Kaye Aldenhoven
Encyclopedia
Kaye Aldenhoven is an Australia
n poet and teacher.
In 1971 Kaye Aldenhoven moved from South Australia
to Umbakumba on Groote Eylandt
, Northern Territory
. She then lived and taught at Yuendumu, Amoonguna, Alice Springs, Darwin
, Jabiru
and was Principal of all three NT Area Schools (at Jabiru in Kakadu, Alyangula on Groote Eylandt and Batchelor). These moves were important for the direction of her work.
Aldenhoven is an important poet in the NT scene: using her experience of the country in her work; and being involved in the Northern Territory Writers Centre in Darwin and helping to foster some of the many literary projects that dynamic city fosters.
Her first book, In my Husband's Country, was a clear and deft response to country in a way that is peculiarly Territorian, as is her involvement in cross-art performances of poetry, dance ritual, and textiles. In 1992 she won the Northern Territory Red Earth Literary Award. She has edited a number of anthologies and was included in artist's book/anthology Terra Australis edited by Chris Mansell
with work by artist Tommaso Durante.
Her chapbook, Skin (PressPress, 2004) extends Aldenhoven's engagement with (and explores the conundrum of) living in country. This is an important theme in non-metropolitan Australian poetry which is not much taken up in the urbanised fringes. Poetically, Aldenhoven eschews overtly decorative language and aims for a clear and clarifying diction to illuminate her themes.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n poet and teacher.
In 1971 Kaye Aldenhoven moved from South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
to Umbakumba on Groote Eylandt
Groote Eylandt
Groote Eylandt is the largest island in the Gulf of Carpentaria in northeastern Australia. It is the homeland of, and is owned by, the Anindilyakwa people who speak the isolated Anindilyakwa language)....
, Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
. She then lived and taught at Yuendumu, Amoonguna, Alice Springs, Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
, Jabiru
Jabiru, Northern Territory
Jabiru is a town in the Northern Territory of Australia. It was originally built in 1982 as a closed town to house the community living at Jabiru East near the Ranger Uranium Mine eight kilometres away. Both the mine and the town are completely surrounded by Kakadu National Park.- Overview :Jabiru...
and was Principal of all three NT Area Schools (at Jabiru in Kakadu, Alyangula on Groote Eylandt and Batchelor). These moves were important for the direction of her work.
Aldenhoven is an important poet in the NT scene: using her experience of the country in her work; and being involved in the Northern Territory Writers Centre in Darwin and helping to foster some of the many literary projects that dynamic city fosters.
Her first book, In my Husband's Country, was a clear and deft response to country in a way that is peculiarly Territorian, as is her involvement in cross-art performances of poetry, dance ritual, and textiles. In 1992 she won the Northern Territory Red Earth Literary Award. She has edited a number of anthologies and was included in artist's book/anthology Terra Australis edited by Chris Mansell
Chris Mansell
Chris Mansell is an Australian poet and publisher.Born in Sydney, Chris Mansell grew up on the Central Coast of New South Wales and in Lae, Papua New Guinea, later studying economics at the University of Sydney...
with work by artist Tommaso Durante.
Her chapbook, Skin (PressPress, 2004) extends Aldenhoven's engagement with (and explores the conundrum of) living in country. This is an important theme in non-metropolitan Australian poetry which is not much taken up in the urbanised fringes. Poetically, Aldenhoven eschews overtly decorative language and aims for a clear and clarifying diction to illuminate her themes.
External links
- 6 poems at Thylazine
- Review of Skin