Colleen's father's country is near Gem Tree, north east of Alice Springs.

Colleen's most popular paintings illustrate Dreamtime Sisters who are good spirits dancing the awelye (women's ceremony) and looking after Colleen's country.

'My country is called Arnumarra that is my grandfather's country. In my painting, the dreamtime sisters are a group of spirits that look after the land and also their role is to guard special areas such as sacred sites and protect the land.' - Colleen Wallace Nungari, August 2014.

Colleen says these sisters were once living people; her ancestors. She also paints Awelye (Women's Ceremony) and Arlatyeye (Bush Yam Dreaming).