Post by RobertGraves on Jan 12, 2005 14:21:38 GMT -5
I love documentaries and last night saw a fantastic program called 'Mr Patterns'. You would be familiar with Aboriginal 'dot paintings' but probably (except for Pinkozcat?) do not know of the movement known as Papunya Tula.
Mr Patterns was the name given to Geoff Bardon an art teacher at Papunya in Australia's Western Desert. Bardon was fascinated with the children's art work which led them to call him Mr Patterns.
His work with the children came to the attention of the older men in Papunya - which was an impovershed government settlement - who he encouraged to paint using acrylic paint. They painted in a traditional style telling stories of Country and Dreaming. He sold their paintings in Alice Springs and was responsible for creating a sense of purpose, pride and income for the people.
This was not popular with some of the leading whites in Papunya, who were unhappy that the men were painting all day, instead of cutting wood and performing their regular chores. Some suggested that because these people were 'government aborigines' that profits should be returned to the state. Bardon was not equipped to deal with the politics of it all and had few white allies. He left Papunya in poor health.
The incredibly sad ending to an uplifting story of renewal in a struggling outback community was made more poignant by the fact that Bardon's GP sent him to 'Chelmsford'. The word strikes horror in Australian hearts but you are unlikely to have heard of the Deep Sleep' treatment made infamous at this intitution:
www.cpa.org.au/garchve2/992chel.html
Bardon survived but was to suffer from this experience for the rest of his life. He died of cancer in 2003.
Mr Patterns is a wonderful documentary:
www.abc.net.au/tv/guide/netw/200501/highlights/247189.htm
More:
www.mup.unimelb.edu.au/catalogue/0-522-85110-X.html
www.aboriginalartonline.com/forum/articles4.php
Mr Patterns was the name given to Geoff Bardon an art teacher at Papunya in Australia's Western Desert. Bardon was fascinated with the children's art work which led them to call him Mr Patterns.
His work with the children came to the attention of the older men in Papunya - which was an impovershed government settlement - who he encouraged to paint using acrylic paint. They painted in a traditional style telling stories of Country and Dreaming. He sold their paintings in Alice Springs and was responsible for creating a sense of purpose, pride and income for the people.
This was not popular with some of the leading whites in Papunya, who were unhappy that the men were painting all day, instead of cutting wood and performing their regular chores. Some suggested that because these people were 'government aborigines' that profits should be returned to the state. Bardon was not equipped to deal with the politics of it all and had few white allies. He left Papunya in poor health.
The incredibly sad ending to an uplifting story of renewal in a struggling outback community was made more poignant by the fact that Bardon's GP sent him to 'Chelmsford'. The word strikes horror in Australian hearts but you are unlikely to have heard of the Deep Sleep' treatment made infamous at this intitution:
www.cpa.org.au/garchve2/992chel.html
Bardon survived but was to suffer from this experience for the rest of his life. He died of cancer in 2003.
Mr Patterns is a wonderful documentary:
www.abc.net.au/tv/guide/netw/200501/highlights/247189.htm
More:
www.mup.unimelb.edu.au/catalogue/0-522-85110-X.html
www.aboriginalartonline.com/forum/articles4.php