Saretta Fielding is an Australian Indigenous artist from the Wonaruah Nation, NSW. Her art is greatly influenced by the beauty of Australia, family bonds and life experiences.

"In my artwork, I aim to evoke emotion, enhance connection to spirit and Country and invite the viewer to ponder and experience something new."
— Saretta Fielding

"Aboriginal tribal and clan groups each have a totem. A totem is a natural object, plant or animal that is inherited by members of a clan or family as their emblem and the group is responsible for the stewardship of their totem. My totem is the Wedge Tail Eagle."

Guparr - Dolphin

The story of the dolphin children is told to help make children aware of the dangers of the ocean.  After getting into trouble in the waves and no help in sight, several children were turned into dolphins to help them survive and continue to enjoy and play in the surf.

Yunung - Turtle  

This turtle imagery reflects both the salt water and fresh water turtle, an abundant and favoured food source for Indigenous communities. Females with eggs are returned to the water while males are cooked in the shell on the open fire. The turtles shell had may uses for daily life in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and the turtle is a well-respected food to many groups, is a totem to several tribal groups and is featured in dreamtime and creation stories.

Birabaan - Eagle  

This artwork depicts the mighty Eagle Hawk or Wedge Tail Eagle, a much-revered totem of the Awabakal People. Soaring high about the coast line of Muloombimba (Newcastle) and over the land of Awabakal, the Wedge Tail Eagle is held as the highest totem for tribal groups running down the East Coast of Australia. Dreamtime stories of the strong and powerful Eagle Hawk acknowledge this majestic bird as a protector of culture and Aboriginal traditions.

Wombati - Wombat

The wombat dreamtime story tells of how he got his flat forehead in a fight with his friend the Kangaroo.  This started over wombat being selfish and not sharing his shelter in a storm with his friend after his campsite was washed out.

Wilai - Possum   

Possum-skin cloaks were a form of clothing worn by Aboriginal people in the south-east of Australia. The cloaks were made from numerous possum pelts sewn together with Kangaroo sinew, and often decorated with significant incisions on the inside such as clan insignias. They were rubbed with ochre and fat to both decorate and protect them.

Kowalowain - Koala

A dreamtime story tells of why the koala has a stumpy tail today, telling how the koala long furry tail was pull off by the tree kangaroo, who was trying to make lazy Koala help dig in the dry riverbed for water during a drought.

Mowane - Kangaroo

This artwork depicts the Kangaroo and his long relationship to traditional Aboriginal life through the use of his skin for warmth and his protein rich meat as a part of the stable family diet.

Paramaibaan - Platypus

Many years ago there was a group of Australian animals arguing about who was the most unique.None of the animals could decide which group platypus belonged because she was so different. Platypus helped the other animals realise they were all unique and should be friends. After a short silence all the animals cheered.

Maata - Echidna  

This artwork depicts our echidna. Uniquely Australian the echidna is a native animal that is greatly enjoyed as a rich source of protein by Aboriginal people while the quills were used for many day to day purposes.

Bayiibayii - Emu     

The emu is traditionally a uniquely feminine image. The Emu Women found in Wonaruah country in the Hunter Valley is engraved into rock with her middle finger as a sign post (in the shape of the ridge to follow) to the women’s birthing cave.