Connecting worlds through art
Springwood artist Sally Terare vividly remembers the first time she saw an Indigenous Elder painting in the traditional way.
She was 14 and, as Sally watched and learned how the stories came together, a new world opened to her. It was the first time she connected with her own cultural heritage.
Sally couldn’t have known then it would spark a love of the arts that would one day offer her the chance to create an iconic mural at the City of Logan’s new Kingston Butter Factory (KBF) Cultural Precinct.
At the time, though, the Logan teenager was only starting a journey that would connect 2 important parts of her identity. The first, a ward of the state raised in a nurturing non-Indigenous family; and the other, a First Nations person (of Butchulla and Bundjalung country).
‘While my foster parents always encouraged my learning of my cultural heritage and family background, they couldn’t teach the cultural beliefs and traditions associated with my identity,’ Sally says.
That deeper learning began with the encounter with the Elder – learning the techniques and symbolism of traditional Indigenous art – at a time when Sally was reconnecting with her biological family.
A mother now herself (of 8-year-old Harmony), Sally speaks often of ‘connection’ and it’s evident she’s achieved that in her own life.
‘I feel fortunate that I have 2 families. To this very day I’m connected to both.’
As with her identity, Sally’s art defies a single label. ‘I’m a contemporary Indigenous artist,’ she says. ‘Being contemporary means painting with personal perspectives: what I see in nature and my connection to my ancestry,’ she says.
Sally says she doesn’t tell traditional Indigenous stories. Instead, she creates contemporary designs with traditional symbolism.
‘All First Nations painting contains strong symbolism, whether it be a traditional lesson or teaching in some form, or a personal experience.’
Sally and her daughter Harmony with City of Logan Mayor Darren Power at the official launch of the Kingston Butter Factory Cultural Precinct.
Sally’s creativity flourished in Logan. She first shared her art in local markets, and then had her first exhibition at the Logan Art Gallery 4 years ago. The works in the solo exhibition, titled It’s the smaller things, reflected how small creatures have similarities to human nature and behaviour.
Sally’s work at KBF, Wander Free is an extension of that, featuring bees, dragonflies and ladybugs. It’s a 20-metre-wide piece that brings the new outdoor plaza to life.
It’s one of the first artworks you see in the precinct, and sets the tone for combination of arts, culture and connection the precinct aims to offer. For the artist herself, seeing her largest artwork come to life has been another significant moment in her life. ‘It is far beyond what I expected.’
How did Wander Free come together?
When Logan City Council was developing the Kingston Butter Factory Cultural Precinct, it knew it needed something special for the precinct’s public spaces.
Expressions of interest were called to find artists with the style and vision to bring those spaces to life.
Sally was chosen to create a piece for the new outdoor plaza. The plaza serves as the precinct centre-point, linking the outdoor stage to the butter factory building (where the Living Museum of Logan and Butterbox Theatre are located), Devon Pixies Tea House, and Logan City Heritage Museum.
Wander Free first came to life as a small piece on canvas, and then was recreated on a grand scale.
Sally is quick to give a shout-out to Brick N Pave, the team that helped create the large version over several weeks last year, while the rest of the precinct took shape around them.
‘Brick N Pave did the stencilling and I then I came in and added the finishing touches. They were so professional and fun to work with.’
Why ‘Wander Free’?
‘They (the featured insects) wander free and we too like to wander free,’ Sally says. ‘The KBF is a big open space and I wanted to reflect that in the design.’
Sally always planned to feature flora and fauna in some form, interested in continuing to draw on the inter-connections between the natural environment and people.
She also loves the symbolism of each of the featured insects, which she describes as:
- The bee: ‘Working together and communication.’
- The dragonfly: ‘How we can transform and adjust to change in a positive way.’
- The ladybird: ‘Counting our blessings and being grateful for what we have.’
Sally’s insect designs inspired other elements of the precinct, carrying through to the play equipment near the mural.
Where else can you see Sally’s work?
Sally has been part of several public art projects in Logan as part of a collective of local artists. You can see her work:
- on a walkway off Dennis Road, Springwood
- as part of new public installation pieces on Loganlea Road and Meadowbrook.
By Paula Weston
