synthetic polymer paint, earth pigments, metallic paint and glitter on canvas
Measurements
(1) 60.3 × 50.5 cm (Melbin 1901–1910) (2) 60.4 × 50.5 cm (Uncle Sam 1910–1920) (3) 60.2 × 50.4 cm (Auntie Dot 1920–1930) (4) 60.3 × 50.5 cm (Ruby 1930–1940) (5) 60.2 × 50.5 cm (Mollie 1940–1950) (6) 60.4 × 50.5 cm (George 1950–1960) (7) 60.3 × 50.4 cm (Nan 1960–1970) (8) 60.3 × 50.4 cm (Ronnie 1970–1980) (9) 60.4 × 50.5 cm (Carol 1980–1990) (10) 60.4 × 50.5 cm (Julie 1990–2001)
Place/s of Execution
Perth, Western Australia
Inscription
(1) inscribed in crayon on reverse u.l.: Federation Series: / ‘Melbin’ / by / Julie Dowling (Dow underlined) / May 2001 / (y 20 underlined) / Acrylic, Red Ochre and Plastic on / Canvas / + / This shows my great great grand / mother ‘Melbin’ during the time of / Federation Act by the King / Queen Victoria (crossed out) / and the 1905 Act for the Protection of / Aborigines. Her life was changed by / these words. / 1901–1910
(2) ) inscribed in crayon on reverse u.l.: Federation Series; / ‘Uncle Sam’ / by / Julie Dowling (e D underlined) / May 2001 / Acrylic, Red Ochre and Plastic / on Canvas. / ~ / This painting shows my great / grand Uncle Samuel Winmar / who worked for the War but wasn’t / allowed to fight in WW1. / 1910–1920
(3) ) inscribed in crayon on reverse u.l.: Federation Series; / ‘Auntie Dot’ / by / Julie Dowling / May 2001 / Acrylic, Red Ochre and Plastic / on Canvas. / ~ / This painting shows my great Auntie / Dorothy Latham who was taken away / from her Badimaya mother and put into / an orphanage by her wudjulah (white) / father when she was eight years old, / at the time there were massacres in the / Kimberley in the North West of W. A. / ~ / 1920–1930
(4) ) inscribed in crayon on reverse u.l.: Federation Series; / ‘Ruby’ / by / Julie Dowling ~ / May 2001 / ~/ Acrylic, Red Ochre and / Plastic on Canvas / ~ / This shows my great Auntie / Ruby Oliver during the depression / ~ / 1930–1940
(5) inscribed in crayon on reverse u.l.: Federation Series; / ‘Mollie’ / by / Julie Dowling (D underlined) / May 2001 / Acrylic, Red Ochre and / Plastic on Canvas / ~ / This painting shows my g (crossed out) / grandmother Molly (y overinscribed with ie) Dowling / during the bombing of Broome and / Derby in the 2nd World War. / 1940–1950
(6) inscribed in crayon on reverse u.l.: ‘Federation Series: George’ / 1950–1960 / by / Julie Dowling / May 2001 / Acrylic, Red Ochre and Plastic on Canvas / ~ / This shows my great Uncle George / Latham who always ran away from / Native Welfare. He lived in the / bush by himself from the age of 15 (5 overinscribed with 0) / because many of his mates and / family were put into ‘care’. When / he got older he stopped some / kids from being taked for a time / He remembers the fifty’s like it was / yesterday.
(7) inscribed in crayon on reverse u.l.: ‘Federation Series’ / : Nan / 1960–1970 / by / Julie Dowling. / May 2001. / Acrylic, Red Ochre and Plastic / on Canvas. / ~ / This shows my mum’s first / cousin Nancy Latham. She married / a Koorie fellah and moved east / while he fought in the Vietnam War / she saw the first Civil Rights protests and brought the / message back to her family.
(8) inscribed in crayon on reverse u.l.: ‘Federation Series:’ / Ronnie / 1977 (7 overincribed with 0) –1980 / by / Julie Dowling. / May 2001 / Acrylic, Red Ochre and Plastic / on Canvas / ~ / This shows my mother Ronnie / who was the first person in our / family to go on a protest march / and to publically speak out / about injustice to our family / because we were Aboriginal/ / Yamatji/Badimaya
(9) inscribed in crayon on reverse u.l.: ‘Federation Series: Carol’ / 1980–1990 / by / Julie Dowling / May 2001 / ~ / Acrylic, Red Ochre and Plastic / on Canvas / ~ / This is a painting of my / twin sister Carol who was / a curent affairs reporter / for Aboriginal Radio during the / bicentennial.
(10) inscribed in crayon on reverse u.l.: Federation Series: Julie’ / 1990–2001 / by / Julie Dowling. / May 2001 / Acrylic, Red Ochre and Plastic / on Canvas. / ~ / This shows me dreaming / about the recent past and / maybe (crossed out) the future. / It all comes down to land.
