Cara Shields (Peckham) is a Wiradjuri artist born in Narromine and raised in Dubbo NSW.
Her studies of Aboriginal Art and Cultural Practices, taught by Teresa Yasserie in Dubbo has influenced Cara in creating and after the birth of her son decided to create fulltime.
Drawing inspiration from a traditional use of stylized lines being carved into tree trunks. They are known as Dendroglyps Trees, scared carvings that were used for burials, boundaries and ceremonies. Bark was also removed from the trees for the purposes of canoes, coolamon and shields. They are known as Scar Tree, with the bark removal a regrowth pattern will emerge. Using Acrylic paint and the traditional pigment of ochre sourced from the Dubbo area by her Uncle Wiradjuri Elder Peter Peckham, Cara’s Scar Tree Country and Scar Tree Lines series is a modern contemporary interpretation on traditional artforms.
