To make your holiday decorations a little more local and a little less northern hemisphere, use things found in your own backyard.
After a number of years working in the high-end commercial art scene, Guy Hayes found himself working for an Aboriginal…
Indigenous Australians have a worldwide reputation for their long history of creating art with, and about, the natural world around them. Indigenous art is not limited to one medium or style, and has evolved throughout the ages. The traditional practices are still followed and valued highly today, and visitors from all over Australia and the world travel to cultural centers to learn more about this intriguing art form. One Stop Adventures understands this fascination with Aboriginal art, and feels passionate about its importance in the Australian landscape. We have many Uluru and Outback Australian tours incorporating Aboriginal Art, but one…
The more indigenous artworks I look at the more intrigued I get about all the symbols so I did some research and found out some of there meanings. Different indigenous cultures use different symbol…
Painting of the three crosses by Anangu artist Yvonne-Edwards. Dating from September 2012, this article profiles the author/compiler of an upcoming book on Australian Aboriginal Christian art, Christobel Mattingley. The article states, "Together with Bible Society Australia’s Remote and Indigenous Ministry team, Mattingley is working on compiling a book of Aboriginal art with biblical subject matter. Artists are invited to submit works which depict a Bible story which has meaning for them. Altogether, the book will include about 100 images." Mattingley goes on to say that "Pictures speak to everyone. I’m hoping that this book will speak to everyone, and contribute towards the long slow process of reconciliation. I believe that reconciliation can’t be imposed from above. It has to start in the hearts of each individual person. This book may light the spark that leads to a true spirit of reconciliation." There is no indication as to when the book will be published. Mattingley writes on her blog that "it takes time to try to spread the word about the project, so if you know any Aboriginal artists, please tell them about it and ask them to get in touch with me or Louise Sherman at the Bible Society." If you would like more information about the project or to submit an artwork, email [email protected]. To read an article about the recent National Reconciliation Week in Australia written by Christian blogger Josh Dowton, click here.
Today's Wordless Wednesday featuring art from around the world is an African Kuba mask. Enjoy and learn about the African art on Art Class Curator!
With the support of key Wurundjeri Elders, the Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages (VACL) collaborated with New Zealand digital production...
Explore Olga e Zanni's 2852 photos on Flickr!
by Barbara Bechtel Throughout history, many religions and cultures have used jewelry as a means of imparting cultural and religious symbols and patterns into their work. However, you don't have to be a world traveler or an anthropologist to find inspiration for your own artisan made jewelry. The internet and your local library offer a wealth of research options to find meaningful and beautiful symbols to inspire your own work.... Here are just a few that have inspired me over the years.... The Maasai women have long been known for their intricate beaded designs and body modification. Originally, the delicate beads and their colors came from traditional means such as bone, stone, and horn but lost favor when trading with Europe and they were able to gain access to larger quantities of their now favored opaque Czech glass. Tradtional Japanese Netsuke and their counterparts, Ojime and Inro, were intricately carved adornments for the obi. Generally serving as a closure (much like a button) for a small pouch, this unique art form is still a popular craft and art form today. Traditionally, they depicted popular animals, deities, nature, and even professions or popular subjects of the day. You need not look any further than your own personal religious beliefs to find beautiful symbols. To expand on this idea, consult historical and religious texts or references to find variations of symbols through out history. In addition to the traditional symbols, look for other symbolic references in the stories of different religions, in example the rainbow in Christianity or the Hamsa in many different religions. Indigenous cultures and tribes throughout the world often used symbols in their writings, weavings and jewelry. Research into different groups can not only inform your work but also enlighten you about art history! Here are some additional references to get you started: PBS: Craft in America : Not only does this series research the rich history of American Craft; many episodes highlight artists working in traditional methods and symbology of their cultural heritage. Signs and Symbols in Christian Art: This book is a wonderful reference for traditional symbols used throughout art history. Also a great reference if you enjoy western art history. Religious-Symbols.net: Is a great basic site that overviews different religious symbols and their meaning. A great jumping point for your research. If you have any wonderful references, I'd love to hear them below!
The landmark ‘Bringing Them Home’ report on ‘The Stolen Generations’ was delivered in Federal Parliament in […]
Australian aboriginal art colouring pages of animals. Use these cool designs for kids' craft activities and art lessons.
Wander and Wild have created some FREE printables for our community of little explorers to celebrate 'Heal Country' for NAIDOC week in 2021 and inspire and help your little ones to learn about our sacred Indigenous culture and encourage discussions about our traditional Australian landowners. We collaborated with Sheri from Bigi Nagala to create these printables. She is a proud Bidjara woman who tells Indigenous stories through her paint creations. She took our idea and ran with it to create the most beautiful paintings of Indigenous symbols which we’ve turned into FREE printables for you and your family to use and engage with.
Aboriginal artist Loongkoonan is proving that age is just a number by creating award-winning art well into her 100s.
How the Wiradjuri people, indigenous to the Central West of New South Wales, survived European settlement.
The aim of this article it to help readers determine if their aboriginal sketch is by Tommy McRae. It gives examples of Tommy McRae sketches and drawings for comparison.
The boy's had lots of fun making Echidna's with playdough and craft match sticks. Playdough is always a great opportunity to develop fine motor skills. I love giving the boy's different tools to paint with, so painting spikes on an Echidna seemed the perfect opportunity to use cotton buds. Master 4 drew himself an Echidna after reading the story and then used a cotton tip to create spikes. I didn't have any brown paint so we used some of my foundation!! I'm all about using whatever you can around the house for craft activities!! The Echidna is a strange and fascinating animal that calls Australia home. The Echidna is a rare mammal that lays eggs, and it resembles a porcupine with large, pointy spines protruding from their backs. My boy's really enjoyed creating their own Echidnas after reading The Echidna and The Shade Tree. The first exposure I had to Aboriginal picture books was through the series of books compiled by Pamela Lofts. I remember these from when I was at primary school. Published in 1980, even then I could tell that these books were pretty revolutionary: simply told traditional Aboriginal stories illustrated and told by Aboriginal people. I think they still work beautifully today, and I’ve hunted down some copies for my boys: How The Birds Got Their Colours by May Albert and Pamela Lofts and The Echidna and the Shade Tree by Mona Green and Pamela Lofts.
a story about searching for one’s lost tribe Wingapo Cheskchamay (“Welcome, All Friends” in Powhatan language) I share this excerpt from my book with you now because I have lately struck a chord in some of my posts….there are others besides me who do not feel that they fit in, and are looking for […]
Learn how to make your own Aboriginal Clapping Sticks using dowel rods or sticks. Once you are done, you'll have a beautiful percussion instrument!
