Today I went to the solo exhibition of Charmaine Davis who won the First Nations Artist award with her work “Clarence River -stories of home. III (2025)”

She is a Goori woman descended from the matriarchal line of the Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung Nations. She is deeply inspired by the landscapes and the waterways of this country and she shares not only her own story but also the stories of her lineage and her people. She mentioned that she has three daughters and they all love art and creativity.

Bold colours like yellow and salmon are central to her practice. They make her think of galahs and cockatoos. I totally understand that. She uses net curtains and produce bags ( the ones we get our fruit in at the greengrocers ) as mark making tools. She explained how she lays out the netting and creates the stencilled patterns which evoke the DNA and the interconnected systems that sustain Country. Its beautifully detailed and very mesmerising.

In my time there I met two of her friends who are also artists and will be exhibiting in Ipswich on the 19th of September – every event brings another connection. Isn’t that how it goes ?

https://ipswichartgallery.qld.gov.au/exhibitions/ipsari-the-view-from-here-a-community-exhibition