Painting vibrant culture

The acclaimed artist painted one of the largest murals in the southern hemisphere, illustrated Sally Morgan’s hit book My Place as well as several of her own books, and was one of the first Australian fashion designers to show her work in Paris. 

After speaking to the school and donating a series of her books to the library, Ms Bancroft held a two hour art workshop where students collaborated to depict the rainbow serpent story of creation. 

Fourteen-year-old Caitlin Brown said the hands-on workshop was very different from the regular Friday afternoon session she attended through the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME).

“It has been awesome,” she said. 

“She is an inspiration, making something fun her work. But she also wants us to get what her paintings and things mean and the stories they actually represent.” 

Using vibrant colours students worked together on a central board and on individual canvasses and boomerangs. 

Ms Bancroft said it was a connection with an old friend, Eva Gasiewicz, that led her to arrange the workshop with the Year 7-10 indigenous students. 

“I don’t do school visits at all now, I’d love to but I work full-time as an artist,” she said. 

With paintbrushes in hand, students chatted about the significance of going home to country, connecting with family, and their knowledge of their Aboriginality. 

Ms Bancroft, whose son Jack Manning Bancroft began AIME, said it was vital to encourage young people to link up with older generations and seek out cultural understanding. 

“You've got to go and chase that as a kid,” she said. “It is part of your job.” 

She said the workshop aimed to get the students thinking about pride and heritage, but also enabled them to connect in an informal and fun way. 

“Largely I just want them to stay at school,” she said. 

“Sometimes kids get bored and don’t think that school will ever end so I like to think the art stuff reminds them that they are all creative and have skills.”