About the Artist Jennifer Mullett is the daughter of Uncle Albert Mullett, and Aunty Rachel Mullett. Jennifer’s work is a re-connection to personal memories and experiences and a representation of identity that explores the symbolism used in paintings, artifacts and storytelling of the Gunaikurnai, Bidawal and Ngarigu (Monero) peoples. Jennifer’s work is held in public galleries and museums, including the National Gallery of Australia, the National Gallery of Victoria and Koorie Heritage Trust, Melbourne. About the Artwork There was once a crow who was the husband of two sisters of the hawk. This was in accordance with the laws of the various tribes. The hawk was very young and required to be kept by the crow who was his Jambi (brother-in-law). The crow did not care to support the young hawk as he ate food which could help support his own children, so he made it very uncomfortable for him, even though his wives implored him to be kind to their brother. At length, getting exasperated, the crow threw some hot ashes over the hawk, and ordered him off. The little fellow went away to seek his own living. It appears he subsisted on snakes, and their fat acted as a good ointment for his sores. By this means the pain of his burns disappeared. He used to roast the snakes on a very big fire. One day, seeing many snakes in a cave he began, in his usual way, to kill them, when one fastened upon him and would have strangled him, only he got the head between his hands and managed to kill it before it had time to do him an injury. However, it left its mark upon him, which may be seen upon the hawk to this day. As the hawk found there were more snakes than he could manage to kill, he set fire to the cave, and in burning out the snakes he set fire to the whole Country. The hawk was now well grown, and he thought of vengeance upon his brother-in-law, so he armed himself and went in search of the family camp. The brother-in-law saw him coming, and fearing he was seeking revenge for the injuries he had received, tried to coax him into good humour, by offering him food. The hawk kept silent, but when he was near enough threw his boomerang, which the crow skilfully avoided then coming to close quarters, the hawk knocked the crow down with his wooden club and dragged him through the bush, which, having just been burnt, made the crow so black that he has remained so ever since.