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“Dot Paintings” 

Abstractions in the Australian Aboriginal Papunya Tula Style

In 1986 the Department of Education of South Australia booked me for a 12 week tour of the provence. The tour was presented to me as a “landmark” journey in which I would visit and perform in the major cities and remote villages throughout South Australia. The final weeks of the tour were set in Aboriginal communities in which no one other than non-indigenous -“white fella”- missionaries had visited to preach and convert Aboriginal people; thus I would become the first "white fella" to play secular music for indigenous people in these communities. On this remarkable tour I first encountered the Papunya Tula style of Aboriginal “dot painting” and was fascinated with what I saw. Upon my return to America I decided to experiment with three paintings in the technique. Those three paintings put me on a journey that from 1986-1993 produced 117 paintings. Simply, each painting in the Papunya Tula style introduced me to something new to explore and compelled me to attempt yet another; most importantly, I felt with dot paintings I was learning more about color relationships than at any other point in my life. Most of the dot paintings were sold at restaurant or campus exhibitions, the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar in Austin, or to private collectors. There are four shown here that are still for sale and they are indicated as such. All the other dot paintings were purchased in 1988 by an Omaha collector who prefers to remain anonymous. I long ago forgot the names and sizes of these pieces, but have indicated they are part of the "BLM/FLB" collection.

Cactus Dreaming, the first dot painting I did upon my return from Australia in Sept. 1986

Dreams of Nullabor, 20"x20", BLM/FLB collection

Alabor, Kudra, and Pan, 36"x48", BLM/FLB collection

Waters of Windulkina 15"x30", BLM/FLB collection

Kalgolie, 20"x20", BLM/FLB collection

The Call of Tukunbini, 24"x 36", acrylic on canvas, BLM/FLB collection

Lakota Star, 24"x24", acrylic on canvas, 1987 

BLM/FLB collection

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Enya Dreaming, 36"x60", acrylic on canvas, 1989, available for purchase here.

Pitjantjara, 36"x60", acrylic on canvas, 1989, available

for purchase here.

Cheyenne Pink, 20"x16", acrylic and glass beads on canvas, 1990

BLM/FLB collection

Wollongong, 20"x20", BLM/FLB collection

BLM/FLB collection

BLM/FLB collection

BLM/FLB collection

BLM/FLB collection

BLM/FLB collection

BLM/FLB collection

BLM/FLB collection

BLM/FLB collection

BLM/FLB collection

BLM/FLB collection

Indulkana, 30"x20", acrylic on canvas,1990. (available for purchase here.)

*This Dot Painting is for sale 

BLM/FLB collection

Bluebonnet Dreaming, 28"x 20", oil on canvas, 2015 (in the collection of Scout Stormcloud Hook, Austin, Texas.)

Coober Pedy, 20"x16", acrylic on canvas, 1989

(in the collection of Vickie Tatum, Austin, Texas.)

Dreaming, 28"x20", oil on canvas,2015. (in the collection of Philip J.

Deloria, and Peggy Burns, Cambridge, Massachusetts)  

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