By Callum Ludwig
Kirrae Whurrong woman Fiona Clarke and her husband Ken McKean have been in the Upper Yarra recently, painting CFA water tanks near Reefton Hotel to showcase First Nations artwork in the Yarra Ranges.
Born in Warrnambool, Mrs Clarke has been depicting Aboriginal artwork through a variety of mediums such as tapestry, painting, public art and children’s literature for over 30 years.
Mrs Clarke was approached by Yarra Ranges Council for the project and said it was very exciting.
“With the seven tanks requiring Indigenous art, it was inspiring to know
the local communities and the Yarra Ranges Council wanted to see First Nation
art on their landmarks,” she said.
“I enjoy doing art for communities and for local Kulin Nation custodians.”
Mrs Clarke and Mr McKean finished the water tank projects on Saturday 9 April, taking two weeks to complete them all.
Mrs Clarke said she thinks it is very important to showcase local art publicly, especially Aboriginal artwork.
“It is very important to make people’s lives brighter with some art and especially Aboriginal art as it helps people learn more about Aboriginal culture, so they can have more respect for the history of the area,” she said.
“We spoke with people from the local community and heard of ideas from Aboriginal Elders of the Kulin Nations who talked about what they would like to see, so I wanted to represent the local environment and the people’s ideas and wishes in the artwork, so they would enjoy it.”
In order to reflect Wurundjeri country, Mrs Clarke included Black Cockatoos as they are important birds for First Nation custodians and popular birds with locals too and other animals like the lyrebird, platypus, eels and a wombat for the same reason.
Mrs Clarke said the responses to the artwork have been great.“The responses were great, a lot of local people stopped and seemed very pleased with what we were doing and would come over and speak with us and ask how we were going. People would drive past and blow the horn, including local government vehicles and give a thumbs up,” she said.“The Publicans from The Reefton Hotel were extra helpful too all the way through, which we very much appreciated. It was very encouraging.”
Mrs Clarke has had her artwork chosen for many prestigious events and places.Some include her work being chosen for 150-year celebration of first Aboriginal Cricket Walkabout Team
to tour England and play on the MCG for Cricket Australia, the presentation of her children’s book, ‘Minkgill Chases the Rainbow’ for the opening of the 2017 Port Fairy Folk Festival and completed a mural in collaboration with Patricia Clarke and Ken McKean for Koori Courts.
Mrs Clarke said she really enjoyed this project and would happily do more again in the future.
