Our Elder in Residence, Aunty Lyn Martin, held a talk with two artists, Koreena Leverett and Mr Rhodes, sharing with them stories about the history of the local area, Darug culture and her own story of connecting with Bankstown and her Darug heritage.
Outloud commissioned Koreena and Mr Rhodes to create artwork responding to Aunty Lyn’s stories.
We invite you to listen to Aunty Lyn’s story, experience Koreena and Mr Rhodes’ artworks, and make your own artwork that responds to the story. With Aunty Lyn, we’ve created a worksheet that will help guide you in thinking about the story and how it relates to your family and your connection with Bankstown.
Download the worksheet, use it to make artwork, and send it to nicole@outloud.org.au. We might feature it on our website!
Aunty Lyn’s story
Artwork by Koreena Leverett
About the Artist
Koreena Leverett is a proud Worimi woman and an award-winning painter, singer, dancer and teaching artist. She performs regularly around Canterbury-Bankstown and works with local schools and organisations like the Aboriginal Education Consultative Group, The Song Room, and City of Canterbury-Bankstown providing workshops on Aboriginal culture, art work and painting murals.
Ebb & Flow: A Journey of Cultural Resonance by Mr Rhodes
“Ebb & Flow” is a mesmerising art piece that serves as an auditory interpretation of Aunty Lyn’s poignant story, encapsulating the intricate dance between culture and connection to country. Through a fusion of sounds both ancient and futuristic, the piece invites the listener to embark on a deeply personal journey of discovery and reflection, with each note and rhythm carrying with it the weight of history, the echoes of resilience, and the longing for belonging.
At the heart of “Ebb & Flow” lies the push and pull of cultural identity, symbolised by the ebb and flow of the tide. Like the ocean’s relentless embrace of the shore, Aunty Lyn’s story is a testament to the enduring strength of Indigenous culture, even in the face of adversity and displacement.
It is a celebration of Indigenous wisdom, a tribute to the power of storytelling, and a call to honour the land and its custodians.
As the listener immerses themselves in the rich tapestry of “Ebb & Flow,” they are invited to reflect on their own relationship to culture and place and to recognize the universal human longing for connection and belonging. In the ebb and flow of life, we are reminded of the importance of honouring our roots, preserving our traditions, and embracing the land that sustains us.
About the Artist
Musical alchemist Mr Rhodes makes soulful drenched future hip-hop with unparalleled energy and tenacity. The prolific lyricist and producer has released acclaimed music, from the 2019 single “Wonderous” to the 2022 masterpiece “Fear and Loathing”. The Bundjalung musician’s newest single, “Can’t You Tell” continues to prove without a doubt that his is a voice of an artist at the forefront of the new global sound.
Create your own response work
We would like to invite you to make your own artwork inspired by the talk Aunty Lyn Martin had with Koreena and Mr Rhodes. Click the link below to download a worksheet with prompts to get you started.
This project was supported by the City of Canterbury Bankstown
