Students from three Blue Mountains schools have been named finalists in the Schools Reconciliation Challenge.
More than 600 students participated in this year's challenge which had a Caring for Country theme. The final selection included 56 artworks and 12 written entries, representing 31 schools and 157 students.
Work from this year's finalists will be displayed digitally at both the Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo and Museums Discovery Centre at Castle Hill during NAIDOC Week (until November 16).
There were five finalists from Blaxland High School: Ebony Byrne, Caitlin Smith, Liam Latz, Benjamin Lily and Anabella Hazell.
"My artwork Regenerating Our Promise, explores the ideas of Indigenous Australians and white people helping each other out in times of need," Ebony wrote about her piece.
"Reconciliation means forgiving each other of what we have done and educating ourselves not to make the same mistake."
Caitlin Smith focused on Gundungurra man David King.
"The artwork is celebratory of David's efforts to restore bushland and creeks and keeping the animals and birds safe that inhabit these landscapes," Caitlin wrote.
At Winmalee High, the finalists were Max Harris and Lili Baran.
Max's piece Footprints, asked people to do more.
"My artwork represents our footprint on the country and how we are in fact not caring for country the way we should be," he wrote.
"It means that we as a black and white society need to educate each other on how one group of people did one thing and how we can teach each other the pros and cons of each others methods of caring for country."
Six year five students from Katoomba North Public School created a painting each for their award-winning artwork Katoomba Falls.
"I hope my painting evokes a sense of responsibility and care for the environment. Leura Cascades is a place that we need to keep caring for because its unique and a part of where I live in the Blue Mountains National Park," said student Phoebe Hitchell.
The judges were pleased with the diversity of media in this year's challenge from installations (photographed) to mixed media which utilised many local elements of country including ochre, bark, leaves, collage, pencil sketches, painting and sculpture.
Many works impressed beyond imagery, with artists' wise words and deep feelings of care for our country, including concern about pollution, fires, flooding, drought and land clearing, Other popular themes were custodianship, plant diversity and recognition, respecting and learning from Elders.
For more than 11 years Reconciliation NSW has guided and provided schools with activities, workshops, lesson plans and resources to ensure that in NSW and the ACT young people and educators can access free and engaging content to understand and celebrate First Nations cultures, histories, knowledge and contributions.
