Meet The Artists

Cheryl Moggs OAM

Cheryl is an elder, cultural leader, artist, teacher, designer and weaver.

A descendant of the Bigambul people, south west Queensland, she was born and raised on the traditional lands of her mother, grandmother and great grandmothers. She remains connected to country.

She is a recipient of the Order of Australian Medal for Services to Indigenous arts and cultural, community, business and her people of the Bigambul Nation.

An internationally recognised artist, Cheryl won the 2018 National NAIDOC Art Poster Award for her work - Because of Her We Can. She has major commissioned works within the corporate and community sectors and is QIC’s resident principal artist.

Cheryl is the Founder and CEO of arts and cultural business Tarmunggie, which means woman.

She is also a teacher of Indigenous arts and culture across TAFE Queensland, Educational Queensland and the tertiary education, community and business sectors.

A self-taught artist inspired by country, story, heritage, culture, history and her people, she challenges western ideologies, mapping country and place, constructing identities and connections.

Cheryl offers her culture, teaching, artistic knowledge and skills to the development of the CHAMPIONS for the FUTURE Mural. A celebration, giving voice to the theme of NAIDOC 2022 - GET UP, STAND UP, SHOW UP.

“CHAMPIONS for the FUTURE gives us all the opportunity to question, take responsibility and change the status quo. May that be cultural, environmental, educational, and nurturing. As artists, this mural offers a visual message of nurturing and supporting our children to become CHAMPIONS of the FUTURE that they may wish to aspire to.”

Jennifer Wright (Summers)

Jennifer is an artist, project leader and long-term advocate for community-led public art, who found her nich after careers in science, education, editing and publishing.

She has been pivotal in Arts Council Toowoomba projects including Avant Garden, the Splashing back mosaic flood marker trail and the I Y Toowoomba blackboard project. Jennifer worked with QIC – Grand Central on the Culture Wall in Dent Street to actualise the concept of Women at Work, weaving the community together.

Jennifer said she was keen to activate this community space via respectful collaboration between Grand Central, local Indigenous artists, young people and with the assistance of graphic designer Mary-Kate Thomson.

“CHAMPIONS for the FUTURE demonstrates how mentorship can help young people to become leaders who create a better future for everyone.”

David ‘Dook’ McCarthy

YULU NGAYA DANA DHANDIGU WAKKA WAKKA JARRIOWAR GIABAL

(TODAY I STAND ON WAKKA WAKKA JAROWAIR GIABAL COUNTRY)

YIMBINA NGAYA MANDANA YILUNA DHANDI

(I KNOW AND RESPECT THE PEOPLE OF THIS LAND)

YIMBANA NGAYA YILUNA DHANDI

(I KNOW AND RESPECT THE LAND)

YIMBINA NGAYA WADURIN MAMIGAN MATYA

(I KNOW AND RESPECT THE OLD PEOPLE OF LONG AGO)

Ngarrumban (David McCarthy) is a proud First Nations man having ancestral ties to the Mandandanyi, Gunggari, Mithaka peoples through his Father and Gooeng and Kanalou peoples through his Mother. He has connections to both fresh and saltwater country, which you see in his paintings.

He is the business owner of Ngarrumban Arts and Cultural Experience. Ngarrumban means Pelican in my Grandfather’s Gunggari language.

“I was given this name as he can be found both in the fresh and salt water and also travels a lot. I use this name to sign my paintings and when I’m performing. It’s also used amongst family and friends, as I’m a strong believer in giving power back to traditional language.”

The business covers traditional dancers, workshop, from art to artefacts and language. He was passed the knowledge of how to tell stories through art using symbols that have been used for over 60,000 years.

David’s older Brother, Mabragulla, gave him the tools and knowledge to tell his first story through art at the young age of 9. From there, he has grown into his own unique contemporary style, still using old symbols and finding a mix of them both.

Champions for the Future is what culture is all about, and that is passing on knowledge to the next generation.

BE PROUD OF WHO YOU ARE AND WHERE YOU COME FROM!

AARON (DHURIL) BLADES

Aaron is a Mandandanji man from the Balonne River in south western Queensland.

He has been painting since he was 14 years old and over that time has utilised his paintings to tell his stories and heal. Throughout his life he has had the privilege to travel and learn from other nations about their country and their waterways.

“My paintings allow me to give an insight into our beautiful culture while also providing me the ability to heal my spirit through my connection to my old people. I believe the path that I am on was planned for me long ago by my ancestors and I intend follow their guidance and strive to become a strong advocate for my people.”

Champions for the Future is a great opportunity to provide guidance to our young people for the future, while providing a cultural learning opportunity for the wider community.

Wangarra Mandana

(One People)

MARY-KATE THOMSON

Mary-Kate is a local artist and graphic designer who has worked with Project Manager Jennifer Wright (Summers) through Arts Council Toowoomba Inc., with various local Indigenous Artists including Cheryl Moggs, and QIC Shopping Centres.

She painted a section of the Grand Central Culture Wall Women in Work mural in Dent St, and worked with QIC to produce the book about the project.

Alongside Cheryl, she worked on the Inaugural QIC Reconciliation Action Plan, has been a QIC – Grand Central resident artist through the Carnival of Flowers cows project, and is currently a co-creative advisor for the Grand Central Floral Parade.