We are delighted to report that Year 8 student Cooper Miller – a member of Port Lincoln High School’s highly successful Aboriginal Arts program – was recently declared the 2018 winner of the “Ku Arts Our Young Mob Award”. The judge of this category, Inawinytji Williamson, thought that Cooper’s use of materials in “Bloodlines” (pictured) was innovative, and that he created a striking artwork for this year’s exhibition.
Cooper was very shocked and excited when he found out that he had won an “Our Young Mob” award. “The award makes me feel like keeping on going with my painting”, he said. For his efforts, Cooper won an Eckersley’s Art & Craft gift voucher to purchase materials to continue creating his art.
“Our Mob” hopes that Cooper continues to share his stories and creativity through art-making and look forward to displaying more of his impressive work in future exhibitions.
* “Our Young Mob” celebrates the vitality of Aboriginal art making across South Australia and demonstrates the power of bringing people together; the annual exhibition is held at the Adelaide Festival Centre; the 2018 collection opened on August 31st and runs until October 14th.
“Bloodlines” (acrylic on canvas with wool, raffia and leather)
Cooper Miller / Wirangu / 13 years old
This is my bloodline, this is who I am. I am white and I am black. The pattern over the top is as if an arrow is going in one direction. The background colour is a copper red with printed natural leaves of a gumtree on the mixed media painting. The gold on the arrow and on the X is a symbol of the future of my life in making good choices and goals. With wool, raffia around the edges of the arrows and the X in the middle of the painting marks the spot in my life and where I am.
I feel good about what I have accomplished with my painting.