Sharon Slater is an Artist. Through art, she finds calm and meaning- she is able to give life to her feelings, ideas, her experience and her culture. Sharon recently created a work of art for Playgroup Victoria titled Our Footprints Our Culture. Sharon writes:

“This painting represents our Victorian Aboriginal Children/Families foot prints coming together from our meeting places (big Circles) around Victoria. Our Children follow in their Parents and Elders foot prints to come together to teach and learn their Culture through our land, animals and our stories.”

Sharon shared some insights with us about her life, her art, family and the importance of sharing stories and Culture through the generations.

What inspired the artwork you created for Playgroup Victoria?

With this artwork I’m inspired to show Playgroup Victoria because this is where our boorais begin connecting, learning and take their first steps in to their early years education that stays with them for the rest of their journey.

How do you go about creating your artworks?  What is your creative process?

To create this artwork, I think of children in those meeting places and gathering places where our Aboriginal culture is strong – how we come together for our little ones. I thought of the colours of Playground Victoria, I had a vision of how the layout of the artwork would look with the state of Victoria main meeting place and the overall story that I wanted to share.

From an early age, have you always had a passion for creating works of art?  Do you remember the first artwork that you made?

For me, my passion for creating works of art began as I got older. It became a positive and calming outlet for me. My first artwork was in a class taught by artist Heather Kennedy when she visited Wandarra Gathering Place in the Hume and that is when I became more interested in painting after painting a portrait of my daughter who has autism.

Have these stories been passed down through your family?

These stories have been passed down through my family as we are always together, we teach our children our ways and the importance of education, also, my daughter and grandson had their journey through Playgroup Victoria.

Can you tell us how rewarding it is to share stories and share your culture through work of art?

It makes me feel proud as an Aboriginal Elder to share this story with Playgroups across Victoria and to pass it down to the next generation – of how important it is for our children to have these spaces where they can learn and be together. I grew up in Victoria and have worked in the community for over 30 years, our babies are the next generation and to share this with them makes me feel proud and excited for them and their journey throughout their lives.

Artist
Sharon Slater

Article by Sinead Halliday