NAIDOC WEEK ARTISTS & PAINTINGS

Generations

This painting depicts women sitting together with their children. The 4 connected circles symbolise the continual strength of these mothers, grandmothers, aunties & sisters through the generations keeping family & community strong.

The 4 oval shapes represent coolamons traditionally used by women to gather food & carry their young. They are symbolic of the love and care that women provide for their community. The ochre coloured circles symbolically represent communities all over this land, held together and strengthened by loving, caring courageous women.

Women have always played a matriarchal role in Aboriginal communities & society, always being the strongest when times are hard. Through countless generations, Aboriginal Women have held families together, raising and nurturing warriors. Because of her, We Can!

Artist: Nathan Patterson

Nathan Patterson is a proud Wagiman Man who is now residing in Torquay on the south coast of Victoria. His people are from Pine Creek, near the Daly River Region in the Northern Territory, where the Wagiman clan are the traditional landowners.

Nathan’s art is a mixture of contemporary designs using traditional techniques that incorporate the Dreamtime stories of his people and of the land he was born on. He continues to tell these stories through his art. Nathan strives to push the boundaries of contemporary Aboriginal art through the use of vibrant colours and traditional design.

Leaders

To celebrate this year’s NAIDOC theme ‘Because of her, we can!’ I wanted to honour female role models in our communities and their contributions. In my design I wanted to capture how I look up to my mother and grandmother like how many of us can relate. The mother figure who has kept the family together, made the sacrifices and achievements made for us to achieve greater, who continue to inspire us.

In Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families you often have several female leaders, who can be anyone such as sisters, aunties, cousins, daughters or friends. Whether they've helped raise you or it's their achievements, growing up I always had strong women in my life. The circles with strong connections in the top part of the design are women holding our families and our communities together. Not only caring for family but fighting for cultural/social issues while breaking down gender stereotypes.

I wanted to acknowledge those who had passed on, their spirit lives on. This theme is a reminder that makes me appreciate and be thankful for the women paving the way for future generations.

Artist: Shara Delaney

Shara is an Australian Aboriginal contemporary artist from Quandamooka country, inspired by stories of her Elders, the generation from One Mile.

Shara Delaney is a traditional owner through her parents the Delaney and close families, the Noounccal, Ngugi & Gorenpul clan groups of Quandamooka. Shara’s paintings are her identity as a strong saltwater woman, connection to family, sand and sea.

Mother's Strength

In the centre we have the circle that represents strength of women in the community. It represents all women and their connection to helping out their community, while still being able to focus on their children as well.

I respect all women: my wife, nan, mum, aunties, sisters, daughters and granddaughters in my life. They gave me strength in life to be the man I am today. Without their strength and wisdom, it would be a tough world to live in.

Artist: Charlie Chambers Jnr

Charlie Chambers (Jnr) is an Australian Aboriginal artist belonging to the Jarowair tribe from the Toowoomba, Dalby and Bunya mountain region.

“When I was young, I would sit with my elders and listen to these Dreamtime stories, but the stories would go in one ear and out the other. It was when I got older that I started to think about these stories and start painting them”.

“The main reason I love painting is to keep the stories that the elders told me about the community alive”.

Because Of Us

This painting was inspired by this year’s 2018 NAIDOC theme "Because of her, we can!". As a proud Indigenous woman, I created this painting based on personal success and the empowerment of other Indigenous women throughout my life and from past achieving Indigenous women who have helped shape who I am today. As a mother and a successful artist, I strive not only to be an inspiration to myself and family, but also to people within my community and across the country.

This painting represents Indigenous women - strong and proud! The women holding hands represents those that have worked to achieve greatness within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait communities across the country. The women represent my personal journey and connection with Grandmothers, Mothers, Aunties, Sisters and friends that are a part of my life and have been there through the good and the bad.

The dotted area under the women represents the passion and inspiration that drives us all. The center dotted circle represents all Aboriginal and Torres Strait women past and present. The lines out from the center circle represent all Aboriginal and Torres Strait women in the future.

Overall, this represents women having a voice, being acknowledged and standing together to be recognised as equals.

Artist: Lani Balzan

Lani Balzan is a proud Aboriginal woman from the Wiradjuri people. Painting is Lani's passion and she uses her art to showcase the amazing beauty of her culture.

As an art therapist and an educational officer, Lani endeavors to make a positive difference in the lives of young people and their families by teaching them about Indigenous culture.

Nature Girl Spirit

'Her' is represented by this young woman but she also has the ever-changing growth and beauty of mother nature. She smiles because she knows that all things will blossom into amazing creations as life evolves.

The bright colours within her represent the beautiful colours within nature.

Artist: Luke Mallie

My inspiration for my artwork is my family, my Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and my tropical surroundings. I’m very influenced by pop culture, animation and modern design.

I feel that my artwork is my gift to help others see the beauty of Aboriginal culture, appreciate Indigenous issues, and bring joy to people through colourful art and designs. While I was born and bred in Brisbane, my heritage is from North Queensland. My mother is from the Kuku Yalanji people in the Daintree/Mossman area where our totem is the crocodile.

My father comes from Kubin Village on Moa Island in the Torres Strait Islands where our totem is the sea eagle.