Birthing at Maitland Hospital.
“I am Wonnarua. I am a proud nurse practitioner and a very proud artist. I was taught by my father, Les Elvin, a Wonnarua artist who was Australia’s National NAIDOC artist of the year in 2008. I was privileged and honoured to learn the techniques, symbolism and iconography of Aboriginal art from my father. This is a language, a communication tool and better than Instagram for showing people the beauty of this country and its people. ”
Lesley Salem is one of the ten artists invited to participate in the exhibition A Conspicuous Object - The Maitland Hospital. She chose to focus on the hospital as a birth site.
Birthing at Maitland Hospital
acrylic on canvas
dot and brush technique
92 x 122 cm
“My painting captures the importance of the old Maitland Hospital to women, especially Aboriginal women, for birthing. In the centre you can see a woman of knowledge and experience, an elder, helping a woman during birthing at the hospital. I had my daughter at this hospital and I felt I was in expert care. At the top right is Maitland and at the very top right is the location of the new hospital. The other locations surrounding the old hospital site are other areas that are linked with birthing to the hospital. The Hunter River can be seen winding through this beautiful country and the many green areas pay homage to flat lands, wooded areas, farming, hills with wattle. The river is also life.”
Lesley Salem’s Birthing at Maitland Hospital installed in the exhibition.
Watched by Susan O’Doherty’s textile sculptures and flanked by Peter O’Doherty’s paintings of features of the hospital buildings.
Lesley Salem’s painting was subsequently purchased by NSW Health Infrastructure and now hangs in the maternity section of the new Maitland Hospital.