For NAIDOC Week 2022, Pwerle Gallery returned to Westfield Marion with a new activation — this time spotlighting the artwork of Mariah Akamarre, Jade’s younger sister and part of the next generation of artists from Atnwengerrp. Mariah’s flowing Awelye-inspired work was displayed prominently, its rhythmic patterns and vibrant colours transforming the retail environment into a celebration of culture and creativity.
Alongside the installation, Pwerle Gallery partnered with Emali Childcare to run children’s art workshops throughout the week.
These sessions gave young people the chance to paint their own canvases, learn about Dreaming stories, and connect with culture through hands-on experiences. To deepen the learning, Pwerle collaborated with family friend and local Aboriginal artist Shane Cook, who helped design colouring-in sheets featuring Aboriginal symbols. These sheets encouraged children to engage with cultural iconography in a fun and accessible way.
In the drawing and painting classes, children were also given a guide sheet of traditional Aboriginal shapes to copy, helping them understand the language of symbols that form the foundations of Dreaming stories. By combining large-scale public exhibition with these thoughtful, interactive activities, the 2022 activation created a powerful bridge between generations — celebrating Aboriginal art not only as something to be admired but also as knowledge to be shared, learned, and carried forward.
These sessions gave young people the chance to paint their own canvases, learn about Dreaming stories, and connect with culture through hands-on experiences. To deepen the learning, Pwerle collaborated with family friend and local Aboriginal artist Shane Cook, who helped design colouring-in sheets featuring Aboriginal symbols. These sheets encouraged children to engage with cultural iconography in a fun and accessible way.
In the drawing and painting classes, children were also given a guide sheet of traditional Aboriginal shapes to copy, helping them understand the language of symbols that form the foundations of Dreaming stories. By combining large-scale public exhibition with these thoughtful, interactive activities, the 2022 activation created a powerful bridge between generations — celebrating Aboriginal art not only as something to be admired but also as knowledge to be shared, learned, and carried forward.
