Fay's Story

I was born in Alice Springs, as was my father before me, we belonged to the Eastern Aranda people, originating from the Simpson Desert region.

The photo above shows (from left to right) Fay and Carlene Lavender.

My uncle Walter Smith (deceased), was the last surviving 'Senior Lawman' for the eastern Aranda people. When he died much of our people's secret laws were never to be revealed again, as there was no one fully qualified to receive them. Dick Kimber wrote 'The Man From Arltunga', which was a biography of my uncles life. I have always loved the different colours of the outback and wanted to paint them, however I had to wait a long time to fulfil this desire. I didn't get the opportunity to do anything about it until we were living in Lightning Ridge in Western New South Wales, when a friend, Len Cram, offered to be my tutor. Since then I have sold Landscapes, Contemporary Aboriginal Art works and pieces of Rustic art.

Carlene's Story

Hello, my name is Carlene, I was born in the central Australian city of Alice Springs. I am of the Eastern Aranda Aborigines. I am a Water Dreamer.

As a child I often listened to my grandfather's abundant knowledge of his law, his life and culture.

He always showed us little things when he took us out into the bush, like tracks and explained what had made them, and the stories of the animals we would see. From this early time I developed my own unique artistic style.

My great uncle Walter was born at Arltunga. He was the last fully initiated lawman for the Eastern Aranda people.

I love nature and Australian animals, and that is where my interest in art lies.

Our animals are so unique to anywhere else in the world, so in my own way, my art is my way of sharing them with the world.

I have sold my work within Australia and overseas since I became an artist.

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