Sept 22nd and 23rd - Art, theatre, and aboriginal face art =)

Hello again dear people who read this blog! Hope you have been enjoying it! Just as a warning I have a test on Thursday and an essay to work on for Friday, so the next few days don't really require a post! But here's the past few....

22nd

Today we wandered all the way to the New South Wales art gallery where we had class in the morning and a tour in the afternoon. The tour was focused on Aboriginal art once again as we learned about the different areas and commissioning projects the museums have made for the representation of native artwork. In addition to the traditional artwork there was some modern artwork as well. One was a poem from an african american talking about the bitterness of the fruit of his land but how it also is his heart. I found it interesting that such a quote could be used for multiple cultures and multiple issues speaking of a same bitterness and longing for what the white man took away. The dualities between US and Australian regimes grow the more we learn about Australian history, and the subtle differences in why they are different. In the same exhibit was a clothes line ( the square kind, with hanging bats of aboriginal design) which could poetically claim the right of the aboriginals to say to the land as well as their Australian counterparts.

We later hurried home to see Macbeth played in the sydney theatre. It was an intriguing performance with a simple set and the seats were on the stage looking out at the audience which was used in their production. Memories of the important lines from those many years ago in 10th grade sprung back as we watched the intense performance. One thing they did was to pour a cup of liquid blood on all those killed in the show, giving a very visceral effect of the bloodiness of the deaths often not captured in theatre to quite that drama. Any one person holds the power to pour and spill the blood in a body and the red liquid never left the stage and was in sight, never to be forgotten as for macbeth.  It was fun to watch theatre as I miss my normal sport backstage at home. =p

23rd

Today we went to a national park to listen to a native aboriginal guide talk about the land that he knows so well. He taught us about leaves that will cure basic illness, berries that will cause sterility, leaves you can wash your hands with, and fuzzy leaves that just tasted like rocket (arugula). Additionally we learned about the culture of that tribal land where they get face painted and their front tooth knocked out as a young adult and scarred with your own tooth. We also were lucky to see the ceremonial grounds and the drawings of the creatures important to that tribe which are killer whales (who used to be in the area until the british colonised) and jelly fish. I was lucky enough to be chosen as a volunteer for the face makeup which was cool! It was incredible to remark upon the knowledge that he and his people had collected over the past 50,000 years and to learn just a little of their vast knowledge of the land.

The rest of the day was devoted to doing research and doing our cultural diaries and getting a head start on our essays.  I will be writing about the differences between Australian and US governments and how their evolution from Britain shaped the styles they have today.