Copyright 2008. Created by Connie Robbins-Brady, Mesa County Valley School District #51, Grand Junction, CO.

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National Geographic video for kids: (about 2 : 37 minutes) Internet access needed http://video.nationalgeographic.com/vid eo/player/kids/people-placeskids/australia-rockart-kids.html

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.

X-ray art shows the outside as well as some of the inside parts, the spine and organs of an animal or person.

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

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 -1988 Center 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 --1987 Center for Aboriginal Artists, Alice Springs

10. Mamaboomba Tjukurrpa, Billy S. Tjapaltjarri (Born 1925) Acrylic1988. 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 STORIES http://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 dont 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.