Australian aboriginal art show, performance Jan. 26 & 28
Harney, Taylor bring multi-media performance to Big Piney, Pinedale Libraries
by Pinedale Fine Arts Council release
January 25, 2011
The Pinedale Fine Arts Council is proud to present two special Australian art shows and presentations hosted by aboriginal artist Bill Harney and storyteller Paul Taylor in Big Piney and Pinedale.
The art show and performance will take place in Big Piney on Wednesday Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. in the Big Piney Branch Library and on Friday Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. in the Sublette County Library in Pinedale.
These special events, which will feature displayed art and a performance of songs and stories, are free to the public! These multi-media performances will feature stories, music and images from the Wardaman people of Australia. Audiences will have a rare opportunity to learn these stories and music from one of the last living Elders of the Aboriginal people.
Yidumduma Bill Harney is an Australian Elder and Senior Custodian of the Wardaman people of the North Territory of Australia. He was raised and educated in the traditional ceremonies of his ancient people by Jumorji, a senior lawman of the Wardaman and Yidumduma's Aboriginal father. He is one of the few Elders remaining who grew up in the full ceremonial tradition of his people. From Jumorji, Yidumduma takes his country and his heritage, for the Wardaman practice a patralinial hierarchy. In the law of his people and their closely affiliated tribal neighbors, he is the equivalent of the Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia. Since 1976, Yidumduma has been responsible for the return of 5,000 square kilometres of traditional lands to his people.
In addition to his position as Custodian for his people and their lands, Yidumduma is widely regarded as a Master storyteller or songman of his people. As an artist in his own right, Yidumduma has paintings all over the globe and in the National Gallery of Australia, the Federal Parliament and the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly. He is a co-author of two books: Born Under the Paperbark Tree (1996) and Dark Sparklers, a Wardaman interpretation of the cosmos (2003). He gathers and processes the traditional didjeridu timber, makes, paints and performs with this haunting instrument.
Australian storyteller, musician and theater artist Paul Taylor has been a student of Yidumduma since 1988. Paul has been honored with the Wardaman name Jalala. Paul lives in the US for nine months of the year spending the remainder of the year in Australia. Paul tours the US presenting concerts and workshops on the European and Aboriginal cultures in Australia.
For more information please visit www.pinedalefinearts.com or call 307-367-7322.
Bill Harney and Paul Taylor’s art shows and performances are presented by the Pinedale Fine Arts Council with support in part from the Wyoming Arts Council through funding from the Wyoming Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts which believes a great nation deserves great art, Sublette BOCES, SCSD #1, Western Sublette BOCES #9, the Sublette County Recreation Board, the Rocky Mountain Power Foundation, Shell Rocky Mtn., EnCana, QEP Resources and the Sublette County Library.
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