Virtual Australia: Aboriginal Art and Didgeridoos

The Didgeridoo.

This woodwind instrument, indigenous to Northern Australia, originated sometime in the past 1500 years. Its playing drawn into ancient cave art.

Usually round and long...the length creates the lowness of its tone. The longer the instrument the lower...the shorter making a higher pitch.

Traditional didgeridoos are made from hollow (usually from termite-infestation) eucalyptus branches.

Non-native can be made from almost any hollow tubing. A favorite being PCV pipe.

They are also made from hollow cactus and clay.

Vibrating lips and circular breathing create the sound.

Traditionally the Didgeridoo accompanied celebration or dancing in the aboriginal tribes.

Although both men and women play the instrument today...traditionally only the men played the didgeridoo.

Surprisingly, in 2005 the didgeridoo was studied and found to have health benefits. Players had less snoring and sleep apnea. The British Medical Journal attributed this to the circular breathing and strengthening of the upper airway muscles while playing.

Listen to the Didgeridoo Yourself

https://youtu.be/ex7yNsaIT8s

And the Didgeridoo Shop in case you want to own one.

https://www.didgeridoobreath.com/

A starter kit will run you about 250.00

and a Tutorial on Playing and Circular breathing.

https://youtu.be/WrHr9Oa1NLw

Aboriginal Didgeridoo

https://youtu.be/9g592I-p-dc

 Aboriginal Art

Aboriginal art is closely related to ritual and ceremonies for the indigenous people. It can be found of wood, rock, leaves, the walls of caves...and today in modern design.

The dot painting technique you see today is fairly recent. It began in the early 1970's

When Geoffry Bardon arrived to teach Art to the Aboriginal students. His "dot painting"

was based off the sand-paintings the elders would do on the ground, but not so temporary. The idea grew and dot painting is still very much a thing, nearly 40 years later.

It can be simple or very complex.

And instructional  guides are available for those who would like to try it themselves.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Aboriginal-Dot-Painting-Activity-1638289

In Australia many objects are now decorated with dot painting. Even boomerangs!

 which also can be found for sale at

Boomerangs.com

for around $30.00

Colors in the traditional aboriginal art were significant.


Black for The People.

Red for The Earth.

Yellow represented the Sun.

 Aboriginal Art Gallery

https://www.aboriginal-art-australia.com/

Where they have local aboriginal art for sale from the low hundreds to over $5000.

And the gallery is wonderful to browse, always adding new art and featuring sales or specific artists.

May have to try one of these myself.

Youtube of Dot Painting

https://youtu.be/4JQkinXVd1s



I'll post it if I do!

More anon...




Update: 

I did and here are the results.

Not Fine Art....but a lot of fun. I'm going
to hang it with my Australia Poster!