This Monday night, NITV introduces us to Danny Eastwood, an Indigenous artist whose name might ring a bell if you’re familiar with Sydney’s Blacktown community. In the new documentary “Light from the Shadows” (airing Monday 5 May at 9:00 PM), we get to know the man who’s been a creative force there for over 30 years. He works across cartoons, illustration, painting, and teaching – and even though he’s tried to retire three times, he just can’t seem to stop creating.
The film gives you a real sense of Eastwood’s artistic life. You’ll see his commitment, like the bi-weekly cartoon he’s been drawing for the Koori Mail for the last two decades. But his reach goes much further than that. He travels all over Sydney teaching art classes to just about everyone – from people in correctional centres and Elders groups to school kids and local organisations.
What makes this documentary special is that it goes beyond just showing his artwork. You hear directly from Eastwood about his perspectives, what keeps him going, and why his connection to the community is so important. It’s really a story about how art can bring people together and make a difference, told through the experiences of someone who lives it every single day. It’s a portrait of an artist dedicated to his craft and his people.
