NAIDOC Week artwork revealed

A NEW installation has appeared on the front windows of the Emporium Creative Hub in Mitchell Street just in time for NAIDOC week.

Keep The Fire Burning is a vinyl wrap created by First Nations artist Michellie Jade Charvat and is about 12 metres long and one metre high.

Emporium’s manager Linden Read said NAIDOC Week is the perfect time to be able to provide some prominent space for an emerging artist like Charvat.

“As a creative hub, we feel really strongly about finding opportunities for local creatives to amplify their voices,” she said.

“We are so thrilled with the beautiful piece that Michellie has created for us. She was able to distil a sense of warmth and community into the piece that really captures the essence of our creative meeting place.”

Charvat said the artwork was inspired by this year’s NAIDOC theme of ‘Keep the fire burning, Black, Loud and Proud’ as well as the theme for National Reconciliation Week, which was Now more than Ever.’

“Keep the fire burning to me means keep learning, continue forward with hope and to keep inspiring others to do so too,” she said.

“The focal point of this piece is the centre which draws you in with that vibrant yellow where we can see people sitting around a meeting place. This is incredibly significant within our culture and communities.”

The installation appears alongside a digital slideshow featuring work from the Knuldoorong exhibition (Dudley House, 5 to 14 July) and other NAIDOC events.