Lake Macquarie council unveils Windale art project February 16 2019

A public art project unveiled today in Windale aims to celebrate the feelings, stories, dreams and aspirations of the local community.

The 10-metre long multi-media work, adorning the side of planter boxes in Windale’s main retail precinct, was inspired by workshops with Windale residents and school students and revolves around three key themes: People, Nature and Sport.

Lake Macquarie City Council’s Cultural Services Manager, Jacqui Hemsley, said the project was part of the ‘CREATE’ city-wide initiative aiming to bring communities together and enliven public spaces through meaningful public art projects.

“Art in public spaces encourages a sense of ownership by locals, improves the City's profile and has potential flow-on economic benefits,” Ms Hemsley said.

“The Windale community has a strong sense of pride in their area, and the artists worked hard to reflect this through the piece.”

Local artists John Cliff, Saretta Fielding, Joanna O’Toole and Warwick O’Toole created the mural, which features Aboriginal motifs and a curved design representing nearby Scrubby Creek.

“The Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal motifs represent community, harmony, collaboration and bush tucker,” Ms Hemsley said.

“Two steel elements symbolise the ‘dinosaur’ bridge of the Newcastle Inner-City Bypass.”

New plantings surrounding the sculpture include bush tucker species for the Windale community to care for and use freely. Curved timber seating designed as part of the new artwork has also been installed.

Mayor of Lake Macquarie, Councillor Kay Fraser, said public art helped enrich the lives of residents and visitors, providing many positive social and economic benefits. 

“The new public art work is just one of a suite of projects worth more than $7.5 million, helping revamp Windale,” Cr Fraser said.

“It marks the first milestone in our exciting CREATE initiative, with further works rolling out across Lake Macquarie in the near future.”

A brief history of Windale

Named after an early settler Vere James Winn. The current area was known as Surprise Township until 1913, when it became 'Surprise Town'. In March 1951, the town's name was gazetted as 'Windale'. The first post office was opened in 1951, public school in 1953.

Aboriginal artist Saretta Fielding’s sandpit studio April 17 2017

When Aboriginal artist Saretta Fielding is painting, eight hours can feel like just one: Time stands still, or it’s not relevant at all. 

“I feel like when I’m painting, I’m in the sandpit just playing… it’s something I love to do,” Saretta says.

“Playing in the sand” is a telling metaphor: Saretta uses her own self-taught, sand-based techniques to create highly textured, three-dimensional artworks that embody the age-old sandstone artworks made by her ancestors.

See the full story and episode here

Norton Rose Fulbright Exhibition June 23 2016

Saretta is one of ten Artist selected nationally to exhibit at the Norton Rose Fulbright Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art & Music exhibition held tonight in Sydney.

Leading into NAIDOC celebrations, Saretta’s artworks will hang beside those of her younger brother Damian Smith, former principal of the San Francisco Ballet and world renowned dancer, who was also one of the standout artist selected for this wonderful opportunity.

The talented siblings exhibited together for the first time in their home town of Toronto at Ninkinpa Gallery, on Friday 10 June with the story covered by ABC radio and television. In Australia for another week before returning to the States, Smith flew into the country last month to dance with the Australian Ballets production ‘Symphony in C’ at the Sydney Opera House.

Artwork selected to promote the ‘Our Communities’ Indigenous Art Exhibition, now showing at NSW PARLIAMENT HOUSE. June 21 2016

The ‘Our Communities’ - National Indigenous Art Exhibition presented by MAX Employment will showcase 20 National Indigenous Artist in Parliament House from- 15 June to 22 July 2016.

The exhibition highlights the talent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from around the country, honouring the culture, skill and diversity of the original owners of this land. Selected as a finalist in 2015 and 2016, Saretta’s artwork was this year chosen to promote the exhibition on the NSW Parliament website.

You can check out Saretta’s work and all twenty incredible finalist artworks at NSW Parliament Fountain Court Gallery – free entry over the following weeks.

https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/news/Pages/Our-Communities.aspx

Indigenous students learn "deadly skills" at Hunter TAFE Kurri Kurri May 20 2016

From the Newcastle Herald, 11 May 2016.

INDIGENOUS students from Hunter schools have gathered at TAFE’s Kurri Kurri campus for an event that empowers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth to pursue higher education.

More than 170 indigenous students in years 10 to 12 attended the second annual Deadly Skills – It’s Your Future, Claim It event, which is a collaboration between Hunter TAFE, the Newcastle Knights and the Aboriginal Learning Circle (Hunter).

Students heard from Knights players Dane Gagai, Jaelen Feeney and Robbie Rochow, NRL ambassador George Rose, past and present Indigenous Women’s All Stars Players, Australian Jillaroos representatives Emma and Julie Young and Aboriginal artist Saretta Fielding.

See more

Les Elvin tribute exhibition opens at Cessnock Regional Art Gallery May 14 2016

Indigenous painting revealed in new Charlton College building - Lakes Mail October 20 2015

AWARD-WINNING local Aboriginal artist, Saretta Fielding, recently revealed her latest work at Charlton Christian College, at Fassifern.

The artwork titled Wupiliko Miringil Moroon, meaning "put ready for life" was commissioned by the K-to-12 school for the opening of its new administration building.

Full article http://www.lakesmail.com.au/story/3435722/indigenous-painting-revealed-in-new-charlton-college-building/

Ray-Ban Wayfarer design on AFL umpire uniforms June 27 2015

It was a real honor to be selected to have my design which won the Ray-Ban OneSight competition in 2014 transformed for the AFL Dreamtime Round Umpire uniforms. Here are a few media articles.

Kayay Art Installation at Boulevard Family Practice Toronto NSW April 17 2015

I am very excited to share with you all an installation today of one of the first artworks I painted some years back, reproduced onto acrylic panels at the Boulevard Family Practice, 2nd Floor of the Alec Rice Medical Centre in my hometown of Toronto NSW.

Kayay – Move Along (Awabakal) The fish in the paintings represent my home, in Awabakal country, on the shores of beautiful Ninkinpa (Lake Macquarie) where time on the water and fishing are a way of life.

Please feel free to drop in and have a look.

Ray-Ban's Iconic Wayfarers Go Indigenous - MENSTYLEPOWER January 20 2015

Not-for-profit organisation – OneSight, in collaboration with Ray- Ban are thrilled to launch their exclusive Ray-Ban Indigenous Special Edition Wayfarer.

The iconic Wayfarer sunglasses, a wardrobe staple, is redeveloped in three designs featuring the Indigenous artwork of Saretta Fielding, and has officially launch in line with international World Sight Day.

Indigenous artist, Saretta Fielding, had her artwork announced as the winning design at Australian Indigenous Fashion Week in April, and we had the opportunity to interview her on her collaboration, her beginnings and her art.

To read article:  

http://www.menstylepower.com/2015/01/raybans-iconic-wayfarers-go-indigenous/    

OneSight Indigenous Ray-Ban Wayfarer Launch October 10 2014

On Thursday 9th October, it was my great pleasure to be invited to the launch of the Ray-Ban Wayfarer Indigenous glasses featuring my design.

The following is a video that was played on the night which provides you with history on OneSight and the competition. The video features Aden Ridgeway and Alison Page.

Enjoy...

Saretta wins at Coal and Allied's 2014 Singleton Art Prize July 23 2014

(l-r) Deidre Heitmeyer, Saretta Fielding, Cate Sims and Brad Franks.

Thanks to the Coal and Allied’s Aboriginal Community Development Fund Newcastle Artist Saretta Fielding won $4000 when she took out the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander section at this year's Singleton Art Prize.

The category was introduced last year and her artwork titled 'Koyiyoong Campsite' caught the eye of judge Terry Jarvis.

He described her work as "a very mature painting involving a variety of textures, shapes, colours and movement that tell a story."

“It has a unique presence. That draws you to look to understand and discover the storyline. It makes a magnificent statement of purpose, history, future and present. Congratulations on a great story,” he said.

See full story here

Creative Hunter Siblings - Saretta Fielding & Damien Smith on ABC Newcastle Mornings May 07 2014

In May, on 1233 Mornings Jill invited Hunter siblings Saretta Fielding and Damien Smith to share the latest news in their creative journeys. Saretta has taken out a major design award and Damien is moving on after 16 years as Principle dancer with the San Francisco Ballet. Where next for this creative Indigenous family?

To listen to the interview please click here

OneSight Ray-Ban Indigenous Special Edition Wayfarer competition winner April 12 2014

Sydney, 11 April 2014: Not-for-profit organisation OneSight has announced the winner today of their Ray-Ban Indigenous Special Edition Wayfarer competition at Australian Indigenous Fashion Week. Indigenous artist Saretta Fielding’s winning artwork was selected from a panel of judges including Alison Page and Aden Ridgeway, and has won the opportunity to transform her artwork into a unique pair of Ray-Ban Indigenous Special Edition Wayfarers.

Winning Design: Saretta Fielding - Wakool, NSW Forestry Logo Winner – 2013 March 14 2014

Saretta Fielding from Lake Macquarie is the winner of the Forestry Corporation of NSW's (formerly Forests NSW) competition to develop a logo in acknowledgement and respect of management of the forests by Aboriginal people in the past, present and future.

Forestry Corporation's acting CEO, Nick Roberts, said the logo would be used by the corporation to acknowledge Aboriginal partnerships and its work with indigenous communities.“Ms Fielding embodied the spirit of the competition with her thought provoking artwork titled Wakool, which means "One" in Awabakal language,” he said.

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Taronga Zoo Wild Rhino National Competition – 2013 Winner February 15 2014

Taronga Wild! Rhinos is a Wild in Art event that will bring businesses, artists and schools together to create a spectacular world-class sculpture trail from the Sydney Harbour foreshore through the Blue Mountains to Dubbo and the Central West region of NSW.

From February – April 2014 a huge herd of wildly colourful rhino sculptures painted by artists will charge into town as part of a mass public art exhibition to help raise awareness and valuable funds for Taronga’s world leading Black Rhino breeding program. Saretta Fielding's 'Ngeyn Malang' - We Together: Awabakal design has been selected as the Taronga Zoo Wild National Competition 2013 winner.

This intricate, vibrant design is representative of Aboriginal song lines (also called dream tracks), showing trade routes, walking tracks and pilgrimage. Lines throughout the work connect to circles, which mean meeting places and coming together. The work relates to the rhino's journey for survival and the people who come together to fight to save it from extinction through valuable breeding and conservation programs.