Meet the Artist behind the Artwork: Jarni McGuire
Strength, Vision & Legacy by Jarni McGuire, NAIDOC Week 2025
My work is inspired by the Boorloo (Perth) landscape and river, especially the lake system that once flourished there, providing abundant resources from ochre for ceremonies to wildlife for nourishment. The glistening of the waters, and honouring the old ways of our old people living and breathing within our Boodja (country).
The Maali represents our wildlife and the life it brings to our song, dance, and sustenance.
Strength, Vision and Legacy; When I think of representing strength, I envision bold colours that showcase the definitive resilience and honour of our culture and people—their voices, hearts, and boldness in adversity.
Through the eyes of our people, I believe that we need to be the authors of our own stories and what legacy we want to leave behind through self-determination and what that means to us.
JARNI'S CUSTOM ARTWORK COULD BE ALL YOURS
Jarni is giving away an A3 framed copy of her original piece 'Strength, Vision & Legacy' whilst raising funds to support the amazing work of the Voice of Hope Aboriginal Corporation. Visit the entry box located in-between Miss Maud and Strandbags and place a donation inside the envelope with your details on the front. Jarni will be drawing the winner after the school holidays!
More about Voice of Hope
Established in early 2022, the Voice of Hope Aboriginal Corporation is a not-for-profit entity registered with the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations and the Australian Charities Not-for-profits Commission.
The corporation assists incarcerated and formerly incarcerated Aboriginal women with Cultural programs to assist connecting to culture, identity and family origins, access to counselling services, parenting support programs and family reunification, educational, vocational and networking programs and access to utilities and housing to address homelessness.
My name is Jarni McGuire, and I was born and raised on Noongar Boodja (country); a Whadjuk, Ballardong and Yuat woman living in Boorloo (Perth). At a young age, I had always loved creating things but was never quite sure where I wanted to channel my energies as I love trying everything. So, in 2021, I started Jarni Creative... I love bringing our traditional stories and art into the modern landscape. My inspiration is found in my culture, using my language and listening to my mob, hearing their stories, asking questions and following Noongar protocol. I believe a lot can be learned from many art forms and I love sharing my culture, my way.