The Storytime Silos

"My silo tells a story about two children, sharing stories about their past and their culture. These two children use these local books as a way to teach each other about their history, culture and connections to the area. 

Famous local author, Colin Thiele, wrote Sun on the Stubble as he reflected about this area. The book talks about the hardships, farming community and day to day experiences of rural life in Eudunda. The young girl in my painting carefully steps through her magical book, experiencing cattle, sheepdogs and horseback riders as they travel through a golden dust storm. I wanted to present the kind of idealised snapshot of what it was like in the early days, as a child would envision it.

The Ngadjuri child steps through his own history, inviting the child on the other silo to come and learn about his culture. As if to playfully say “hey, come over here and learn about my culture too!” The Ngadjuri storybook, represented by stars and galaxies was a choice made in collaboration with local Elder, and Ngadjuri spokesperson Quentin Aegius. We decided that one single book is never enough to summarise such a HUGE part of history and culture.