Australian aborigines of the ancient past carried out a practice known as dream drawing on cave walls and in sand. Today, these intricate drawings are produced by contemporary aboriginal artists with paint on canvas ¿ and lots of color. The GVSU Art Gallery is showcasing these more recent dream interpretations in its current exhibit Tjukurrpa: Australian Aboriginal Art of the Dreaming, opening today and running through March 22.
The exhibit features more than 30 paintings, each of which tells its own particular tale with powerful and often mesmerizing use of design and color. Also on display will be supporting materials such as books, videos, and sculptures presenting the rich culture and heritage of Australia.
Tjukurrpa, which means time of ancestors or dreaming, will be further explored by art collectors James and Wendy Cowan, who lived for many years in the Australian Outback and will conduct classes for students. James Cowan is the author of Mysteries of the Dreaming: The Spiritual Life of Australian Aborigines.
The exhibit at Grand Valley is a collaboration with the Public Museum of Grand Rapids, which is presenting half of the Tjukurrpa collection as part of its Mysterious Voyage: Art and Culture of Three Ancient Worlds exhibition. The exhibit at the Van Andel Museum Center runs through May 27.
Key dates for Tjukurrpa: Australian Aboriginal Art of the Dreaming:
- Feb. 21, 5-7 p.m.: Opening Reception with collectors James and Wendy Cowan;
- Feb. 24, 4 p.m.: Public lecture at the Van Andel Museum Center, Myth and the Dreaming: Cultural Renewal Through Art Among Australian Aborigines.
Call the GVSU Art Gallery at x2564 for a schedule of related events.
