Community
5 March, 2025
Kalkadoon artist loves the Outback’s landscape
Barbara Sam says she is inspired by the beauty that surrounds her.
Barbara Sam sees herself as a torch bearer to the next generation.
The proud Kalkadoon artist, who many Indigenous locals call “Nana Barb”, wants to instil an
appreciation for her Country among the youth across the city.
And she is passing on that knowledge through promoting local Indigenous art spaces and creative endeavours.
“We live in the most beautiful part of the world,” she explained.
“If you drive out to Lake Moondarra or you drive outside of the city and just look around for a while, you will see so much colour and beauty all around you.
“I am always amazed by the beauty all around us.”
Barbara tries to capture this beauty in her art, which she views as a dedication to her people, their country and our community.
Asked to describe how she creates her artwork, Barbara looks upwards at the skies for a minute and returns with a bemused smile.
“The images just come into my mind, and I try to capture them in my paintings,” she said.
“It is very hard to describe how something creative happens in your mind. It just appears and you know it is the right thing to do; it is just already all there.”
Barbara is currently working alongside two youths at Outback at Isa to complete a mural display in the cafe area.
She also teaches art classes at some of the Mount Isa schools, which she says is another opportunity to promote Indigenous art.
Barbara is also a featured artist at the new Maltha Waru Gallery at Outback at Isa, which aims to promote local Indigenous artists from across the North West to the tens of thousands of visitors to the region each year.
She will also conduct art classes for locals and tourists at the gallery in the coming months.
“You can look at a painting and understand whether the artist really was trying to share an emotion with the audience,” she told North West Weekly.
“Everyone has got their own path, but I want to be able to pass on any knowledge I have.”