From Library Journal
Grade 5 Up-Finley examines paintings of several clans and regions of Australia. Artistic methods and the use of materials such as wood, bark, and rock are carefully explained. Because Aboriginal myth and views about land are tied directly to the art, the author includes a discussion of these beliefs and their relationship to the paintings. She also discusses the flowering of modern Aboriginal art associated with the movement for equality and land rights. Clear, full-color photographs of the art, people, and landscape illustrate the text.Kathryn Kosiorek, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Brooklyn, OH Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Card catalog description
Describes the art of the Australian Aborigines including rock painting and engraving as well as sand and bark painting; also discusses the symbolism found in these works.

ANNOTATION

Describes the art of the Australian Aborigines including rock painting and engraving as well as sand and bark painting; also discusses the symbolism found in these works.

FROM THE CRITICS

Children's Literature - Carolyn Mott Ford

The Aborigines of Australia were isolated from the rest of the world for thousands of years. After the British settlers arrived, their way of life was altered dramatically. The land is sacred to the Aborigines and so it is often the subject of their art. The term "Dreamtime" refers to Aboriginal religious beliefs about creation and myths explaining natural forces. Individual clans place importance in different myths and it is not ethical to create art based upon the Dreamings belonging to a another clan. This book offers a look at contemporary art from three regions: Arnhem Land, the Kimberley and the Desert. The artists dwelling in Arnhem Land peel bark off eucalyptus trees and later paint upon the dry inner layer. The constellations, animals and tracks and footprints are often featured in their art work. In the Kimberley region, paintings on rocks may depict weather conditions and bible stories. The desert dwellers often created ground sculpture, but now paint on canvas, usually telling a story in their pictures. The book is richly illustrated and is a detailed reference work for young students. Suggestions for further reading are included.

Library Journal