Caring for our Mob

Artist: Kutcha B Blackman (Budtjala)

Region: Wide Bay, Hervey Bay

About the artwork

I am a descendant of the Budtjala people of K’gari (Fraser Island) and Wide Bay.

In recognition of my culture and my cultural spirit, I take on the painting name of Kutcha B Blackman. Blackman is my mum’s maiden name. Kutcha (native bush bee) from the local Aboriginal language of the Brisbane area.

I continue to work and support community and cultural initiatives wherever possible as I continue on my healing Journey.

We as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people come in all colours. The four centre images are all painted in different variations.

No matter our skin colour or place of birth, we have a spiritual connection to our Ancestors and Country. I have shown this through the use of the red ochre colour which surrounds the centre images.

Our families and community are made up of many varieties of family groups including age, family connection and skin colour. The family groupings shown in the yellow centre are a way to depict this.

The large and small circular ‘meeting place‘ symbols represent the various health services which have some contact with our Indigenous communities. These could be – hospitals, emergency services, local medical clinics, private general practitioners, ear, eye, hearing and dental services; mental health workers and units; research and training facilities.

The travel/connection lines between each ‘meeting place’ symbol are the important lines of communication and sharing between services.

Our region of Wide Bay consists of the ocean, river waters and billabongs; coastal scrub; eucalyptus bush and rainforest. These are depicted through the base colours of blue, green with the yellow for sun and sand.

I have used three ochre coloured lines to signify the colours of the land from urban to rural areas.