Cordalba-based Indigenous artist Marika Baumgart has once again picked up a paintbrush to showcase the artistic ability that won her the NAIDOC art poster in 2001.
Marika’s artwork is on show at the Friendly Society Private Hospital main foyer as part of NAIDOC Week, with pieces for sale from the hospital from next week.
While it has been 20 years since she has been painting she said she had now found the time to enjoy putting brush to canvas again.
“This exhibition is for NAIDOC week and for the theme healing country,” she said.
“I haven’t had a display for a while since winning the NAIDOC art prize in 2001.
“I have just started getting back into it again, with my kids grown up now I have room to paint again.”
This year’s theme of Heal Country is special to Marika as she shared advice for younger generations regarding the importance of the theme.
“It means healing the land,” she said.
“For the younger generations, we need to look after the land and we value the land foremost and then family.”
Marika has a range of artwork on display at the hospital, including a dragonfly and kookaburra.
“I did these paintings especially for this exhibition,” she said.
“The kookaburra was inspired by all the birds at my house but the dragonfly comes from a water theme I had been thinking about.”
You can view the exhibition of NAIDOC artwork and meet Marika at the Friendly Society Private Hospital Main Foyer on Wednesday 8 July from 11 am – 2pm and Friday 9 July 10 am – 12pm.
Find out more about a range of activities happening in the region as part of NAIDOC Week 2021 here.
