Being inspired by the colours of the glass which represent the colours of the land to reflect my lifelong intention of blending traditonal cultural forms into contemporary mediums. The use of the traditional boomerang shape as the four borders, with all pieces going in the same direction, depicts a revolution as in moving forward; as a revolutionary tool in the circle of life. It also represents the use of glass as a contemporary medium to represent our culture by creating artworks which use light as part of the artist palette.

The use of offcut and recycled glass is also important as it is a sustainable resource. Glass offers many diverse opportunities to reflect and portray culture in many ways and makes it more accessible to the viewer. Yarradunha is the Wiradjuri word for boomerang and the use of four boomerangs creates a revolution.

Artist Bio:

Rickie was born on Wiradjuri Country in a town called Parkes and started painting and drawing at a young age. He completed a Certificate 3 in Indigenous Art in Canberra around 2014. Rickie has always created artwork very much influenced by his culture, and has mastered other mediums such as wood-burning, carving and silk screen printing on textiles. In September 2022 Rickie joined the Glaas Inc First Nations Glass Workshop Program, where he learned, and very quickly mastered, various glass techniques such as leadlighting, stained glass painting, sandblasting, copperfoiling and kiln forming glass. Rickie quickly demonstrated a highly developed skill with glass, and is producing beautiful glass art works which incorporate First Nations culture, traditions and lore.

Rickie's work was exhibited as part of a NAIDOC Week exhibition by Glaas Inc in July 2023, and Rickie has produced many works of glass art, enough to have his own exhibition in the coming year. Rickie joined the Melbourne Polytechnic Certificate 3 Glass and Glazing course in 2023 and continues to demonstrate his culture in his ongoing artwork and intends to continue to develop his glass art. More of Rickie's work can be seen at www.glaasinc.com.au - on the First Nations Program page.