A mother-of-five who joined an Aboriginal art class in Wauchope TAFE now has her work on show at the prestigious Glasshouse in Port Macquarie.
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Verqelle Fisher moved here from Rockhampton two years ago, and got a chance to tap into her long-dormant artistic side. She used to paint a long time ago but had a break for years as she reared five children.
“But when my little fella started school, I was bored being home alone.” She hadn’t touch a paintbrush while she reared her kids, but says it all came back to her.
“I never lost it. All my culture was just sitting there waiting,” said Verqelle, who’s a single mother.
Since beginning her artistic journey again, with the Certificate III and IV in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Art, Verqelle’s talent has been recognised by her teachers and peers.
I never lost it. All my culture was just sitting there waiting.
- Aboriginal artist Verqelle Fisher
Her painting of a riverbed in Gungaloo, her traditional lands in the Blackdown Tableland in Central Queensland, was chosen to appear in Northern Exposure 4, an exhibition of local artists at the Glasshouse which runs until July 3.
She says it was the first time she’d entered something like that, and the selection process went on for a few months, so it was really exciting when she finally got the letter.
Her painting is called Rainbow Falls and it’s a riverbed with big rocks and pools that interconnect like caves. She says the work represents rain falling and then swimming between the rock pools.
“I’m a contemporary Aboriginal artist, so the painting is abstract but the story line still stands out and people can imagine the stories. When you start telling the yarn about the painting, people say, I can see it now.”
Verqelle has since spread her wings, working with schools, painting murals and applying for more exhibitions. She does volunteer work for the local school in Wauchope, and tells the children all about symbols and stories.
“There is a lot more engagement in schools with Aboriginal history these days and art is a good way to communicate with kids and to keep the culture going.” she says.
Verqelle is also doing a mural at the Land Council here and there are lots of opportunities through TAFE. She often experiments with other mediums, including driftwood and silk.
“Ideas just pop up all the time and once that idea pops into my head it’s just boom, boom, boom. I’d like to start a market stall and sell my art there.”
Verqelle says her ultimate goal is to have a solo exhibition in her home town of Rockhampton, maybe in five or 10 years.