Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that this website contains the names and images of people who have passed
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that this website contains the names and images of people who have passed
Artists and artwork
Our website proudly features artworks by two Victorian Aboriginal artists.
Following a competitive application process, Saige Bell was chosen to create an artwork to be used as the new logo for the AJC. This artwork then informed AJC’s new style, created in conjunction with Claystone Marketing.
Sandra Kropinyeri created a series of artworks to be used for our Looking Back, Moving Forward project. Each artwork responds to elements of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody or to coronial inquests in Aboriginal deaths in custody. Sandra also created symbols to represent each of the themes by which the findings from Looking Back are divided.
Saige Bell
Saige is a proud 16-year-old Gunditjmara/Yorta Yorta woman from Southwest Victoria. She is the artist behind Yuuitch Peetch Yarkeen (‘Powerful Owl Dreaming’ in her local Dhaurwurd-Wurrung language).
Our Logo
This image depicts a Caucus Member who holds a senior role within our Victorian Aboriginal Community. They hold the responsibility to represent and advocate for our mob who are in or at risk of the criminal justice system. This senior person with a headband and possum skin cloak to represent their seniority. The possum skin cloak serves as a comfort mechanism and artwork tells the stories of Aboriginal Justice Agreement (AJA) 1 to 4 with vacant parts of the cloak to tell the successes of future AJAs. The nine handprints symbolise the regions the Caucus represents. The traditional fighting stick and shield arm the Caucus to protect and fight for our mobs’ rights. This project is close to me with my Great Grandmother Aunty Laura Bell, Grandfather Wayne Bell, Uncle Johnny Bell and Aunty Kristen Bell, along with many of my other family members playing key contributions to Aboriginal Justice. I hope you see this piece of art appropriate for the Aboriginal Justice Caucus’ continued commitment to advocate, protect and fight for our mob within or at risk of the justice system.
– Saige Bell
Sandra Kropinyerri
Sandra was born and raised on Wemba Wemba Country with connections to Wadi Wadi, Mutti, Mutti, Wiradjuri, Yorta Yorta, Wotjoblik, and Taungurung. Sandra’s family are full of artists who have inspired her throughout her life in all areas including painting, emu egg carving, woodwork, burning designs, photography and using natural materials to create. Photography had always been her main form of Art since a teenager when the disposable camera was used to capture everything of interest.
In her later years, Sandra gained work using those skills to capture events and special moments for individuals and families. In 2012 was when she attempted acrylic painting and made her 1st sale of an art piece in Kerang Rotary Art Exhibition. From that moment on Sandra’s artwork has been created after work hours and while spending time with her children and family. Most of her work represents life along the River, land and animals and all the emotions that come with everyday living and life experiences. She likes to explore all forms of art and has experience in Acrylic, Watercolour, Pen, Pencil, Digital, Photography, clay, wood, possum skin work and mixed media.
Sandra has had her art in local exhibitions over the years and has commissioned pieces on display in the local community of Swan Hill and surrounding areas. You can find more of her beautiful artworks at Sandra K’s Art.
Aboriginal Justice Caucus Artworks
The centre of this artwork represents the nine Regional Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committees (Shields) and Aboriginal communities (Green Circles). The circle is all of them meeting together. The bottom half circles represent the lands on which meetings take place, and the feet are the walk and work that has been done to get where we are now and take us further to where we need to be. Also, the people that have left their print of life. The blue lines are the water ways across Victoria, from lakes, streams, rivers, sea, which sustains all on the journey. The hands represent all working together.
The shields represent the nine Regional Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committees. The hands represent Aboriginal Justice Caucus member organisations. The blue is rivers, lakes and oceans across the land. The circles are communities that have been affected by a passing.
The lines represent the all the organisations and Regional Aboriginal Justice Advisory committees that make up the Aboriginal Justice Caucus. The centre is the meeting place for all these organisations working together.
Looking Back, Moving Forward Artworks
The shield represents the Aboriginal Justice Caucus, created as a result of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody 1991 (RCIADIC). The bottom sets of feet are those who have left prints of their lives. The four heads represent families mourning for those who have passed. The blue dots are their tears. The green circles are communities meeting that support the families. The blue ‘U’ shapes are those that do the work. The background and blue line represent the land and waters. The emu and kangaroo tracks represent ancestors. The [PROJECT NAME] reclaims these animals from their use in the Commonwealth insignia used in royal commissions, just as the Aboriginal Justice Caucus’ leadership in the justice system returns control to community.
The blue sprinkle across bottom is the tears of the families/communities impacted by the deaths of Aboriginal people in custody. The blue ‘U’ shapes are those that work for change. The kangaroo and emu prints represent ancestors. The blue line represents land and waters. The green circle is the communities that support the families of those who have passed.
The feet are those who have left the print of their lives. The circles represent the Aboriginal Justice Caucus member organisations and Regional Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committees, as well as the other community organisations working to create change. The blue are the tears of the families and communities impacted by deaths in custody.
The left hand is the court hearing. The right hand is the coronial investigation that takes place into the death. The designs on both hands are kangaroo track symbolising the path and process and the boomerang symbolising giving and receiving information. The ‘U’ shapes are the people who work in those roles. The top ‘U’ shapes are individual workers. The bottom circles are the community, agencies, and all that play their part in providing information to support both hands. The white Circles represent the Aboriginal Justice Caucus and other community organisations working to support the families of those who have passed. The feet represent the people who have left prints of their lives, also the walk and work all do involved in the coronial inquest process moving between settler systems and Aboriginal understandings of justice.
The arches represent those that have passed. The magnifying glass is the investigation into deaths in custody.
The ‘U’ shapes are the individuals that involved in the coronial inquest process. The dots are all the community organisations that support.