The "Dreaming" that is the basis for Barbara's paintings
come from the various ceremonies that are held by the women
from Atnwengerrp .
In
the background of the paintings, Barbara often depicts the abandoned
campsites that people made as they trekked across the country
in search of food or the coolamans used by the women to collect
the fruit and berries. It may also show the form of a woman’s
body that is adorned with paint for the women’s ceremonies.
Small or large semi-circular shapes depict the hills and valleys
of the land and winding trails are the rivers or streams dotted
across the countryside. There may also be an outline of a person
or slightly unusual shapes that convey the spirits the dwell
in the variety of plant and animal life.
Overlaying
these representations is a complex array of dotwork that depict
the type of bush tucker found across the land. These include
the Bush Yam, Potato, Berry, Plum , Banana and the ever-important
Grass Seed that was vital to the people’s survival. This
edible Grass Seed, from a particular type of grass, was collected
by the people and then cleaned and ground into a paste to form
a type of ‘Bush Damper’. There may also be an area
of dark colour that represents the path of a fire that has swept
across the land and will generate new growth.
(www.dacou.com.au)
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