A quick addition to the ARALUEN CENTRE post

I have found a way to show the stained glass window from the Araluen Cultural Centre, it is, of course, to be found on the web, together with an explanation of the panels. The picture below does not do it justice, it is outstanding.

To view it properly at the centre it is necessary to sit quietly with a copy of the explanation and take it all in.

Here is the description. If you travel to Alice Springs you must visit.

The magnificent stained glass windows in the Araluen Foyer are a feature of the Centre. The major window was designed by local Aboriginal artist Wenten Rubuntja and is based on the painting hanging to the left of the window.

  This painting is about Mparntwe dreamings, the traditional stories for the centre of Alice Springs. They belong to the Arrernte (Aranda) people and connect with other stories belonging to Aboriginal people all over the country.

  The window is like a large map of Arrernte (Aranda) country around Alice Springs of which all Arrernte (Aranda) people are a part.

  It contains three separate, yet interrelated stories:

  1. The three panels across the top depict the story of three larrikins.

       (left)       artwe atnyentye (a moon man)

       (centre)  artwe yerrampe (a honey ant man)

       (right)     artwe ametherrke (a carpet snake man)

  They are irresistibly attracted to the yerrampe (honey ant) woman at the base. They paint themselves and sing special songs with their pirlpe (music sticks) and totemic animals to help them, but all in vain, as her sacred powers are far superior to theirs. She threatens to sing to them and make them sick if they persist. The action takes place between Papunya and Alyape (Supplejack Dam), represented here by the large circles where the participants are sitting.

  2.   All around the red country are the white dotted tracks of the yerrampe (honey ants) as they move from Papunya to Alyape to their nests. These journeys are also shown on the accompanying map. Alyape is the word for both honey ant nest and Supplejack Dam. The honey ants, painted black, are traveling to their nests and are meeting with each other in the centre.

  3.   From the left, two Yeperenye (caterpiller) women come from Uyenpere atwatye (Sadadeen) and Ntyarlkarletyaneme (near the Todd River) to the centre. The two others come from the right, from Amtwirnteye (Mt Blatherskite) and Ntyarlkarletyaneme (near the hospital). These journeys originate further out at Urletherrke (Mt Zeil), Imarnte (near Maryvale), Alherampe (Napperby) and Warretharre (Atula Station).

  In the four corners, on ceremonial grounds of feathers are depicted tile iotemic animals -arlure (gecko), arntetherrke (carpet snake) and iparipe (blind snake) and traditional weapons -irlpakerte (no. 7 boomerang), urrempere (fighting spear), alye (boomerang) and alkwerte (shield).

  The smaller stained glass windows were designed and made by students of Yirara College, a local secondary school for Aboriginal students.

Regards

TJ

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