About the Artist Hollie Johnson is a proud Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo woman currently living in Gippsland, Victoria. Coming from a family of artists with expertise in woodcraft, painting, burning, mix-mediums and the love of automotives. Hollie enjoys exploring all art forms including jewellery making, screen printing, painting, modeling, fashion, piano and creating educational resources. Along with graduating from RMIT with a Bachelor of Arts in Photography, Hollie works in the Department of Education across three schools as a Koorie Support Mentor, part of the Wellbeing Team as the Indigenous Youth Support and running cultural sessions at schools in Gippsland. Freelancing in her spare time, Hollie has done work for Parks New South Wales, Department of Premier and Cabinet, City of Melbourne, Latrobe City Council among others. Her jewellery pieces incorporate native plants, natural materials, metals and is always on the hunt for new and interesting means to incorporate culture into her work that serves a purpose and tells a story. Having studied VCE Indigenous Languages of Victoria and Cert III in Australian Languages & Cultural Heritage, Hollie continues to practice language with hopes to implement Indigenous History, Culture and Language into the Victorian Curriculum. Being fortunate to learn about her culture and traditions from her grandparents, Hollie hopes to run a local program supporting our Indigenous Youth and aims to share culture through a range of creative mediums. About the Artwork Using the concept of a family tree and seeing our Ancestors as our guiding light. The gum leaves depict the bloodline of tradition that is coursing through our body, through immediate and extended family members. Always learning and always continuing the knowledge that will be passed on. With my Grandparents in the middle carrying the most wisdom that branches out to their children and their children's children, we are thankful to have learned what they were willing to teach us as we are one family that holds knowledge and wisdom.