Kathleen Kemarre Wallace Explained

Kathleen Kemarre Wallace (1 July 1948 – 28 February 2024), was an Eastern Arrernte artist, author, custodian and cultural leader from Ltyentye Apurte in the Northern Territory of Australia.[1]

Early life

Wallace was born on 1 July 1948[2] near Ltyentye Apurte, a remote area of Central Australia. She was a senior Eastern Arrernte speaker. Her family kept her away from stations and missions to prevent her removal under the Aboriginals Ordinance 1918.[3]

When she was 13, her family was forced to move to Santa Teresa Mission, now Ltyentye Apurte Community. This move was caused by severe drought and the interruption of traditional hunting and food gathering by encroaching station activities.[4]

Art career

In 1989 Wallace was a founding member of Keringke Arts and, since then, become one of their most successful artists. Her work is represented in many national and international collections.

Her artworks were very influenced by her Catholic faith:

In October 2019 the stained glass window that Wallace designed was installed at the Our Lady of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Alice Springs which is celebrated for showing the blending of Catholic and Indigenous beliefs. The title of the painting, which became the stained glass is Urtakwerte Atywerrenge Anthurre or, in English, Very Sacred Heart and it depicts the Virgin Mary and Jesus standing on a sandhill and different parts of the painting representing different aspects of her blended faith.[5]

Other activities

Wallace co-wrote two books: Plants of the Santa Teresa region of Central Australia, with Jane Davis (1986),[6] and, with Judy Lovell (2009),and Listen deeply: let these stories in.[7]

She also worked as a teacher and served her community as an elected councillor for Ltyentye Apurte, and was also a member of the executive committee of Desart.

She was a senior advisor on the Indigemoji app launched in 2019.[8] This app provides 90 emojis representing central Australia's Indigenous Arrernte culture and is Australia's first set of Indigenous emojis.[9] [10]

Recognition and awards

Personal life and death

Wallace lived on her homelands her whole life and she always viewed it as her responsibility to ensure traditional knowledge is handed on, especially through art and storytelling.

Wallace and her husband Douglas had no children of their own but they raised more than 30 children throughout their marriage; taking in children when they were neglected or their parents were drinking. This earned her the nickname "Mum".

She died on 28 February 2024.[16]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Catholic Diocese of Darwin . Facebook . Catholic Diocese of Darwin . 1 March 2024.
  2. Web site: Kathleen Wallace . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221030104655/https://www.aboriginalartstore.com.au/artists/kathleen-wallace/ . 30 October 2022 . 7 November 2019 . Central Art: Aboriginal Art Store.
  3. Web site: Jonscher . Samantha . 14 October 2019 . Aboriginal and Catholic faiths blended in stained-glass window of Alice Springs church . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220914142931/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-14/stained-glass-church-window-blends-catholic-and-aboriginal-faith/11597146 . 14 September 2022 . 7 November 2019 . ABC News . en-AU.
  4. Book: Listen deeply : let these stories in. Wallace, Kathleen Kemarre. 2009. IAD Press. Lovell, Judy.. 9781864650945. Alice Springs, N.T.. 318534856.
  5. Web site: Finnane . Kieran . 14 October 2019 . Arrernte Mary and Jesus watch over Alice's Catholics . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221118194518/https://www.alicespringsnews.com.au/2019/10/14/arrernte-mary-and-jesus-watch-over-alices-catholics/ . 18 November 2022 . 7 November 2019 . Alice Springs News . en-US.
  6. Plants of the Santa Teresa region of Central Australia
  7. https://trove.nla.gov.au/version/45085774 Listen deeply: let these stories in
  8. Web site: anwerne-akerte // team . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221025043415/https://www.indigemoji.com.au/alpewarrewarre-team . 25 October 2022 . 19 January 2020 . Indigemoji . en.
  9. Web site: Quinn-Bates . Jennetta . 28 November 2019 . Indigemoji app provides 90 emojis representing central Australia's Indigenous Arrernte culture . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220527191607/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-29/check-out-the-emojis-of-central-australia/11738608 . 27 May 2022 . 14 December 2020 . ABC News . en-AU.
  10. Web site: Indigemoji . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221025043353/https://www.indigemoji.com.au/ . 25 October 2022 . 14 December 2020 . Indigemoji . en.
  11. February–March 2010 . Territory Read short list... . live . Write Turn . 5 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221029131948/https://www.ntwriters.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/feb2010-WriteTurn_WH.pdf . 29 October 2022.
  12. Web site: Indigemoji . live . https://archive.today/20221123012450/https://winners.webbyawards.com/2020/apps-mobile-and-voice/apps-mobile-sites-general/public-service-activism/122337/indigemoji . 23 November 2022 . 18 March 2021 . The Webby Awards . en.
  13. Web site: Digital Communities 2020. 2021-03-18. Prix Ars Electronica. 7 October 2010 . en-US.
  14. Web site: 22 December 2020 . First Nations Media Australia Award winners . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201222005636/https://radioinfo.com.au/news/first-nations-media-australia-award-winners . 22 December 2020 . 18 March 2021 . Radio Info . en.
  15. Web site: 2023 Graduation Ceremony. 10. 14 September 2023 . . 1 March 2024.
  16. Web site: Kumantjayi Wallace died in Alice Springs tonight.. Catholic Diocese of Darwin . Facebook . 1 March 2024.

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