Titled “Courage”

Artist -  Chey Smith SA 2017

The dark grey area at the bottom of the canvas is a mother and her children whose family is fractured in the dark times of their lives, it is whilst they are here the mother makes the decision to leave because of the love for her children. As they start their journey they are enveloped and strengthened by the strong women of their community elders and family which is the semi circles in purple – a colour of strength, encouragement and protection. As they journey on they are greeted by other women and children who are also travelling on their journey at various stages – the pink circles of mothers and children represent them finding love warm and comfort from their surrounding family and community members and are beginning to recover - whilst the blue circles represent the families who are still fractured but are courageous in continuing their journey yet still rely on the support of their Elders family and community.  The pathways are a combination of colours with specs of white which offer hope, which is an element that we must never lose. 

Through perseverance strength and courage their journey is at rest which is represented in the beautiful bright pink orange and purple of the family circle at the top of the canvas.

They have gathered strength (purple) courage (blue) value of self-worth, love (pink) and have remained connected to each other in the spirit of family, nurture, culture, identity and resilience in being able to rise above oppression and all forms of abuse that attributes to domestic violence.

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I  would like to respectfully acknowledge the Yugambeh/Kombumerri peoples as Traditional Owners of the land and sea in which I work.

I acknowledge all of the Traditional Owners of the land and sea we call Australia.  I pay my respect to the Elders of this land, past, present and emerging.

 I acknowledge the devastating effects that colonisation has had on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.

I also recognise those whose ongoing effort to protect and promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures will leave a lasting legacy for future Elders and leaders.