The series of panels featuring a fist and the text '!Heal!' is the first text based provocation within the project. Within some of the triangles, the artist wrote three NAIDOC Week themes including; 'Heal Country!', 'Always Was, Always Will Be!' and 'Get Up, Stand Up, Show Up!'. She then left empty triangles in her panels for people to respond. Responses include: 'Country is calling me back to my homeland', 'LOVE RESPECT take you a long way' and 'KIND SHARING INSPIRATIONAL CARING X

In the top right corner of this image features a series of footprints. The two left side panels were painted by an artist who supports many people in the community. A family member noticed the work and inspired by their journey, created an origin of the footprints.

The upper left corner of this image features two leaves growing from an abstract form. The artwork was painted by two artists, one Aboriginal artist and a non-Aboriginal artist. The non-Aboriginal artists experienced severe shaking, therefore his acquaintance offered to be his hands. The artist experiencing shaking thought that it would be interesting to have leaves coming from the abstract form that developed from a light spectrum in ‘the void’. The artist who was painting used a traditional dot-painting technique to bring the leaves to life. The concept was later simplified by the artists, saying, from nothingness comes form and then nature which is connected by love.

I was excited when I saw the artist producing these works because it was the first time that I had seen any participants working from one side to the other on their panels, with forms naturally flowing outside the panels. Most people when working on three panels painted a centrally oriented composition. This featured approach helps make the entire artwork more cohesive. Additionally, the artist had a refined Aboriginal dot painting technique, everyone who witnessed her work marvelled at it.

TRANSCENDING SEPARATION - 2023


Transcending Separation is a participatory painting project, it was developed due to the inability to run groups at the Broome Community Recovery Centre, this was due to the spread of COVID 19 throughout the Kimberley in 2022.  The project commenced in a manner that could engage people at home in the community and later opened up to groups. 


Transcending Separation involved approximately 95 people including regular attendees of the Broome Community Recovery Centre and programs: Mabu Liyan (Kimberley Mental Health Unit), Strong Families, Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Service and a young mums group.


It was a real privilege to spend time with the participants and see contributions come to life. Working with BCRC Staff and Aboriginal Liaison Officers at Mabu Liyan was crucial and rewarding. I must acknowledge the Cultural Advisor of the project Jasmine Phillips, whose close collaboration  and advice was vital.