Wendy Hayden
ABOUT WENDY:
CULTURAL HERITAGE:
Noongar SW LadyBACKGROUND:
Wendy started painting about four years ago. When her mother died, she made a vow to her to tell her story. Her mother was a part of the Stolen Generation and had told Wendy stories of her experiences. A vow is a very sacred thing to the Noongar people, and she was inspired to tell more of her mother’s story through art.
Initially, Wendy had no idea where to begin. She began to write a book about her mother’s life, but she couldn’t think of the words. Then one day, she picked up a paintbrush, pictured the stories her mother had told her, and she hasn’t stopped since. She has found it a very powerful experience as many people have no knowledge of the Stolen Generation, and she has been able to educate people through her art.
Wendy has won many competitions, including the 2009 Rockingham/Kwinana Indigenous Art Award for up-and-coming artists.
Her main focus is the Stolen Generation, and figures from that period. She has recently started making jewelry from nuts and natural things from the earth.
EXHIBITIONS:
2010 Kidogo Aboriginal Art Students Exhibition, Moora Fine Art Society, Moora
2010 Inconjunction, Printmakers’ Association of Western Australia, Moores Building
PUBLIC ART COMMISSIONS:
Wendy participated of the “Kidogo Artists Team” selected to design “Welcome to Country” at the entrance of the new Fiona Stanley Hospital building that is under construction in Murdoch in January 2011.
As a member of the Kidogo Artists Team, Wendy was also involved in the Cooling Brothers Art Commission in which the team designed an artwork entitled "Munday Wall" that was printed onto glass spanning 80sq metres. This stunning glass artwork was unveiled on the 8th February 2012 and is majestically displayed on the side of the Cooling Bros building on Abernathy Rd.