Peta-Joy Williams found herself taking a new journey after enrolling at TAFE to learn to speak her native tongue, the Wiradjuri language. Her great, great grandmother was the last in her family to speak her traditional language in her family, “My mum used to tell me how she could always understand her grandmother when she spoke in language but when she went home she could never remember the words.".
After completing her Diploma of Fine Arts in 2003 at the Eora Centre, Peta-Joy completed a certificate III in Aboriginal Languages Wiradjuri at Dubbo West TAFE. This was the beginning of a new journey that Peta-Joy could never have predicted, “never in my wildest dreams did I think it would give me the opportunities that it has,” Peta-Joy says.
Now a language teacher at Gawura, St Andrews Cathedral Junior School, Jarjums College, TAFE and delivering workshops within other roles she also works at the Australian Catholic University. The greatest achievement for Peta-Joy was her “cultural enlightenment”. Peta-Joy was invited on a cultural exchange experience to spend time with the First Nation people of America, teaching in schools and speaking at many forums. “This is just a small part of how important language is to me and its helped my become a better person spiritually.”
Peta-Joy also finds her cultural connection as an artist. She is the sole trader of Wiradjuri Wave which kicked off with an idea from her grandmother who encouraged Ms Williams to paint her shoes for an event back in 2012.
Peta-Joy paints hats, murals, canvas, and emu eggs. Drawing her inspiration from “life itself”, she speaks about how she “recharges by going back to country.” Peta-Joy was a finalist for the Student Art Prize while in TAFE, however doesn’t enter into competitions for recognition as she is quite happy with people admiring her work on exhibition.
“Our art was our written language before settlement. I use traditional styles that were handed down to me as well as the ones that I have learnt over the years. You notice in my art that I don’t use a lot of dot works, as that is not my dreaming. There is a huge misconception that Aboriginal art should be dot. This is someone else’s written language not mine.”
You can find Peta-Joy’s work at Boomali Art Gallery located in Leichhardt NSW. She also painted the Australian Women’s Hockey Teams World Cup gifts, taking her art across Europe.
Keep an eye and ear out for Peta-Joy as her adventure as an artist and language teacher continues to take her on new pathways. She has recently been contacted by the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games to design the “official licensee of merchandise," followed by a local AFL club to design their jersey for the 2018 AFL Indigenous Round “Pemulwuy Shield," and in May 2017 she returning to America and Canada to reconnect with her First Nation friends for a spiritual and cultural journey.
You can contact, purchase artwork and keep up-to-date with Peta-Joy’s adventures through her Facebook page “Wiradjuri Wave” or visit Boomali Art Gallery to check out her displays.