ROEBOURNE ARTIST A CERAMIC SENSATION

BY ELIZA KLOSER

An artist from the small town of Roebourne in Western Australia will soon have her art displayed in homes across the country. 

Yindjibarndi Elder Jane Cheedy has been approached to put her art on ceramic products to be sold at Myer, the Australia-wide department store chain.

Ms Cheedy’s art is inspired by plants and animals in the Pilbara, which will soon reach people around the country.

“Most of the artworks that I’ve done are plants and animals because they have significance to the ngaarda people, the Aboriginal people,” she said.

Ms Cheedy’s etching - Jirriwa (Echidna) Credit: Juluwarlu Art Group

Ms Cheedy is part of the Juluwarlu art group of artists from the Pilbara, and she explained the significance of her etches on ‘maarni’ boards.

“The plants that I’ve etched on my maarni boards, they were bush medicines that the elders used, or my ancestors used. Back in the day there weren’t any hospitals, so they used the plants, they used the animals.”

The Juluwarlu art group recently displayed some of Ms Cheedy’s work in Boorloo, Perth.

“Through that process, they sent some of these pieces through to Myer to have a look, and they loved it,” she said.

Ms Cheedy gave some advice for young artists out there.

“If you are doing art, don’t be afraid of making mistakes, because it’s all art,” she said.

“Do whatever is coming from your wirrard, your spirit. Do what you feel.”

“I thank the Lord for my God-given talents, and thank my elders that have given me these ideas and things to put onto the artworks.”