Guiding Light

 'Guiding Light' is a painting about strength, perseverance and a tribute to the strong community Caitlyn is lucky to be surrounded by. This year's NAIDOC theme of, 'Keep the Fire Burning, Blak, Loud and Proud' is represented throughout this painting. There are four campsites across this painting that each represent a community/place Caity feels or has felt immense strength and pride from. All of these places are connected through a journey line as they are all elements of Caitlyn's life that are connected to each other. Broken Hill and Adelaide are represented at the top and bottom of the canvas. She feels the strength and presence of Broken Hill every time she is with her father and is fortunate and proud to live on Kaurna country. The right campsite represents a previous school community she was a part of and pays respect to the deep connections she built and still has with many of the Aboriginal students and families there. The left campsite is representative of the community Caitlyn has yet to build and is a symbol of what she wants to create with her psychology career in the future. The little person facing Caitlyn, represents her son, Dusty. Within the centre of the painting, you can see four people represented and one star. Caitlyn wanted to pay tribute to three special mentors in her life, who have taught her to always be proud, strong and to remember that our fire was never put out. One of these people is represented through a star as they have passed away but their influence and guidance will always be felt by Caitlyn throughout her life. The river is seen throughout this painting and represents the Barka and the strength and connection Caitlyn feels to it. This painting is a reminder that after everything we have been through, the light and spark within us still shines bright. Caitlyn has been fortunate to learn and grow from leaders who show her their light and fire in everything they do. The fire within us can never put out, we are forever 'Blak, Loud and Proud.'