Art explores concept of Aboriginal ‘dreamtime’
Rachel Cavanaugh
News Editor
The Australian Aboriginal flag is divided into three parts: a bold black stripe; a vibrant red stripe, and a glowing yellow circle that seals the line in between.
According to historians, the black is for the people, the red is for the earth, and the yellow represents the sun over both.
David Dunn, whose Aboriginal name Gaagang means “elder brother,” hails from Trangie in New South Wales. The university-trained artist is one of a multitude of Aboriginal painters whose art is on display this month at Goldendale’s Golden Art Gallery.
“[Dunn’s] work is from the heart, not from photos, and most of his works are about his family,” relays local collector Lynda Wojt. “His style is one of my personal favorites.”
The artist is part of a contemporary movement that began early in the century and took force in the 1970s. The traditions - which include rock art, bark and body painting, stone arrangements, carvings, sculpture, and weaving - can be traced back 60,000 years.
Undoubtedly the most recognizable is the dot paintings, like those Dunn paints, which have come to be symbolic of the modern movement.
Perhaps one cannot fully appreciate the dot art, however, without first understanding the concept of ‘dreaming’ or ‘dreamtime.’
Put simply, the Aboriginal notion describes cultural stories - creation myths, tales of rituals like circumcision, and coming-of-age stories. However, many argue there is not a comparable western translation.
This is due in part to the rigid rules surrounding ownership. The knowledge is considered sacred and only certain language group members may tell the stories. At one time, the only pictures of the dreamings were drawn in the sand.
Then, about forty years ago, an Australian school teacher encouraged Aboriginal people to paint the stories.
At first, canvasses abounded with dot art. However, in the years that followed, some grew angry the long-standing secrets were being sold. In subsequent years, artists were rumored to have begun disguising the dreamings under layers of camouflage and over-dotting to conceal what was beneath.
Some critics today argue the early paintings carried a “uniqueness” and “innocence” lost in later years.
Dunn’s work has appeared at prominent Australian venues including Sydney’s Bomalia art gallery, the Sydney Parliament House, the Dubbo Civic Center, Victoria’s Dingo Discovery Center, and has toured the country several times. His art is collected worldwide. Another artist featured at the gallery, Minnie Pwerle, was known for founding a well-known artist’s community called Utopia, which helped women become self-sufficient and earn money from their artwork.
“She celebrates womanhood in her paintings, using bold stripes and curves,” says Wojt. “Her paintings are a mix of vivid colors and traditional lines. One of the paintings on display at the Golden Gallery illustrates women’s ceremonial body paint design.
“After smearing their bodies with animal fat, the women trace designs onto their breasts, arms, and thighs, singing as each takes her turn to be painted up. The songs relate to their ancestral dreamtime or folklore stories.”
Bill Harney, another featured artist, is the head of the Waradman Language Group (tribe) and has two pieces on display this month. He is also a writer and activist.
“He saw real challenges with the Aboriginal youth and founded a sanctuary for them to save their culture. Besides being an artist, Bill also is an author. He is well-respected in the Aboriginal community.”
On July 5, the gallery will host an Australian-themed benefit dinner and live auction for two of the pieces of art. The event will coincide with the Goldendale’s Community Days event.
The exhibit will run through July 13. For more information, call 509-773-5100.
Klickitat County 911 names winners in bookmark awards
Rachel Cavenaugh
News Editor
Students from Klickitat and Skamania counties used their artistic talents to illustrate proper use of 911, drawn on bookmarks. More than 1,000 bookmarks were designed by the students. Staff at Klickitat County 911 selected the top designs without knowledge of the artists.
Copies of the winning designs were reproduced and distributed at award ceremonies. Washington State Lt Governor Brad Owen, with the assistance ofemergency service workers, presented a gift and a Certificate of Achievement to the top three winners in each of three age categories.
Klickitat County 911 coordinator, Shirley Chapple initiated the idea as a way to educate young people about the proper use of 911. “There are some misconceptions among kids about when to call 911,” said Chapple. It is not so much of a problem with crank calls, as it is with things such as the “cat up a tree” type of call, which should not go to 911. “Hang-ups are a big problem. If people call 911 by mistake, they need to wait for the operator (to explain the error) or they might have a patrolman at their door.”
Chapple, the public education sub-committee chair for statewide 911, said the project idea was passed on to the state, and will be a state-wide project next year. All entries will be on display at the Klickitat County Fair and bookmarks will be distributed at the Fair and other 911 public education events.
P.A.L. director, Crystal Dodge assisted in the contacting the schools and found business donors for the prizes.
Each county 911 department receives $7,000 each year for public education, which pays for personnel and an additional $2,000 for educational materials.
The winning artists from Klickitat County students were:
K-2nd Grade: Claire Samuels of Whitson Elementary School, Peter Johnson, Whitson Elementary School, Eliza Durkee-Newman, Whitson Elementary School.
3rd-5th Grade: Chavita Ramirez, Whitson Elementary School, Andrea Martinez, Dallesport Elementary School, Alexa Hintze, Whitson Elementary School
6th-8th Grade: Matthew Allen, Goldendale Middle School, Sydnie O’Banion, Bickleton School, Breanna Berry, Goldendale Middle School.
New Hope Farms garners support during 30th anniversary celebration open house and program
New Hope Farms, celebrating it’s 30th anniversary this year, owes it’s beginning to Rainbow Acres, a working ranch for disabled adults in Arizona. Two Baptist pastors with $145 between them set out to prove that mentally disabled adults could live happy productive lives when placed in a supportive, yet challenging environment. With Rainbow Acres’ success, others followed their example.
New Hope’s founders, Wally and Marlene Fenton and Larry and Joy Goehner saw first hand what the resident “ranchers” in Arizona could accomplish and what that meant in their lives. They had a vision of developing a similar Christian living experience in Washington.
Fenton’s parents, who owned a ranch on the Bickleton Highway, six miles east of Goldendale, donated 20 acres, a barn, and a ranch house (an additional 20 adjoining acres were donated later). The goal was to provide a permanent, lifetime home, where residents could maximize their physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual growth in an atmosphere of love and acceptance. Within four months of it’s inception in July of 1978, given the generous support of churches and individuals, the farm opened its doors to residents.
The major difference in the farm today from the founders’ vision of a financially independent working farm is that the facility is now licensed, overseen, and mostly funded by the State of Washington Department of Developmental Disabilities, and U.S. Medicare and Medicaid.
While the initial emphasis was on self-sufficiency through animal husbandry and raising farm products, current Washington laws did not permit that emphasis. And the difficulties of raising crops and animals for sale in a competitive, and highly regulated market were underestimated.
While the emphasis continues on personal growth, residents now set their own pace. On June 14, New Hope Farms held its open house and held a spaghetti feed in Goldendale with entertainment from the Rolling Hills Sweet Adelines. The event raised $2,668.76 for maintenance of the facilities.
One of the truly remarkable characteristics of the farm is the longevity of its residents. About half of the residents have lived here for more than 10 years, two of them having been here since it’s beginning. Several more have been here more than five years.
The residents consider New Hope Farms their home, and the other residents and staff as their family. This level of permanence sets New Hope Farms apart from every other resident program in the state.
There have been major challenges to the survival of the Farms through the years, and family members have been willing to devote the time and energy to seeing it through it’s growing pains. New Hope Farms is the only rural, non-profit, private, group facility in the state that serves the developmentally disabled.
As the farm came under state purview, it was difficult to classify and license the farm because there were no precedents. The status of the farm was established, and became officially licensed in 1997. The farm staff and state workers have a collaborative partnership to seek the best future for the residents.
|
