"The
Australian Aborigines see themselves as the custodians of this country.
Their dreaming is not just of the land, but of the song, dance and
mythology of the land. The paintings we see on canvas today were
originally painted in the sand and only lasted until the wind blew. Canvas is durable and has given the world a chance
to learn about the Aboriginals' 'dreaming', their way of life and
values." (Malcolm Jagamarra Dreaming Stories)
Aboriginal (Australian Indigenous) art has now taken its place in the collections of the great
museums and galleries around the world. Rich and complex beliefs embodied
in the Dreaming are expressed in art with many layers of meaning that reflects
a unique world-view. "Dreaming" is a European term used by Aborigines to
describe the stories about religious or spiritual beliefs, the natural
and moral order of the universe, from the beginning of Creation to
the present. (This information came from the Aboriginal
Fine Art Gallery site).
My apologies to the native
peoples of Australia. Some Australian Aboriginal People object to being labeled
"Aborigines" - a term imposed on them by the first British colonizers,
or "indigenous" as both apply to any indigenous people in the world.
Indigenous is now the officially agreed
upon term for the country’s first inhabitants and refers to anyone of
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander ancestry. Many prefer to be known
by local group or language names. (from P.
L Duffy Resource Center, Trinity College)
1) Study these fossil sites below. How do
they remind you of the Aboriginal
x-ray style of painting? Notice how accurately the fossils show the
anatomy of the fish. See another Aboriginal bark
painting of fish (More
X-ray style bark paintings from West Arnhem Land)
Fish
fossils with information (use for X-ray style of art)
Fish
Fossils--Photo Vault You will want to explore this site to see the wealth
of images they have to offer for learning the animal kingdom.
Living Fossil
Fish: The Coelacanth (Also see "Dino-fish"
web site) See a Lower Jurassic Period Coelacanth
Fossil! Come back and learn more about this "dino-fish"
when you have more time.
Read
about the X-ray style of art. The "X-ray" tradition in
Aboriginal art is thought to have developed around 2000 B.C. and continues
to the present day. click on images to see larger views.
Aboriginal
Bark Painting shows some historic examples
2) Introduction
to Aboriginal art. Learn the meaning of some of the symbols in Aboriginal
dot painting. Also see Aboriginal
Art and Culture. Now look at some of the examples
of dot paintings (5 galleries to explore from Cooinda Gallery) to see if you can understand the meaning of the work.
You can see that these painting are highly valued. Here is an informative
site about Dreamtime (Jinta Dessert Art). View the meaning
of symbols (Iconography). See paintings
of the month - Can you find some of the symbols? Explore any of the
artists from the gallery. (more
examples)
3) Compare and contrast the two
distinctive styles of Aboriginal
art of Australia. How are they different? Are they similar in any way?
From what region of
Australia do the styles originate? Meet some of the
artists. Read
about Dreamtime. See what other
art forms are available on this site (Songlines Aboriginal Art Gallery).
Redback
Art Gallery "For collectors of Australian Aboriginal Art and
Australian Contemporary Art" Australia has two groups of indigenous
peoples- The Aborigine and Torres Strait Islanders. Redback Art Gallery,
located in Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland, specializes in the exhibition of native peoples and the work of a small number of contemporary artists.
Bond
Aboriginal Art (commercial site) - this site has some wonderful
contemporary works - lots of patterns. See how contemporary artists are
drawing on tradition - and branching in new directions.
4) Indigenous
Australia Site Listen to Dreamtime
Stories! Take a virtual
tour of the museum!
5) Aboriginal
Art Online Learn all about the background
of Aboriginal art- Dreamtime, prehistoric art and more. Find out all about
Aboriginal Rock Art.
What do these symbols mean to the people? How
old is Australian rock art?
More Aboriginal Rock Art Resources:
Aboriginal
Rock Art in the Northern Territory Excellent images from the Northern
region. See more rock
art images from this page.
Archaeology
on the Net Compare the Aboriginal Rock Art to that of other cultures from
various regions of the world (some links on this page are broken).
Learn more
from any of these Aboriginal Art Links
Aboriginal
Australia Connecting the World with Aboriginal Culture.
Click on the informative links about Aboriginal culture. Read more about
Dreaming and Spirituality.
National
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education website -- Aboriginal Art
and more. Use keywords and maps to explore the culture, issues and education of
Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Linking
to a comprehensive and ever-growing collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander resources from across the Internet. See
the Chronology
of Aboriginal and Islander History.
Australian
Broadcasting Corporation—an introduction to Aboriginal culture and
society for upper primary and lower Secondary school students. Many
Nations, One People offers insight to viewers at a personal level through
engaging Aboriginal characters drawn from a variety of urban, regional and
remote situations.
Aboriginal
Fine Art Gallery paintings, carvings & didgeridoos of some of
Australia's prominent Aboriginal artists.
Aboriginal
Life, Culture and Art Meet some of the
artists. Artists
at work.
Desart,
Inc - link to any of these central Australia sites for Aboriginal art.
Indig.com
Interactive Aboriginal music and virtual reality dance. Create your own
"Aboriginal" music. Learn how to make and play your own didgeridoo.
Cool site!
Jinta
Desert Art: Artists' biographies--Aboriginal artists
Mason Gallery
- Nice collection of contemporary Aboriginal art - collected primarily from
the Papunya, Kintore & Kiwirrkura areas.
Ngapa
Gallery - Aboriginal Fine Arts Gallery - works by prominent artists from
Central and Western Desert regions of Australia as well as Arnhemland in the
top end of the Northern Territory. It includes works by some of Australia’s
most famous and respected indigenous artists.
MythingLinks-
Aboriginal Peoples of Australia Dot style paintings with online resources
Papunya
Tula Artists - in Alice Springs, Northern Territory. Great art with lots
of pattern.
Aboriginal Art, Culture & Spirituality
links page--Aboriginal Studies WWW Virtual Library The Internet Guide to Aboriginal Studies
Kluge-Ruhe
Aboriginal Art Collection
University of Virginia. Worth a visit if you are in the area. Click on Calendar
of Events to see more.
Emily
Kame Kngwarreye (Aboriginal Artist - Australia)
Emily Kame
Kngwarreye Paintings Thumbnail
images -- and brief biography.
Australian
Indigenous People: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Inhabitants of
Australia - P.L. Duffy Resource Centre, Trinity College, Western Australia
Webquest.
Task: Should the Prime Minister and the Government say
"sorry" to the Aboriginal People? Why/why not? (links on Web Quest
have not been checked)
IndigOz
Internet Portal More links that you will ever need for Art, History,
Education and so much more.
Animals
of Australia
Australian Animals Lots of animals to check - links compiled by Jackie
Miers- Australia has been isolated from the rest of the
world by vast oceans. The animals and plants which were originally there no
longer had contact with animals from other parts of the world. They evolved
separately. That is why they are so different. An Australian
Animals Web Quest. Some animal
print-outs
Unique
Australian Animals
ABC
TV's Our Animals - looks at Australian animals, their physical features,
food, homes and environment and social groups. Has cartoon-like line art
as well as photographs of animals.
EdNA
Online - Education Network Australia. Enter Australian Animals in your
search for WebQuests and more.
Zoo
Fact Sheets - 3 Zoos Victoria Pdf files for various animals - identify
those that are from Australia from the list.
Lesson
Plans for Aboriginal Art and Culture
Aboriginal
Bark Painting - Dot technique. Lesson by Teri Mason. Suitable for grades 3
thru 8 (with different expectations). See also Aboriginal
Art Project - painting on black paper - striking works! See student works
in the gallery.
Aboriginal
Doors Project (no longer online)
- Lesson by Pamela
Wallheiser, Florida High Art Department. Great
idea for service learning- interdisciplinary studies. Many course materials
included. (Warlpiri people) Seven
Prints from the Doors (possibly from the etched plates).
Paddy
Stewart Japaljarri
Prints - 30 etchings of the original Yuendumu Doors.
Keith
Haring - Aboriginal Art Portraits Excellent lesson using art os Aborignal
Auatralia and line drawings of Keith Haring. Haring was inspired by Aboriginal art - along with other cultural art.
X-ray
Style Relief Printing - by Judy Decker. Suitable for grades 3 thru 8 (with
modification - greater expectations for upper grades - perhaps use linoleum
for 7th and 8th). This lesson has also successfully been done with glue relief
printing. Gold ink on black paper was stunning - accented with Pearl crayons
when ink was dry.
Aboriginal
Inspired Lizards - personal interpretation. Lizard painting idea. See also
cardboard relief print idea.
Aboriginal
Art Unit - by Sharon Kennedy. Student explore Symbolism in Flags, Bark
painting technique and Dot painting - fun paper mache puppets!....as well as
brief summary of Aboriginal culture.
Big
Mob Dreaming Book Rap Learn about the Wiradjuri Nation and animals of the
region. Learn some Wiradjuri words and their meanings.
Bunyips
- enter the Lair of the Bunyip Great fun! Learn all about this mysterious
creature. Is he real? You decide and have all sorts of fun along the way.
Stories, interdisciplinary connections - fun for all!
Additional
Australian Art Links of Interest
Ron
G. Stevens Art inspired by the Aboriginal
dot technique. Ron is a deep sea diver.
Australia:
Sound of the Earth Listen to music from this CD. (needs Windows Media play
or RealOne Player)
Australian
Folk Music Scroll on down the page -- click on the name of the song to
open the midi files (lyrics provided).
Picture
Australia Search for the arts, people, places and events in the
collections of libraries, museums, galleries, archives, universities and other
cultural agencies, in Australia and abroad - all at the same time. Start with
any of these Picture
Trails. Lots to see and learn!
Victoria
Schools
Educational Web site. Curriculum
resources (teachers will want to check these out)
In
the Artist's Footsteps
Learn about some of the artists who helped shape Australia's history.
Belonging
An exhibit exploring ways people have experienced belonging in Australia in
the twentieth century.
World
Printmakers--Open Bite Australia Workshop
Interview with Australian printmaker, Clive Barstow. Collaborative print
project in the Australian bush.
National
Gallery of Victoria
National
Gallery of Australia Go to Collections to see Australian art (nice
overview given)
List
of Museums in Australia - from Artcyclopedia
Exhibit of Childhood Art -- put together by Francis Derham. Shows work
from children all over the world - many from Australia (scroll to special
events).
Australian
Painting Education Kit. Selected landscapes (1866 - 1980) from the
National Gallery of Victoria. The dominant theme in Australian art has always
been the landscape. Since European settlement, artists from other nations as
well as the local-born have interpreted the land through their experiences and
the philosophies of the day. This set of landscapes is representative of the
changes in interpretation that have taken place. (click on names to the left)
National
Association for the Visual Arts - Visual Arts.Net - Gateway to visual arts
and crafts of Australia. Indigenous arts- contemporary art and more.
The
Ian Potter Center: NGV Australia -- click Exhibitions to see what is
showing.
Art
Gallery of New South Wales This gallery has quite a bit of contemporary
Australian art. Australian Copyright law does allow "Fair Dealing"
for research/study.
Soho
Art Gallery - Contemporary fine art
gallery located in Sydney, Australia. Features a diverse mix of talented
emerging and established artists.
Australian
Art - Art News, Contemporary Australian Artists, Reviews and more. Art
teachers will want to preview artists. Pre-select artists for student viewing.
Some
more Australian artists of interest: Frederick McCubbin, Russell Drysdale,
Grace Cossington Smith, William Delafield Cook, Tim Storrier, Margaret
Preston. Try pasting a name and doing a search in Google.
Contemporary
Australian Artists
John
Coburn Bold colors - hard edge - non-objective and abstract
Ken
Done - artist from Sydney
Australia. The work is very colorful - lively - Reminds me a bit of
Raoul Dufy (French Fauves). Check current exhibition and permanent
collection. Also browse the projects.
Robert
Juniper - Western Australian artist. Browse more contemporary
Western Australian art at Gomboc
Gallery. Also see Australian
Artists Teachers should pre-select images for students to view.
Kim
Philipsen - Danish born Australian artist. Portraits of native
people.
Margaret
Preston well known Australian Printmaker
Sidney
Nolan Paintings with a folk art charm
John
Olsen click on the thumbnails for a better sense of his amazingly
playful
landscape images
Fred
Williams - view how his work developed and changed over the years
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