Aboriginal Art from Australia- Part 2

Canopy LV, by Brian Branchflower, born 1939 Brighton, England

Piltati, by Eileen Yaritja Stevens, born 1919 South Australia

 Possum Dreaming, Clifford Tjapaltjarri born c1932 Northern Territory, died 2002 Alice Springs, NT

 

The artists use pattern and design to tell their narrative. Dots were used to cover secret ceremonies, expressing their culture and their landscape. Limited colors when supplies were not available, various materials depending on where they lived, but always abstract, often aerial views and creative approaches to expressive visual storytelling of their people. I find it mesmerizing and delightful.

These three paintings are from the Art Museum collection in Perth, Western Australia

Aboriginal Art from Australia

Sand Dunes, 1999 by Eubena Nampitjin born c 1921 in Tjinjadpi, Western Australia

Kimberley Landscape, 1987 by Paddy Jaminya, born 1912 in Warmuri Kimberley, Western Australia, Died 1995

KirriWirri, 2007 by Daniel Walbidi, born 1983 in Broome, Western Australia

These three examples of aboriginal art from the Art Museum in Perth show how fresh and creative and abstract the style is. The color and pattern, the simplicity and complexity of design is sophisticated and elegant. I love these and have several more to show you in my next post.

Western Australia- Historic Albany

Our visit to historic Albany in Western Australia took us through the great Southern forests, through Walpole and Denmark. We stopped to walk among the giant tingle trees and you see us pictured above in the roots of one of them. We visited Tree Top Walk and walked 40 meters above the ground!! Founded in 1826. this beach-side town evolved along historical trade routes around Princess Royal Harbor or should I say Harbour? and King George Sound. There are several beautiful beaches with fabulous surf in the area. We tried them all!! Albany was a whaling town and the last whaling boat did not stop until the late 70's! The brig Amity is open for people to see as well as a several historical buildings including a schoolhouse. Western Australia is such a laid back and friendly place to be. We really enjoyed our stay. Everyone was so nice. Remember how it was to walk into a store and have someone come up and ask if they can help you? And mean it?? People are like that all the time. I got a cell phone since we rented a car and would be driving over 3000 kilometers. Jeff, the assistant manager at the Mercure Hotel Perth, helped me set it up. When my credit card info would not work, he took out his own credit card and charged the minutes to his own card!! Would this happen in the USA??

Western Australia- The AWESOME Natural Bridge and Gap

I was most impressed, however, by the visit to Natural Bridge and Gap which had stones over a million years old that are also found in Antarctica, proving that Australia and Antarctica were once connected. In fact, Australia is moving further north 5 centimeters a year. These pictures cannot do justice to the grandeur and beauty of the scene. I know this place will inform my art when I come back. I have already started some preliminary sketches and mock-up collages. I look forward to sharing the new work with you when it is completed in the spring/summer of 2012.

Western Australia- Perth to Margaret River

We loved Perth, the sunny and delightful capital of Western Australia, and left to travel west to Margaret River, known for its beaches and wineries. Norm found great surf and we found three great caves. Pictured is Lake Cave where we walked 500 steps down to see great formations. At the Leeuwin Lighthouse we saw where the Indian and Southern Ocean meet. The landscapes are beautiful, the people are delightful and the lifestyle is easy. Australia is a great place to vacation! when we were here in 1998, our dollar was stronger and went further. Today things are very expensive. A bottle of Coke is 3.50!

Trials & Tribulations-Packing for 9 weeks

Many rules have changed since 9/11 concerning what you can and cannot pack and how much weight you can carry on planes. We are going to Western Australia and Asia with a 2 week stay in Spain on our way back. In 1998/99 we went on a 3 month trip which included eastern Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Bali, India, Thailand, Italy and England and we took 28" gray suitcases as shown above in the bottom picture stuffed with kosher food for the areas where it would not be available.

This time, however, we are limited to 24" suitcases weighing only 40 pounds and 21" carry-ons which we had to buy ( blue luggage). We bought Delsey very light luggage! What to do with all the food we need to parts of Cambodia, Laos, Viet Nam and Myanmar where there is no kosher food and no vegan alternatives? I packed up a large box and mailed it to our hotel in Cambodia. The concierge said he would hold it for us until we arrive. We sure hope it gets there intact!! We are also sending one to the hotel in Spain where kosher food is scarce.

The center picture shows just some of the food we have sent!! Packaged food, mostly vacuumed packed, that I can heat up on a hot plate we carry with. Simple fare but it makes it possible for us to travel anywhere and see this beautiful and exciting world.

The top photograph is the complete luggage I will take. A 24" and a 21" suitcase plus a personal tote bag which I also put my pocketbook in. I have learned to pack few clothes, making room for all the other paraphernalia that I need. A few pants, a few tops, a bathing suit, a sweater, underwear, a nightgown. I wear the same things over and over. It is amazing how little one needs. When I come home and have a closet full of clothes, I am amazed at all the choices I have.

Of course, as we use up the food, I'll have room for buying some new things so my closets will be filled with some new choices too. That will be good, I am sure, since I will be sick of seeing the same few tops and pants.