aboriginal art

Aboriginal Art - Distinctive and in Demand

Aborigines have lived in Australia for thousands of years and their life consisted of roaming the hot sands and windy coastlines of Australia, Tasmania and the hundreds of smaller islands that surround them. Today, there are only a small number of them remaining and most live in the areas around Queensland and New South Wales.

Although the Aboriginal community has dwindled dramatically, their beliefs, culture and traditions very much remain in evidence and they maintain their identity through music, art, dance and close-knit communities.

Art is an essential part of the Aborigine culture and each piece produced has a story to tell. Artists still use tools and techniques from thousands of years ago and these are the reasons as to why the international art world is so fascinated with it.

'The Dreaming' is the way Aboriginal people explain life and how their world came into being. It is fundamental to the existence of traditional Aboriginal people, their lifestyle and culture, as it is connected to their values and beliefs and their bond with every living creature and every aspect of the landscape.

Basically the Dreaming tells the stories of the voyages and exploits of the creator ancestors and how they formed the natural world including the trees, rocks, waterholes, rivers, mountains and stars, as well as living things such as the animals and plants, and their spirits inhabit these features of the natural world today. Dreaming stories also are ways of understanding how their ancestors lived thousands of years ago, what they hunted, their rituals, and how they defended themselves against enemies.

Art is one of the methods Aboriginal people use to find ways of communicating with and maintain a oneness with the Dreaming. They believe that when people take on the characteristics of the Dreaming ancestors through dance, song and art, and when they maintain sacred sites, the spirits of the creator ancestors are reborn.

Traditional art forms varied in different areas of Australia depending on the types of materials that were available, in the central desert area ground drawing was an essential style of art and rock art can be found all over the country. The sheer size of Australia has resulted in many kinds of Aboriginal art, including sculptures made up of rocks and wood, painting on leaves and designing ceremonial clothing, painting on bark and basket weaving.

Amongst the oldest forms of Aboriginal art is body painting, which involves painting traditional designs onto the body in a series of intricate patterns in preparation for an important ceremony or dance.

As the international art world started to pay attention to the Aboriginal artists they transferred much of their work to canvas to enable them to display it and sell it. As their art tells of ancestral secrets they started to use the familiar dots as a way to protect their traditions. Most people recognize this 'dot art' as an Aboriginal style and there are many important artists whose art is fashionable and respected all over the world, as well as in Australia.

If you are interested in Aboriginal art then a good place to start looking for unique pieces is Sydney with various artists displaying, and selling, their work in the cities art galleries. Sydney itself is a great place to explore, take the ferry from the harbour at Circular Quay to Manly and let your eyes feast on the spectacular Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Look for a gallery that works directly with Aboriginal community art centres and where much of the income goes to the artists themselves. If you do buy something you should also get a certificate of authenticity issued by the artist's community art centre.

Things to Do in Melbourne - Australia's Spectacular City

Global to the core with an air of urban sophistication that is unique to this part of the world map, Melbourne is a thriving city that is defined by its ultra-modern population. A trendsetter in a nation that is anything but "down under" when it comes to its diversity and vibrancy, Melbourne is a bustling capital that is synonymous with the arts, music, cuisine, cinema, fashion and architecture.

A touristic hot spot in its own right, Melbourne beckons the explorer in you on several different levels with its scenic natural attributes, shopping, culture, history, social life and indigenous heritage.

Those with a flair for history will not be disappointed in this rich city whose illustrious collection of museums include the Melbourne Museum, the Australian Racing Museum, Moorabbin Air Museum, Jewish Museum, Holocaust Museum, Chinese Museum, Railway Museum, Victoria Police Museum, the Old Treasury, Scienceworks Immigration Museum, Polly Woodside Museum, Medical History Museum and the Heide Museum of Modern Art among many others. Other must-see sites include the Royal Exhibition Buildings, Ned Kelly's cell block at Old Melbourne Gaol and Cook's Cottage, the home of famed Captain James Cook. The Shrine of Remembrance and the Government House are equally majestic as is the sprawling Rippon Lea Estate, Schwerkolt Cottage, Como Historic House and Garden as well as the extravagant Labassa mansion with its breathtaking interiors.

Melbourne is also a veritable treasure chest for art connoisseurs as the city houses over a hundred art galleries and institutions, having the largest concentration of commercial galleries in the globe. Some of the highlights include the first public gallery established exclusively for Australian art, the Ian Potter Centre, the phenomenal collection at the National Gallery of Victoria International and the sculptures on display at the Linden Arts Centre. The Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, RMIT Gallery and Bundoora Homestead Art Gallery are also enticing in addition to Melbourne's Valley of the Arts and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image while shutterbugs are bound to enjoy the Monash Gallery of Art and the Centre for Contemporary Photography. Indigenous art lovers should drop by Melbourne Museum's Bunjilaka Aboriginal Centre or many of the aboriginal art galleries in the city including the Koori Heritage Trust, Narana Creations and the Burrinja Gallery. Those with an interest for aboriginal culture should not miss the chance to take part in the Aboriginal Heritage Walk where the customs and traditions of the indigenous community are explored in detail.

Melbourne also has something to offer the shopaholic in all of us as some of the trendiest boutiques, designer brands and department stores are based in Melbourne. The city's iconic walkways and arcades along Crossley Street, Cathedral, the Block, Presgrave, Centre, Royal Arcades and Degraves are unique and delightfully eccentric at the same time. Shopping hot spots include Alice Euphemia, Retrostar, Shag and Zambesi for luxurious brands while Blonde Venus also offers exclusive clothing. Chambermaid and Chiodo are other popular brands while music lovers should head on down to Basement Discs with its impressive all genre collection. Book lovers will love spending an afternoon at the Brunswick Street Bookstore or at Chronicles'.

If it's a quaint local market experience one is after, the Prahran Market, Queen Victoria Market, South Melbourne Market and Camberwell Market will more than suffice. Hob-nob with Melbournians amongst some of the best produce in the city while other colourful thoroughfares include St Kilda Farmers' Market, Hawthorn Craft Market, Rose Street Artist Market, and the Esplanade Market with its quirky arts and craft collection.

Home to some of the trendiest clubs in Victoria, Melbourne's vivacious night life has to be seen to be believed. With the hottest DJs spinning the tunes in some of the funkiest clubs this side of the Atlantic, a trip to Melbourne will be incomplete if one didn't drop in at Seven, Room 680, Revolver and the Prince of Wales. Tote, Pony and the Ding Dong Lounge also offer live music in addition to Bennetts Lane, Cheery and Corner all of which feature some of the best local talent.

A Brief Guide To Utrecht - Netherlands

Utrecht
Found in the heart of the Netherlands, Utrecht is at the crossroad of art, knowledge, commerce and services. As the fourth largest city in Netherlands, Utrecht is visited by many travelers because of its buildings and structures that depict the Middle Ages. After Amsterdam, Utrecht is the next destination visited by Eurail pass holders, not just because it is an important transportation hub, but every year, several cultural activities are happening within the city.

History of Utrecht
The first written history of Utrecht is traced back to 47 AD when the Romans built a fortification along the Rhine River to protect itself from Germania. During the 7th century, a missionary who became the first bishop of Utrecht built a church, which made it the religious center within the areas of the river Rhine. In 1122, Utrecht became a chartered city and became an important region in the North of Holland. In 1579, Utrecht became the site for the signing of an agreement between the provinces of Netherlands when they rebelled against Philip II of Spain. Under William of Orange and John of Nassau, Netherlands was united. Since then, Utrecht prospered into the city that it is today.

Thing To Do In Utrecht
Utrecht is a place with so many museums. There is the Railway Museum, which displays different trains and rail tracks. It is not just for the adult. Young ones will also have a great time since the experience is interactive and educational. The St. Catherine's Convent is a history museum. The Central Museum, located half a mile from the center of the city, is both an art and history museum. The Aboriginal Art Museum, just a walking distance from the city's center, is a must-see place. It displays aboriginal paintings with an audio-visual presentation about the Aborigines. The Kasteel Museum Sypesteyn is located seven miles from the city at Nieuw Loosdrecht.

It is a castle turned into an art gallery museum. There is also Marienhof Culinary Museum for culinary arts enthusiasts. Lastly, the National Museum has a wide range of displays - from Musical Clock to Street Organ. Visitors can play with musical instruments and a guided tour gives information on the history of several musical instruments. Domkerk and Domtoren is another place to go in Utrecht. Just within the city center, this cathedral, with a tower that can be reached with over 400 steps, is a must-visit place in Utrecht. And for those who wanted to explore UNESCO's Heritage Sites, Utrecht has one with the Rietveld Schroder House. According to UNESCO, this house, which follows the architectural principles of De Stijl, is an important icon of the history of Western architecture.