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Koori artist paints the best of both worlds Cecily Wellington, mother of three, moved from Bega to Nowra about 8 years ago. Her grandparents were of the Jerringa people and Cecily said she was drawn back to the surrounding area and people. Her art began with traditional non-Aboriginal landscapes, over 20 years ago. She has been doing Koori art for the past 13 years. ‘I was fostered into a white family in Bega, so I have both cultures.’ Wellington's work reflects the artistic traditions of both cultures from her early landscapes, flowers and birds to the present diverse works. Self taught, she received much encouragement from two uncles who helped boost her understanding of Koori culture. ‘I always listened to the elders,’ she said. She has enjoyed the support of several people, particularly Auntie Bertha Bloxsome and Ruth Dane, currently Aboriginal Community Officer at Shoalhaven City Council. ‘Auntie Bertha supported me in many ways, helping to understand my background. She told me to just go for it. and Ruth has been of continuous support since I came to Nowra.' She calls art a hobby, however, it continues to help support her. A quiet personality, Wellington doesn’t seek the limelight, saying she’s comfortable with her current amount of publicity. She teaches at woodburning with TAFE in Aboriginal Industry, as well as jewellery and basket weaving. A natural teacher, she also teaches screen printing with the Jerringa community. In 1998, Wellington was a trainee curator at Wollongong City Gallery, one of 11 Aboriginal artists offered traineeships statewide. She is known in Nowra for her work designing the floor in the new wing of Shoalhaven Hospital, a commissioned project. Her work is also featured in the casualty area of the hospital. Other projects have included – Woodburning painting, commissioned by Shoalhaven City Council, a project she worked on jointly with South Coast artist Cheryl Davidson. Greenfields Beach mural, a solo commission by National Parks and Wildlife during the upgrading of the area. Koori kindergarten at East Nowra - mural. Shoalhaven Council have purchased three recent works to help promote Aboriginal community issues. Jigsaws, approximately 2’ x 15” on craft timber illustrating Koori themes. She decorates terracotta pots, placemats, coasters and sells these at the markets. Two large paintings at Jerringa medical centre. Shoalhaven High School - four classroom doors, including one painted together with students. A story was recently published in an Aboriginal Women’s Anthology, ‘Holding up the Sky’. Wellington's contribution ‘It’s About Time’ is about an incident when she was in her mid-20s. Another project, ‘How It Was’, the story of her foster years, is nearing completion and she’s currently negotiating with a publisher. Wellington's story will be included in an anthology of multicultural stories of children who were adopted cross-culturally to be published by the Bondi Resource Adoption Centre. Wellington has sold paintings through Hogarth Gallery, Sydney; Wollongong City Gallery; Rocks Souvenirs Shops, Monash University Gallery in Victoria. She has participated in group exhibitions at the Wollongong City Gallery, Boomalli Art Gallery, Monash University Art Gallery, Gippsland TAFE Tallery with works featuring in collections in USA, UK, Japan, New Zealand, Malaysia and throughout Australia. |
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