CARA SHIELDS
WIRADJURI ARTIST
Cara Shields is an emerging Wiradjuri artist born in Narromine and raised in Dubbo NSW.
Her studies of Aboriginal Art and Cultural Practices in Dubbo has influenced Cara in creating and after the birth of her son decided to create fulltime.
Drawing her inspiration from a traditional use of stylized lines being carved into tree trunks. They are known as Dendroglyps Trees, scared carvings that were used for burials, boundaries and ceremonies. Bark was also removed from the trees for the purposes of canoes, coolamon and shields. They are known as Scar Tree, with the bark removal a regrowth pattern will emerge.
Using acrylic paint and the traditional pigment of ochre sourced from the Dubbo area by her Uncle Wiradjuri Elder Peter Peckham, Cara’s Scar Tree and Scar Pattern Country series is a modern contemporary aerial interpretation on traditional artforms.
