Ashleigh Wanganeen
Narrungga & Ngarrundjeri Woman,
Point Pearce & Riverlands, South Australia
Hello, My name is Ashleigh Wanganeen and I am Dreaming in Dots. I am a very proud Narrungga, Point Pearce, South Australia & Ngarrundjeri, Riverland, South Australia Woman.
I was born Adelaide, South Australia, I grew up in Adelaide & travelled a lot with my Mum & Benno across the Eyre peninsula.
My Ancestors told stories through their painting, to pass through the generations. I am incredibly proud to continue this practice of dot painting as my Elders did before me 65,000 years ago to tell their stories, today that knowledge is passed down to me to share a beautiful part of Aboriginal Culture.
Painting provides a space to connect to my culture, calm my mind, focus & be able to create from a heart space. In sharing my artistic journey, I am meeting many beautiful people who are on their own journey of growing, healing and having conversations about painting or creation.
When creating for a painting, it’s apart of my soul & culture to yarn about what their connection in this universe looks like to them. When creating these artworks, I need to be able to connect & tell the story through my art.
I have been an assistant in nursing for the last 8 years in Far North Queensland. I enjoy connecting with elders in the community listening to their big yarns & being able to care for them in a way that makes them feel validated, acknowledged and loved. I started volunteering in Cooktown FNQ before starting in the hospital and I fell in love with being able to brighten peoples day by caring for them through having a cuppa tea, biscuits, cake & lots of yarning!
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Ash Wanganeen
Contemporary Aboriginal Artist
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Narrungga Woman Poem
She hears the hum of whispers,
echoes from a time before
feels earth still warmed by footsteps taken
in the time of dreams and lore
in a time when dreams were born song lines linger around her
by monas voice she is lead,
Great Grandmothers blood runs through her the earth still stained the same red,
this wisdom is her birthright,
passed on through stories and soul
this knowledge is her burden one she holds, precious like raw gold,
a proud Narrungga woman, she takes the flame, for it’s her turn,
her spirit journey, a homecoming,
to where ocean meets blood red dirt,
she aches to breath new life into this art, ancient as earth,
her muse, her deepest love of all,
the culture from which she birthed,
so she dreams in dots and symbols,
as ancestors guide her sun blessed hands, sacred vessels,
painting the stories of her wild, beloved home land.
Let’s Create Something Amazing!
Let’s yarn about your dream commission! Let me tell you a story through my beautiful one of a kind pieces. Have a cuppa, connect with me and let’s create something magical.
