referencing (re-done)

[1] Aboriginal art online, http://www.aboriginalartonline.com/regions/regions.php, viewed 15/10/11

[2] Creative Sprits, “What are Wandjanas?”, http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/arts/wandjina.html, viewed 17/10/11

[3] Aboriginal art online, http://www.aboriginalartonline.com/regions/regions.php, viewed 15/10/11

[4] Aboriginal art online, “The Tiwi Islands”, http://www.aboriginalartonline.com/regions/tiwi.php, viewed 16/10/11

[5] ibid

[6] Central Art, http://www.aboriginalartstore.com.au/aboriginal-art-culture/aboriginal-dreamtime.php, viewed 22/10/11

[7] ABORIGINAL AUSTRALIA ART & CULTURE CENTRE, http://aboriginalart.com.au/gallery/iconography.html, viewed 22/10/11

[8] ibid

[9] Aboriginal art online, “Lockhart River Art, Cape York Peninsula”, http://www.aboriginalartonline.com/regions/lockhart.php, viewed 16/10/11

[10] Aboriginal art online,  “Amata Artists of northern South Australia”,  http://www.aboriginalartonline.com/art/amata.php

referencing

[1] http://www.aboriginalartonline.com/regions/regions.php

[2] http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/arts/wandjina.html

[3]http://www.aboriginalartonline.com/regions/regions.php

{[4] http://www.aboriginalartonline.com/regions/tiwi.php

[5] ibid

[6] http://www.aboriginalartstore.com.au/aboriginal-art-culture/aboriginal-dreamtime.php

[7] http://aboriginalart.com.au/gallery/iconography.html

[8] ibid

{[9] http://www.aboriginalartonline.com/regions/lockhart.php

[10] http://www.aboriginalartonline.com/art/amata.php

South Australian Region

I know that most aboriginal art is thought to come from the Northern Territory or Western Australia but I thought I would look further in the South Australian region as I don't know much about it. 


The Amata community is located in far northern South Australia on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Aboriginal Lands.
Much of the imagery in Amata paintings is based on the designs first used by artists in their 'punu' or wood carvings. The punu, decorated with linear burn marks in repetitive curves, continue to be produced by the Amata people.[10]


Some of the artists and works:


PANINY MICK

Understanding Country

Honey Ant Story

QUEENIE ADAMSON

The Dreamtime

I have heard about the term 'dreamtime' used before in aboriginal culture but I have never really gone to explore what its actually all about. I though I'd take this opportunity to learn more about it. 


The dreamtime is a period before human existence when spirits emerged from the sky to create the land forms and all living things. The Dreamtime stories set down the laws for social and moral order and establish the cultural patterns and customs. Many art works are visual representations of the symbols associated with the artist's Dreaming[6]




'Aboriginals see themselves as part of nature. We see all things natural as part of us. All the things on Earth we see as part human. This is told through the ideas of dreaming. By dreaming we mean the belief that long ago, these creatures started human society. These creatures, these great creatures are just as much alive today as they were in the beginning. They are everlasting and will never die. They are always part of the land and nature as we are. Our connection to all things natural is spiritual.' Silas Roberts, first Chairman of the Northern Lands Council.
[http://www.aboriginalartstore.com.au/aboriginal-art-culture/aboriginal-dreamtime.php]


It is still in the indigenous tradition to represent many of the desert Dreamings stories. The traditional sand paintings have been replaced by paintings on canvas and new styles like dot paintings.[7]


Dreamtime symbols:
Symbols used within paintings include concentric circles, curved lines & straight lines. Concentric circles usually represent camp sites, waterholes or places of significance. Curved lines generally represent rain or water travelling underground. Straight lines may be indicative of travelling & when these lines join concentric circles it may show the pathway travelled by the ancestors. A small "U" shaped figure may represent a person & depending on the iconoraphy next to the person determines whether it is male or female.[8]





Some Dreamtime Paintings:

Wayamba the Turtle. 

Warabah (the turtle) symbol of the warrior and protection. A man that put himself and his desire above that of his people. The painting is to be read section by section (bottom left clockwise).
This depiction describes in detail the events that would unfold in this ancient and dramatic story.

[http://www.aboriginalaustralianart.com/dreamtime_art.php]

Gaygar the Mother Duck

The dreaming story is of Gaygar the mother duck, her abduction and escape from the water rat. It tells of a mothers unconditional love for her children and there forced and speedy exodus from their country.

[http://www.aboriginalaustralianart.com/dreamtime_art.php]

Tiwi Islands and Arnhem Land

Arnhem Land

Tiwi Island

Arnhem Land styles include Cross hatching or Rark, natural pigments on bark and a restricted pallet. Tiwi art is distinct from that of Arnhem Land. Compared with Arnhem Land art, Tiwi art often appears to be abstract and geometric. With its strong patterns and use of colour, Tiwi art is recognised as being very attractive and highly collectable[4]. There is no 'story' as such for individual paintings, however they practise body painting for ceremonial reasons. 

The Kimberley Region

The Kimberley indigenous art region is known for the deciption of Wandjina figures. In the culture of the Worora, Ngarinyin, and Wunumbul tribes, which make up the Mowanjum community, the Wandjina is the supreme spirit being who came from the Milky Way to create the earth and its people[2].

Wandjina are usually painted as full-length, or head and shoulder figures. Their large mouthless faces feature enormous black eyes flanking a beak-like nose. The head is usually surrounded by a band with outward radiating lines[3]. They are found in many rock art sites in caves and rock shelters throughout the Kimberley.

 

Wandjina Rock Carvings

[http://www.aboriginalculture.com.au/images/wandjina.jpg]

Lily Karedada is one of the most accomplished of contemporary Wandjina artists and she works with natural ochres and natural glue or acrylic binder on both bark and canvas.

• Lily Karadada
• Wandjina, 2003
• natural earth pigments on linen
• [http://www.artwhatson.com.au/cooeegallery/lily-karadada-the-last-of-the-great-wandjina-painters/wandjina_1]

Lily Karadada

Edition 08/99

Screenprint

[http://www.rainbowserpent.com.au/AboriginalArt.aspx?Category=Ltd+Edition+Prints]

Kevin is another distinctive wandjina artist with a unique style.

Wandjina Rock art

[http://www.aboriginal-art-australia.com/b/14414/1/kevin-waina.html]

regions

I found it interesting to learn about the different styles of indigenous art in different indigenous regions of Australia. Once you start to compare one from another, you can really notice the differences. The variations mainly are of symbols and materials used in the the production of the art[1].

This map shows the main regions of Australia where Aboriginal artists are working actively.