Aboriginal Australian Art

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Aboriginal Australian Art

This subject guide will be of benefit to any student wishing to research a variety of visual art topics. This subject guide will help you to locate the resources you will find useful when commencing your studies in this area. Here is the best place to find books, information about databases and a guide to appropriate websites.

This page is particularly relevant for students undertaking study in the following subjects:

  • Art appreciation Level 3
  • Art production Level 3
  • Art Studio practice Level 3
  • Visual art practice Level 2
Library Resources
eReserve
Audio Visual
Web Resources
Aboriginal Artists

Library Resources

The Library catalogue is a powerful searching tool. Use a basic keyword search to get quickly to the resources you will find on the shelves.

In a highly visual subject you are often looking for that "something" that will give you an idea or set you off on your own path of discovery. While not the most efficient way for carrying-out research, under many circumstances browsing the shelves may bring you the results you want. The following Dewey Numbers will help if this is the case.

Dewey numbers

  • Art, Aboriginal Australian = 759.089915
  • Social Groups - Australian Aborigines = 305.89915 (You will need to refer to the indexes in these books and search under the term "art".)
  • Rock art = 709.0113

Keyword Searching

Subject Headings

  • Aboriginal Australians -- Art
  • Aboriginal Australians -- Art -- 20th century

Reference Material

Collection Highlights

Aboriginal Art and Spirituality by Rosemary Crumlin & Anthony Knight. Australian Aboriginal art is primarily spiritual. The sacred art of the aboriginal people, however, goes even further, and expresses the actual laws and rites by which the Australian Aborigines live.

Art on a string: Aboriginal threaded objects from the Central Desert and Arnhem Land.This book introduces the aesthetic and symbolic power of necklaces and other threaded objects made by Australian Aboriginal artists from the Central Desert and Arnhem Land.

Contemporary Aboriginal art: a guide to the rebirth of an ancient culture / Susan McCulloch. Revised edition

Dreaming their way: Australian Aboriginal Women Painters. This book highlights the work of 33 artists and their important contributions to contemporary painting and represents communities across the continent.

Desert crafts: Anangu Maruku punu by Jennifer Isaacs.

How Aborigines invented the idea of contemporary art: writings on Aboriginal contemporary art edited & introduced by Ian McLean.

Ilan Pasin: this is our way. Torres Strait Art. This book provides, for the first time, a Torres Strait Islander perspective on the history, customs, legends and artistic expressions of a people who exist as minority within the minority of Australian Aboriginals.

Papunya: a place made after the story. The beginnings of the Western Desert Painting Movement by Geoffrey Bardon & James Bardon. What started as an exercise to encourage the Aboriginal schoolchildren to record their sand patterns and games grew to involve, at the peak of creativity, as many as thirty tribal men and elders. The Western Desert Painting Movement provided the rest of the world with new ways of seeing.

Robinson's cup. In 1835 the people of Bothwell, Tasmania presented a Cup to George Augustus Robinson in appreciation for establishing a conciliation with local aboriginal people. An exhibition at QVMAG by contemporary aboriginal artists presented their interpretation of the cup and the story around it.

Tjukurrtjanu: origins of Western Desert art by Judith Ryan & Philip Batty


eReserve

Warning: These files may contain the names and images of Aboriginal and Islander people now deceased. They may also contain links to sites that may use images of Aboriginal and Islander people now deceased.Art and Australia

Audio Visual

Warning: These sites may contain the names and images of Aboriginal and Islander people now deceased. They may also contain links to sites that may use images of Aboriginal and Islander people now deceased.

The Library has a wide range of AV material on DVD and as digital movies that can be located by searching on the Library catalogue. Please ask in the AV office for extended help.

Web Resources

Warning: These sites may contain the names and images of Aboriginal and Islander people now deceased. They may also contain links to sites that may use images of Aboriginal and Islander people now deceased.

Aboriginal Artists

Warning: These sites may contain the names and images of Aboriginal and Islander people now deceased. They may also contain links to sites that may use images of Aboriginal and Islander people now deceased.

Brooke Andrew (1970-)

Paddy Bedford (1922-2007)

Gordon Bennett (1955-2014)

Fiona Foley (1964- )

Lola Greeno (1946- )

Emily Kame Kngwarreye (1910-1996)

Lin Onus (1948-1996)

Kathleen Petyarre (1940? - )


Referencing advice: The TASC and your teachers at St Patrick's College expect you to present your work with citations and a reference list in the Harvard (author/date) format. Go to the Library's Referencing Guidelines for extended help in this area. The Library staff are always happy to help you with any queries you may have in regard to referencing requirements for any research you are undertaking.

Visual art students should also refer to the RMIT Harvard Referencing Guide for Visual material. If you are lucky enough to visit the Museum of Old and New Art in Hobart there are additional guidelines you will be required to use when referencing material from their O-device. Please ask at the Library or your teacher for help.

Independent studies (IPs): When undertaking any independent study, research or book review you must allow yourself enough time to search for and locate the material you need. To help you a booking sheet is kept at the Library desk where you may book an individual time with one of the Library staff when commencing any research in this area.

Faculty resources: All material purchased by teachers in the visual arts is also available for student use if it is not required by teachers. Many of these resources are inter-shelved with the Library material and may be found by using the Library catalogue.