Community Art Project
Community Art Project with Dustin-Koa Art
As part of the 2024 Gawler Fringe, Caitlyn Davies-Plummer of Dustin-Koa Art, designed and created this stunning large-scale canvas that reflects community, connection, and culture. Members of the community were invited to contribute. The completed painting, that measures 3m by 1m, is now on display in the Gawler Civic Centre.
About the Artwork
This artwork was created on Kaurna Country by artist Caitlyn Davies-Plummer of Dustin-Koa Art in collaboration with the Town of Gawler and the Gawler community.
The special campsite located at the bottom left of the painting acknowledges the Kaurna people and their continuing connection to Country. The surrounding stars symbolise their ancestors. As the Traditional Custodians of Adelaide and the Adelaide Plains, including the land that is now known as the Town of Gawler, Kaurna people maintain strong cultural and heritage beliefs and spiritual connection to the land.
The central campsite represents the Gawler Civic Centre as a meeting and gathering place. This campsite is surrounded by community members who access the Centre’s programs and services. Along the journey line that surrounds the central campsite are more people who represent those who work and volunteer for the Town of Gawler and with the community.
Located above and below the central campsite are two smaller campsites created by the Gawler Aboriginal Health Team. The one above represents their team members, and the one below represents the community of children and families they work with.
The two prominent blue and purple journey lines that flow centrally across the entire length of the painting represent the continuous journey of reconciliation that the Town of Gawler is on. The journey lines to the left represent the past, while the journey lines to the right represent the future and how we would like to see reconciliation continue forward.
The many campsites featured across the centre of the painting, between the blue and purple journey lines, are the individual unique campsites created by community members. These special campsites represent safe spaces surrounded by loved ones and the stars by each symbolise the spirit of loved ones who have passed away.
The top left of the painting shows a person surrounded by many others. This is symbolic of the village we create to help raise our children. Although this may vary for different people and communities, at the core, we want our little ones to be loved and guided by those around us. Alongside this is a section of multicoloured fingerprints, added by community members as another special contribution to the painting.
The other detailed sections of the painting represent the patterns, colours, and elements of the land found at Broken Hill and Menindee. This includes bush shrubs, bush seeds, water movement patterns, native flowers, energy patterns stemming from elements of country, layers of country (rocks, shrubs, trees) and the journey lines that connect these together.
Heartfelt acknowledgement and thanks must go to every community member who added to this painting. Thank you to those who shared beautiful stories of loved ones, of those who have lost, and of those who are still finding their feet in the world. The willingness of people to be vulnerable, to share experiences, challenges, and milestones is inspiring and heartwarming. This project would not have been possible without each and every person who contributed.
Community Art Project with Dustin-Koa Art - Artist Explanation
About the Artist ~ Caitlyn Davies-Plummer of Dustin-Koa Art
Caity is a proud Aboriginal (Barkindji) woman, artist, psychologist, and mum. She draws on the patterns and colours she sees throughout the Broken Hill and Menindee landscape to inspire her artwork. A primary element of Caity's paintings is the Barkaa (river), and you will see it represented throughout most of her creations. Caity aims to combine her love for painting and education with her passion for wellness and mental health.