The journey of Reconciliation 🎨 🫱🏿🫲🏾⚽️
Last weekend we celebrated Reconciliation Week through storytelling, art and soccer at Sam Kerr Football Centre with the @dreamtime.spirit
Team.
This years theme, Bridging Now to Next, reflects the ongoing connection between past, present and future and honours the commitment to walk together along our reconciliation journey 👣
Thank you to @footballfuturesfoundation and @footballwest for inviting me to be part of their journey towards reconciliation 🖤💛❤️
#reconciliation #reconciliationweek #culture #journey #community #pride #art #communityart #noongarart #aboriginalartist #aboriginalart #storytelling
For Our Elders 🪃
Last year during NAIDOC Week @qv1perth invited Mel to be their Artist in Residence and paint live in their lobby.
The incredible artwork that now lives in QV1 honours the guiding wisdom and trailblazing contributions of Our Elders. The piece signifies our connection to Boorloo and Noongar Boodja, representing the land on which we thrive and highlights our strong foundation rooted in family, community and culture.
#aboriginalart #aboriginalartist #aboriginalbusiness #noongarart #noongarboodja #canvasart #artwork #culture #connection #naidoc #naidocweek
Every art commission begins with a story.
Personal, story-led artworks created through conversation and connection to place.
Explore recent commissions or get in touch to have a yarn about your next piece 🖤💛❤️
maarakoolart.com/art-commissions
#ArtCommissions #AboriginalArt #NoongarArtist #AustralianArtists
Djooditj Journey 🐾
The Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure Busselton Service Centre, now officially dual-named Djooditj, is the first WA location under the Aboriginal Placenames Project — a powerful initiative facilitated through @karrikarrakac
The Djooditj represents agility, resilience and a strong, adventurous spirit — symbolising movement, growth and each person’s journey towards new opportunities. Like the Djooditj travelling across Country, this artwork reflects strength, independence and the support that empowers communities to move forward.
Celebrating Noongar language, culture and connection to Country, this project is a powerful step forward in strengthening community understanding. Proud to see Mel’s artwork helping bring this meaningful project to life 🖤💛❤️
Yilkari 💜🌌
Meaning sky, this artwork created by Mel tells the powerful story of Lydia Williams’ journey — rising through hard work, resilience, and unwavering determination.
Grounded in culture, guided by ancestors, and supported by those who helped shape her path, this piece reflects the challenges, setbacks, and strength that built Lydia’s journey toward excellence.
More than a story of sport, Yilkari is about creating pathways for future generations to rise, lead, learn, and dream without limits ⚽️✨️👊🏿
Yilkari - creating spaces where girls can dream bigger 💜⚽️
A surreal moment for Mel, creating artwork that honours Lydia’s journey while standing beside a true role model for so many young girls.
Culture, leadership, and inspiration for the next generation ✨
Yilkari trip to the Goldfields ✨️
Last week Mel travelled to Kalgoorlie with Lydia Williams for the launch of Yilkari 💜⚽️
Connecting with local schools, community, and the next generation of Aboriginal girls through football, leadership, and representation across WA.
And this is just the beginning… stay tuned for the deadly artwork story behind Yilkari 🎨
Mel – the heart and soul of Dreamtime Spirit 🫶🏿
Months of hard work behind the scenes, and on game day she’s everywhere… hyping, supporting, backing every single girl.
The ultimate ride or die, leading with passion, pride, and unstoppable spirit 💚✨️
📸 @catbryantphotography
A moment for the shirts 🩵
How deadly did the Dreamtime Spirit girls look at the Girls Festival of Community Football on the weekend.
Designed by Mel from @maarakool.art , the Dreamtime Spirit artwork represents a place to come together - to learn, play and grow. More than just sport, it's about connection, belonging and building stronger identities while reaching for the stars.
And the fresh colour this year? It stood out in the best way - making the girls feel proud, strong and seen 🫶🏿✨️⚽️
📸 @catbryantphotography
Your story, your space 🖼
A special commission, now sitting proudly in its new home — created to reflect connection, culture and shared values.
Mel creates each piece to tell a story, bringing meaning, identity and presence into a space.
Interested in custom artwork? Reach out to have a yarn 🖤💛❤️
#AboriginalArt #ArtCommission #CustomArtwork #MeaningfulSpaces #StorytellingThroughArt
Family Across the Lands 💜👣
This artwork tells a story of family — across generations, across Country, and across time.
The winding pathways represent the journeys we take to meet, gather and reconnect — both physically and spiritually — guided by our Elders and the footsteps of those who came before us. We come together to share stories - of old times, of knowledge and of caring for Country, passing these learnings down to the next generation.
A story of connection, culture and kinship — weaving strong bonds of family and identity, no matter where we travel 🫶🏿
#canvasart #ArtCommissions #storytelling #AboriginalArt #aboriginalartist
