Melissa McDevitt Weston – Contemporary First Nations Artist

Artist’s Statement

Cultural understandings inform me, as a Traditional Owner, that my ancestors lived along the waterways and I continue to occupy these areas through spirit. This knowledge is substantiated by the uncovering of artefacts along waterways, buried skeletal remains and indications of sacred sites. In this regard, I have a responsibility to continue to care for traditional land and waters. The representation through my paintings of these areas aims to fulfil some of my obligations. It is my desire to impart the same sense of responsibility, care and understanding to the viewers of my paintings.

I use a non-figurative, contemporary style in natural pigment and acrylic colours. The foundation of the work is applied using natural materials and plant life found locally, thereby allowing the land and my ancestors to dictate the image. The deep red-brown Ochre in my artworks is a natural pigment that I have gathered on Boon Wurrung Country.  My concept of colour suggests that the use of the colour Gold, expresses the great worth and beauty of Mother Earth. Green, represents the creator and the vibrational colour of love. White, the colour of spirit and denoting the ongoing presence of my ancestors, apparent along the course of the waterways. Aqua, symbolising the waterways across Bass Coast lands. Finally, Yellow, the soil and sand supporting all waterways.

Artist’s Biography

Melissa McDevitt Weston is a Boon Wurrung woman, a contemporary artist and permanent resident of Bass Coast. Melissa’s experience as an artist covers 35 years and innumerable exhibitions including a Solo Exhibition in Gondwana Gallery, Alice Springs in the 1990’s, and training through Frankston Tafe’s Associate Diploma of Visual Arts.

Amongst other art projects, in 2016 Melissa collaborated on a mural for a kindergarten in Wonthaggi and in 2018, she was commissioned to create a work for Orange Door Gippsland, the Domestic Violence resource hub. Westernport Water commissioned one of Melissa’s artworks, and she chose to paint about the importance of connection to Country and Water. This artwork can be seen on their vehicles driving around Bass Coast.

Melissa’s work has been exhibited annually in Reconciliation Art Exhibitions in Inverloch and Wonthaggi.