ABORIGINAL DOT PAINTING

TITLE: Sacred Ground

ARTIST: Michael Cooley

MEDIUM: Acrylic on Thick Unstretched Canvas

APROX IMAGE SIZE: 170cm x 136cm

REGION: Guriwal ( La Perouse), Botany Bay (Kamay), Sydney NSW.

DATE: 2008

About the Artist

Michael is a Bidjigal man, born in Sydney in 1985 and was brought up at La Perouse (Guriwal) Aboriginal Mission.

As the eldest son of three children, Michael learned the stories of his unique culture and origins from his father, grandmother and other elders of the Bidjigal people.  The Bidjigal Community was able to maintain their links and long held occupancy of their stunning coastal land due to the abundance supply of food and shelter. 

Michael's ancestors have lived on the shores of Botany Bay (Kamay) for many centuries and are the first Aboriginal people to have had European contact with Captain James Cook and his men in 1770.  The Bidjigal people also witnessed the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788. 

These stories of the Dreaming Time and initial contact with Europeans are vividly and sensitively portrayed in Michael’s work.

Michael is a emerging Aboriginal artist who is proud to be able to offer his vibrant art work to illustrate and reflect the extensive history of his people.  It is also acts as a means to foster pride and respect both within families and to non-Aboriginal persons.

Many of these stories are known to only a few descendants. 

Award Winning Artist - Art Idol 2007 

Michael has won an award for his stunning work in the Indigenous category of Art Idol 2007.  The Art Idol competition and exhibition was held at Garden City Shopping Centre, Booragoon, Perth WA.  Art Idol is founded by the Australia-Britain Society (WA Branch) Inc and proudly sponored by the Australia-Britain Foundation.      

About the Painting

This Painting depicts the Sacred Ground of the Bidjigal people.  In the Dreaming Time the Bidjigal Elders would gather at the Sacred Ground and conduct special ceremonies to consult the Spirits of the Land.  The Spirits are primarily associated with the sustainability of the Country.  Elders call the Spirits of the land to advise them on the guardianship and the protection of the Bidjigal homeland.

Michael's paintings are represented in private and public collections in Australia and overseas, USA, Canada, UK and Denmark.

Exhibitions

2007 Australia-Britain Society, Art Idol, Garden City Shopping Centre, Booragoon, Perth WA 

2007 United Galleries, Northbridge, Perth WA

2007 Gallery Capture, West Perth, Perth WA

2008 Old Bakery Gallery, Maylands, Perth WA

Painting is signed and dated on back and comes with a COA, signed with a picture of the painting and artist.  Painting will be rolled and placed in a postal tube for safer delivery.   

Thank you for looking and happy bidding