Peggy Patrick (OAM) is a bold and spirited woman, whose life journey tells the story of an incredibly fierce commitment to and pride for her culture and country in the face of almost inconceivable odds.
Domestic help, stockman, nurse, school teacher, truck driver, law woman, singer, dancer and artist, Peggy is today one of the most senior women of Warmun Community.
Peggy was born sometime in the 1930s, and is the now custodian of a number of significant song cycles. One of Peggy’s most iconic works Marlam (Hands) is reminiscent of the body painting that takes place during performances and ceremony. “Marlam that one, finger painting. When we paint our bodies, that’s the one, our body painting. I made that, it’s my story. When we have corroboree.”
Peggy is also renowned for her works that feature the joomooloony (boab trees) of the Kimberley. Of these works, Peggy says, “ this is the joomooloony, that’s for women – ngalingalimboorroo. When women give birth out in the bush, they put their dinyjil [umbilical cord] in the boab tree, to make their babies strong. Then that boab tree belongs to that child.”
Image: Peggy Patrick 321_14
Image: Peggy Patrick 231-14
For information about purchasing works, please contact the Art Centre on (08) 9168 7496, or visit our online store.