For Our Elders by Merindah Funnell in Sydney

This project at TAFENSW St George campus resulted in 3 community workshops and 2 collaborative and community-based murals over a period of weeks. The first mural (shown) is designed to commemorate NAIDOC Week 2023, with the theme ‘For Our Elders’. I ran two creative workshops with Elders, knowledge holders and local mob to brainstorm and develop ideas for the mural’s design. The ideas and desires that came out of these workshops shaped the mural and its’ subject matter. During this process, I consulted with Aunty Barb Simms who had a heavy influence and the final approval on the mural design. This 15x16m mural celebrates NAIDOC Week and creates a welcoming space for First Nations and non-First Nations people on the TAFENSW Campus. While being a warm and welcoming feature, the mural also aims to educate and inform on native plants and animals as well as encourage the public to take care of Country.