Art making cultural connections
AN Aboriginal art competition aimed at young people is connecting them to culture and community.
The Wellington Aboriginal Corporation Health Service (WACHS) holds the annual contest to inspire local youth.
“We had the idea two years ago and we thought it would be a great opportunity to involve local schools in Dubbo and Wellington,” WACHS communication, marketing and engagement executive manager Jodie Evans said.
“The competition is open to high school students between 11 and 18 to encourage them to think about culture and where they live and how that relates to local community.
This year’s theme is connectedness – “a feeling of belonging to or having affinity with a particular person or group.
“The theme reflects on the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on our health and well-being. In particular, how social distancing and being away from our friends, families and loved ones has affected our sense of connectedness – culturally, socially, emotionally and physically.
“We also want to promote kids learning about culture, history and landscape. It’s important that these kids do understand and have that knowledge as part of the program. It’s important from an indigenous perspective.”
With WACHS now hosting clinics in Sydney’s Western Suburbs, the competition will be open to teens in that area as well.
“It’s the first time we’ve opened it up to that area but it’s important to have that connection to community; it’s growing,” Miss Evans said.
In 2018, the Wellington winner was Marissa Stanley who was in Year 8 at St Mary’s Catholic School at the time and aged 13.
“Her artwork represented earth and land and being connected, represented by the road. It made her realise how much it brought out knowledge of culture and the natural environment to the forefront,” Miss Evans explained.
This year, the winning artist will receive prize-money and their artwork will be featured in one of the clinics as well as on the cover of the WACHS annual report.
“There is a $250 first prize, $100 second prize and $50 third prize,” Miss Evans said.
“We promote the winning painting, hanging it in our clinics along with a blurb about the artist and their story.”
The winner will also be able to sit with a graphic designer as their artwork is converted to digital.
“They get to be creative, going from canvas to digital. It’s quite an interesting process involving a graphic designer who shows them how to turn their painting into a digital artwork. The kids get to see their painting come to life.
“Wellington Arts has also offered us space to exhibit the entries which is a great opportunity for the students to show off their artworks to the community, parents and family.”
In the past, the corporation has used photos of local elders on the annual report cover, such as the 25th anniversary edition in 2017 which featured Aunty Joyce Williams.
Last year, Lesley Ah See’s artwork was featured after she sadly passed away. The painting represents her journey as the recipient of a heart transplant.
“It will be an annual competition unless we are honouring someone from the community and we put in a story,” Miss Evans said.
The competition has been open since May 27 and closes on July 31.
“It’s been open for a month and we’ve already got a few entries.”
The annual report featuring the winning entry will highlight the organisation’s outcomes and achievements for the past financial year. It will be available online and presented to WACHS stakeholders. She says the art competition really boosts local youth.
“It encourages them to continue painting and being creative and it will be relevant to their community. It’s a really good opportunity for them to have their artworks displayed.”