JUANELLA MCKENZIE
Language: Adnyamathanha, SA and Luritja, NT
Community: Port Augusta, SA
Practicing my culture through my art is an important way of maintaining my connection to country and family. Each piece I create is a way of preserving a story or the technique I use. Weaving emu feathers is a skill I learnt from watching elders as a child, I was captivated by the rhythm of their hands weaving these beautiful delicate feathers.
Fearful the technique would be lost, I practice this medium among many others with my daughters Ngarlaa, Ngayan and Ngintaka. I do this to help build their foundation strong in identity, connection to country and pass on cultural customs and knowledge the same way it was passed to me.
My culture keeps my spirit strong and happy. My art practice grounds me and my family. This is how we ensure our culture progresses into the future through the next generation.
Juanella Mckenzie.
About the Artwork: Yurndu (Sun) was created using the traditional technique of weaving emu feathers. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I started to weave this work, which took more than 100 hours to make. As well as featuring woven emu feathers, Yurndu includes a garland of quandong seeds. Emus play a critical role in the plants’ regeneration, with each quandong seed representing growth and resilience. The weaving acts as a symbol of hope, it's my wish that the sun will shine on a new day that is free of this pandemic.
