Jacinta-rai Ridgeway-Maahs is a contemporary Indigenous Artist, telling stories through art like her ancestors. A proud Worimi woman creating on Butchulla country, Jacinta-rai embraces earthy tones, peachy pinks, pastels and bold colours. Motivated by country, community, culture, life and family, she creates stories that connect with people of all cultures.
Jacinta-rai’s art is meditation. Quiet relaxation comes with every symbol, dash and dot. She strongly believes children are our future, in education, equality, taking care of country, kindness and walking together.
Home Design Story
Home represents the way we find our path and walk life’s journey on country. As individuals, we each contribute to community in a variety of ways – all different yet equally essential for a balanced environment. The feeling of home celebrates acceptance of each other, our diversity and uniqueness regardless of our strengths and weaknesses.
It shows that we can walk together in unison and truly make a difference for generations to come.
Journeys in the sun Design Story
Journeys in the sun tells of the many experiences had by my Worimi ancestors as they travelled across country.
The warmth and brightness of the sun are represented by a large mustard circle. A rainbow portrays vast sand dunes of Worimi land as the sun beams down on them and the path travelled.
The large circle pattern embraces the fundamental core of our spirit, coming together and our cultural and community beliefs. Circles demonstrate various mobs in community, yarning with their young, teaching the way of the land using sun, sky and sea to survive on country.
Finally, tracks connect individual mobs and show how they come together in times of celebration or need - living together on country.
Looking Back
There comes a time in each of our lives where
we stop, reflect and look back on the paths we have taken, the choices we have made, the ups and downs endured.
The colourful, vibrant light hearted experiences, the dull void periods of uncertainty as well as the dark, solemn and sorry times all encumbering our individual journey of this life story .
This piece symbolises how each of these specific
moments, memories and experiences have bought us to where we are today.
Girambit Design Story
The rainbow embodies our diverse Ngurra community, while deep blue circles signify unity in safeguarding water bodies. Teaching lessons from the past, we nurture future generations to value Earth's gifts. Soft circles of gold, green, coral, and yellow depict the enduring link our Worimi people have with land and sea, ensuring a flourishing, sustainable future for all Ngurras and clans.
Time with Turtles Design Story
Representing strength and prosperity the turtle symbolises longevity, safety and wisdom. She reminds us of the importance of making peace, taking time to walk together to do what we can to protect our country, our fauna and our waterways. Mother Earth will then reward our communities ensuring an abundant environment for future generations to foster.
We Are One Design Story
Inspired by the colours of the AIATSIS Map of Indigenous Australia. We are One, represents our First Nations people's and the different mobs we come from all around Australia. Even though we come from different mobs, we strive to work and walk together as one. It symbolises the country on which we live, love and learn and acknowledges our First Nations peoples being the traditional owners of this land. Always was. Always will be.
Two rainbows symbolise how every experience adds and strengthens their relationship. Colourful surroundings represent their legacy and memories shared with family as they grew and walked together through country.
