It has been a long journey for artist Leila Constable to reclaim her Wiradjuri heritage. She will be celebrating her links with her community in her newest endeavour, a gallery and shop on Williwa Street, Portland.
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Growing up in Surry Hills, Leila and her siblings were told to tell everyone they were Spanish.
Her father, who grew up at Cow Flat and lost contact with brothers and a sister removed from home as part of the stolen generation, had disguised their heritage in fear the authorities would remove them as well.
“We knew, within the family, and all our relatives, everyone we knew was dark,” she said.
“But people would ask us, ‘are you Greek, are you Italian’, and we would always say, ‘no, we’re Spanish’.
“It was only when we were grown up that we realised it would be up to us to embrace our heritage,” she said.
“And I love our culture, I love our stories and our symbols.”
Using an online service, Leila was able to find her great grandparents’ wedding certificate – Wiradjuri couple Amos Fields and Clare Story. The name Fields came from his job in the fields, while Story was, the tale goes, that she told stories to the other workers.
The links Leila has forged with her Wiradjuri roots are clear in her artworks. They celebrate some of the traditional symbols, including the goanna. She works designs onto everyday objects, such as clothing, kitchen utensils and other objects, as well as traditional paintings.
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While art has always been a passion of Leila’s, she trained as a disability support worker, a role which she carried out for 12 years before moving to Portland.
“My husband says I’m always happiest when I’m covered in paint.”
Looking to move out of Sydney, Leila was captivated by Portland’s artworks and its charms, she said.
She quickly became involved with the Wallnuts movement and came under the wing of the late Ron Bidwell.
“He was wonderful, he encouraged me to explore the use of colour and taught me more signwriting techniques,” she said.
“I wouldn’t have done any of this without him.”
Leila and her husband Warren Hunt, who is an ironmonger in his spare time, purchased the Williwa Street property in 2014 and began an extensive renovation to create the gallery, Hunny Ant Art, and the shop which is called Hoardin’ Pavilion.
The rear of the property, which is now the gallery space fronting Williwa Street was once a bootmakers but had been derelict for many years, without electricity connected. The renovations have been ongoing for four years and Leila is justifiably pleased with the results.
The gallery will be open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, 10am-4pm, and she hopes to introduce art workshops of a Thursday. The official opening will be held at 2pm on Saturday, October 6.