FROM ME TO YOU

I would firstly like to acknowledge the Wurundjeri people, the Traditional Custodians of the land in which i live and work. I recognise their deep connection and understanding of our land, its waterways, seas and sky.
I pay my respects to Elders past and present as they hold the wisdom that inspires future generations. I extend my respect to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia.

Welcome and thank you for making it here. My name is Holly and I am a proud Yorta Yorta woman and Artist. I've always had so much pride in my family, my country and my culture and I consider myself so grateful that through art I can share my pride with others. Though I grew up in the eastern suburbs of Naarm I have always kept a close connection with my Yorta Yorta country.

My story comes from Yorta Yorta Country, with most of my history coming from the Maloga and then Cummeragunja Mission. My great great grandparents were Thomas Shadrach James and Ada Bethel Cooper, two prominent pillars within the community.

Grandpa James was from Mauritius, he wore many hats, one being the school teacher at both Maloga and Cummeragunja. He married my great great grandma Ada Cooper, a Yorta Yorta woman.

They had my great grandfather Thomas Carey James who married my great grandmother Mary Rebecca James.

Mary was also born at Cummeragunja and you can now find a mural of her in Shepparton which is quite spectacular. My nan, their daughter tells us how they would swim across the river to meet up with each other when they were young. Nan is one of 14 children so it was a great love as you can imagine.

Cummeragunja and my family have stories of sadness, mistreatment, stolen children and much more but it also finds itself home to resilience, determination, creativity and strength like no other. This community was strong. In 1939 approximately 200 residents walked off the reserve in strike of the poor living conditions and treatment from the government. Grandpa James and Grandma Ada were instrumental in the walk off organisation. I’m proud to come from a family with strength such as theirs.

I spent a lot of time as a child at my grandparents house. My uncle (Adam McLennan) their son and my dads brother was an incredible Artist. He spent lots of time away when i was young and would mail his paintings to my Nan where she would manage him.

I remember bringing in the ladder from out the back, inside into the lounge. I would help roll out the canvases when they would arrive and a brilliance of colour would unfold. Pa would climb the ladder and would photograph them on Nans camera. Nan was famous for her camera back then, there wasn't a single place she wouldn't take it.

I was lucky to tag along with her to galleries where she would consult and see if it was the right fit. I would be left to walk around and admire the walls for as long as i could remember. To be surrounded by creativity and passion like that is still something i don't forget. I still remember many of those walls like it was yesterday.

I think this is where my passion for art originated.

I've always been a creative with my hands in many projects at once, always struggling to juggle all of my ideas at the same time.

I look forward to connecting with you through my creations and sharing more of my story with you.

Holly xxx