After a big rain passes the island my cousins and I would walk along Arkai Budhu, this is said to be the best time to go luring for squid when the sky looks dull and there is no wind.
The colours demonstrate the purple silky water after big rains and the leaves float from the creeks near the mangrove creating a passage for the squid to come out of hiding from predators.
Arkai Budhu: Kubin Sand Beach
Name: Babetha Nawia
Language: English, Kala Lagaw Ya, Creole
Community: Kubin
Biography:
I am the fifth child out of five, the language most used in my household is Kala Lagaw Ya and I live on Kubin Moa Island. My birthplace is Thursday Island and where I spent the first years of my kindy. My family than moved to Moa Island where I did grade 1-3 at St Pauls Community, then year 4-7 at Kubin Village and graduated primary school. I attended boarding school at St Ursula's Toowoomba, around year 11 I relocated to Mount Saint Bernards Herberton and graduated year 12. City life was very different from Kubin. I would get homesick all the time because I wasn’t able to do what I do on the islands, like walking on the reef fishing, swimming in the freshwater creeks or saltwater, bush bashing, making a fire in the backyard and most of all being with my family. One thing I learnt from boarding was to be independent.
After high school it was than a search to find my adulthood, what were my options and opportunities at this point. After spending 3 years in Cairns, I returned home at age of 20. I worked at Torres Strait Regional Council for a year as administration officer, I then worked at our primary school as a cleaner and admin. Doing two jobs at once was very eye opening. This unlocked skills, I didn’t know I had. It was a great opportunity to thicken my resume and get more experience, but I knew it was something I didn’t want to do in the long run. A new job was opening at our local art centre – Moa Arts. I succeed as an applicant and I've never been happier. I’m currently working as their Sales and Marketing Assistant, more new openings to bigger and better opportunities.
"drawing sketches in a little black book was a hobby that I couldn't shake, once I started working at the Art Centre, I have mastered how to do more than just sketches and that has opened doors for me that I didn't know existed."
Lamp Shades Art Centre notes: The Lamp Shade is made of natural raffia / cotton / jute with steel frame. It is made using a traditional ‘one twist’ method. The dyes are commercial and colour Read more…
Lamp Shade Art Centre notes: The Lamp Shade is made of natural raffia / cotton / jute with steel frame. It is made using a traditional ‘one twist’ method. The dyes are commercial and colour Read more…
Lamp Shade Art Centre notes: The Lamp Shade is made of natural raffia / cotton / jute with steel frame. It is made using a traditional ‘one twist’ method. The dyes are commercial and colour Read more…