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Certain materials are included under the fair use exemption of the

U.S. Copyright Law for educational purposes,

prepared according to the multimedia fair use guidelines

and are restricted from further use.

The information contained within this unit is a compilation of information gleaned

from several sources, some unknown. If credit has not been properly given, please

contact our office so this can be corrected. www.artheritageprogram.org

Copyright 2008. Created by Connie

Robbins-Brady,

Mesa County Valley School District

#51, Grand Junction, CO.

This article was written for the

express use of the

Art Heritage Program.

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/kids/people-places-kids/australia-rockart-kids.html

National Geographic video for kids:(about 2 : 37 minutes) Internet access needed

The Aboriginal people of Australia

may be descendents of one of the

oldest cultures in the world.

Historians believe they have lived on

the Australian continent for over

70,000 years!

The word ―Aboriginal‖ means ―the

original people to live in an area.‖

Long ago, Aboriginal people painted

symbols of animals and people on

rocks.

The Aboriginal people of Australia also painted on pieces

of bark removed from trees. They heated the bark over

warm coals from a fire until they were able to pound it flat

into a mat.

They used paints made from ground rock (ochre),

charcoal, and chalk, they painted on the bark with pointed

sticks.

Historic bark paintings collected by Baldwin Spencer in 1912

Today, Australia is a modern country with big cities and

small villages. Aboriginal artists honor traditional Dream

Time stories through their art, using old designs and

techniques with modern materials such as acrylic paint and

canvas.

The slides in the Aboriginal Art unit represent the

art of individual Aboriginal artists. These paintings

were created within the past 40 years using the

same images and shapes of centuries-old rock and

bark designs.

In the past, bark paintings were destroyed or

thrown away after they were no longer needed.

Several years ago, missionaries began working

with Aboriginal artists to preserve the designs and

to develop a way in which they could be sold. The

money earned helps them to be independent.

1. Rainbow Serpent, Peter Maralwanga. (1916-1987) Bark Painting – 1976 (49.6‖ x 20‖) private collection

X-ray art shows the outside as well as

some of the inside parts, the spine and

organs of an animal or person.

2. Kolobar Kangaroo, Yuwun Y. Marruwarr. 1971. Bark Painting, 27‖ x 15‖

3. Rainbow Dreaming. Barney D. Tjungurrayi, (Born 1959)

Acrylic – 1988. Center for Aboriginal Artists, Alice Springs

4. Fishtrap and Milky Way, Narritjin and Son

1978, Bark Painting, Djarrakpi, Australian Museum

5. Janmarda Dreaming, Nora Andy Napaljarri

Acrylic painting -1988Center for Aboriginal Artists, Alice Springs

6. Honey Ant Dreaming, Mary Dixon Nungurrayi (Born c.1942)

Acrylic – 1988. Mt. Liebig Ctr for Aboriginal Artist Alice Springs

7. Honey Ant Dreaming, Old Mick Tjakamarra,

c.1914-1996

Acrylic – 1982 (36‖ x 27‖)

Papunya, Private Collection

8. Tingari Ceremonies at Kanaputa,

Uta Uta Tjangala 1926-1990

Acrylic--1986

Papunya, Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi

9. Carpet Snake Dreaming,

Billy S. Tjapaltjarri, (Born 1925

Acrylic --1987Center for Aboriginal Artists, Alice Springs

10. Mamaboomba Tjukurrpa, Billy S. Tjapaltjarri (Born

1925) Acrylic—1988. Papunya, Center for Aboriginal Artist Alice Springs

11. Perentie Dreaming, Michael T. Tjapanardi,

Acrylic -- 1987, Center for Aboriginal Artists, Alice Springs

12. Bushfire Dreaming. Clifford (Possum) Tjapaltjarri (1943-2002)

Acrylic -- 1988, Papunya, Center for Aboriginal Artist Alice Springs

DREAMTIME STORIEShttp://www.dreamtime.net.au/dreaming

/storylist.htm

Art Project Amy Gibbs 11/08

X-ray Animals

Students create a simple image of an animal on their

paper.

On the inside of the animal students will draw symbolic

images of the internal organs and bones of the animal,

using basic shapes (rectangles, triangles, squares).

Between the animal and the edge of the paper, students will draw

several lines (four or five) radiating from the animal, dividing the

space into sections. (The lines don’t have to be precise or

regular). Inside these spaces, students will fill the space with

designs, shapes, lines, crosshatching, dots, etc.

Encourage students to have a ―story‖ they are telling with their

image, and to use the Aboriginal symbols in their design to help

tell their story. Emphasis should be on lines, repeating patterns,

borders, and use of the Aboriginal symbols.