No Boundaries at the NMA by Victoria Vallis

No Boundaries at the NMA by Victoria Vallis Aboriginal Australian Contemporary Abstract Painting February 28, 2015 The Nevada Museum of Art is now displaying the works of Aboriginal artists. The paintings from the remote Paruku region of Western Australian desert of No Boundaries by Paddy Bedford, Janangoo Butcher Cherel, Tommy Mitchell, Ngarra, Boxer Milner Tjampitjin, Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, Tjumpo Tjapanangvka, Billy Joongoorra Thomas, and Midpul forge a new path in abstract images. These tribal leaders demonstrate a unique view of art defined by ancient beliefs. Visual traditions of these people are transformed into contemporary artworks that serve to broaden the possibilities of Aboriginal art. These revered Australian painters preserve the stories and cultural heritage of their people. The conservation of the work of Australian Aboriginal artists is important. The roots of their work reach back more than 50,000 years, and represent the oldest continuous cultural production in the world in which ancestral spirits exert a continuing presence in everyday life. I found the colorful designs and patterns to be intriguing and very modern looking. I am motivated to try some of these styles in my own artwork. Some of the resulting patterns reminded me of optical illusions or Op Art from posters of the sixties. The colorful dots were also interesting to observe.