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NAIDOC WEEK 2015
ART SHOW
St John of God Hospital
Artist Profile
Kerrie
is a Butchulla (Badjtala) woman from the peoples of the Maryborough and Tiaro
area in QLD where many of her family still live. Her people are the traditional
owners and Kerrie expresses the strong ties to the Mary River, the bush and
K’gari (Fraser Island) through her painting.
She
has a background in healthcare as an Occupational Therapist and still finds
time for some art therapy sessions with clients. “As a clinical OT, I always
loved my expressive art sessions with patients and I truly believe art making
helps people overcome the difficulties of hospitalization, or impact of illness
and cope with major treatment programs for e.g. with cancer or dialysis and I
want to do a lot more yet in dementia care and bereavement….”
She
has been painting for just a few short years.
“Painting with acrylic on canvas is part of my
life now, an expression of my love for nature, my identity, my healing and
cultural heritage.”
Her
paintings are often of a symbolic and spiritual nature and capture her
life happenings, relationships and
culture. “My indigenous style was not learned or planned, it just happened and
I feel this flowing through me from my father’s family and our collective
dreaming.”
Kerrie
has talked about being drawn to walk in the bush and her wish to honour the
wonderful land, water and bird animals where she lives and from her childhood.
“Even
though I only started to paint at the age of 50, I have always loved looking at
all types of art works; in part for the beauty but also for that sense of
connection. The act of painting is giving and receiving at the same time and a
sense of being one is a really special feeling”.
Kerrie
is the Regional manager of Monash University School of Rural health in Bendigo,
Indigenous Mentor to the medical students on clinical placement in Bendigo and
a member of Indigenous Allied Health Professionals http://iaha.com.au
