Yam Seedby Cindy Wallace

Cindy Wallace is originally from Santa Teresa Community approximately one hour from Alice Springs in Central Australia. She is married Stephen Bird, who is the son of famous Utopian artist Ada Bird Petyarre. Once they were married Cindy relocated with Stephen’s to his homelands of Mulga Bore in the area of Utopia. Utopia is an Aboriginal Community several hours from Alice Springs in Central Australia. Cindy was born in 1978 and is the sister of Colleen Wallace Nungari, an emerging Central Art artist. Both women were raised by their aunt Kathleen Wallace who is a well known Keringke artist and strong mentor in Santa Teresa Community.

Cindy attended school in Alice Springs however was brought up with a traditional education and the important values of her country and Dreamings. Her father’s country is Annamurra (near Gem Tree) and her mother’s country is Arrulka (near Conniston Station).

Cindy has been painting for about 12 years and was self taught. Her depictions tell the stories of Women’s Ceremonies, which relate to initiations, seasonal changes in food sources and Awelye – this is a general term used to cover all of “women’s business”. The body paint designs are applied to the chest, breasts and shoulders of women who are about to partake in ceremony. They also mirror the dancing tracks taken during ceremonial times. These stories form a very important part of Aboriginal society, assisting and teaching people how to behave, social order and their belief system.

I (Sabine Haider, Director of Central Art) met Cindy back in 2006 when Central Art was still in its infancy and was introduced to her by her sister Colleen who I have a long standing relationship with. Although Cindy is not a career artist her artwork is important for her country and the teaching of future generations about Aboriginal art and culture.

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