About the Artist Melinda Solomon is an Aboriginal woman of the Eastern Kuku Yalanji and Girramay people’s of Far North Queensland, and has recently started her art business Baljil Art based in Victoria. As a visual artist Melinda creates and paints expressing passionately through different art mediums and colours. Inspired and influenced by family stories, including her love for the Australian landscape of rainforests, Bush lands, oceans, rivers including the native animals that inhabit these areas. These are depicted in traditional and cultural symbols together using intricate contemporary designs to produce beautiful colourful artworks. About the Artwork To me, this year’s NAIDOC theme, Keep the Fire Burning, means carrying on the flame of our culture by passing on the stories of our Elders. I made the shape of this piece a circle to symbolize a meeting place. The centre of the circle represents my grandparents as well as Uncle and Aunties from far North Queensland. When they used to catch-up, they would all come together for a cuppa. My Nan and Aunties would have a dilly bag, each carrying a different item, whether that be tea, milk, jam, or damper. Meanwhile, my Pop and Uncles would light the fire for them before going to the pub for a beer. Hanging from the centrepiece of this artwork are mini dilly bags, representing my nan and Aunties and they sense of community these small catchups, fostered. All these stories, we must pass onto our children, so that we can Keep the Fire Burning.