The Torch's We Sit in Circle reflects the journey of lived experience with incarceration by First Nations women, and their personal stories in art and cultural practice.
It's strength, hope, and survival on canvas and weaving.
The second iteration of the series presented by the Victoria-wide First Peoples-led organisation in partnership with Naarm's Queen Victoria Women's Centre opens July 3.
Works by artists currently in prison take place in the centre of the exhibition, while those by artists in the community are at the entrance and exit of the space.
It's a conscious representation of their individual circumstances and journeys - of mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sisters and aunties.
Flick Chafer-Smith knows The Torch from all sides.
She first engaged with the project while serving a sentence in 2018. She later joined as staff in operations and accounts before moving into her current role as a First Peoples Art Mentor going into prisons, as well as continuing on with art of her own.
Ms Chafer-Smith is curator of We Sit in Circle.
"The Torch has given me so much, much more than I ever thought possible. I now have a job because of the Torch, I have a secure income to support my family. I am a part of something bigger, like exhibitions and a team. The Torch has been so supportive of me and I now feel like anything is achievable," she said.
"When I was in jail, I was identified by my crime, by my CRN, by my surname. But now I have my own identity, I am creative, I am an artist, I am Flick.
When I used to put my name into google, news reports of the bad choices I've made in my life would appear.
"But now, I have things appear that I'm proud of, because I am a part of the Torch program."
The exhibition's opening coincides with NAIDOC Week.
Since 2016, The Torch has supported Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people either in, or recently exited the prison system.
Mentors visit prisons introducing or supporting them with engaging in art practice, reconnection with culture, to break the cycle and with the creative industry they enter as a result.
The support continues for those who have recently reentered the community.
All profits from artworks sold go directly to the artists.
It's a First Nations-led non-for-profit initiative for the most over-incarcerated people in the world.
Palawa artist Kim A has their artwork Future Journey featured in the exhibition.
"Now more than ever I want to be out with my kids. They're represented by the four turtles. I can't wait for change, change away from jail and change for a better future," they said.
The Queen Victoria Women's Centre (QVWC) creates a space in their vision for welcomed, valued, celebrated and empowered women and all gender-diverse people.
"When we say women, it always includes trans women, gender-diverse women, and Sistagirls," it says.
We Sit in Circle is exhibited Friday June 3 to 30 at the Queen Victoria Women's Centre's
Birnbeal Rainbow Exhibition Space in Naarm CBD.
