03/12/2023
Hi all.
I just wanted to share with you all the story behind this painting that I had done in 2021.
BEWARE: This story will certainly tug at your heart strings as it did to mine which led me to painting this piece.
As I support worker I travelled to many small Community’s in NSW with my work and on one occasion about 10-15 years ago I was attending a Community Event and was talking to Community members and Elders. I will never forget the conversation I had with an Elder, a lovely lady that was small in stature, long greying dark hair and softly spoken. We were talking about family when all of a sudden, she fell quiet. She put her hand on my arm and hung her head, we both stood silent and as she lifted her head to look at me her eyes were full of tears, she quietly said to me …I still can’t find my sister. I knew instantly what she was talking about. Her sister was taken, her family was part of the stolen generation. I put my hand on hers and I said to her, never give up looking for her. The impact it had and still is having is heartbreaking.
As the Aboriginal Education Worker in 2021 I wanted to paint a piece that recognised National Sorry Day. But I also wanted to paint a piece from the tears and loss of that Elder and telling me her story about family being taken.
This is the first time I have shared why I created this art so I hope you can relate story to the piece.
The rainbows dots are for all the stolen children. The blue and pink sun represents all the boys and girls. I worked on this piece for a few months.
Titled: Stolen Children
Endless tracks searching.
Waterholes filled from tears.
Connections forever lost.
Culture Identity fading.
Hope of Reconnecting.
Finding the way.
Together let's all see a rainbow.
This artwork is 120cm x 100cm not for sale.