National Gallery of Australia

Today it was a visit to the Aboriginal collection at the gallery.

Spring is everywhere, some fabulous gum blossums.

They had early collections of Papunya paintings, they were originally sand paintings on the ground. Until 1971, a teacher called Geoffrey Bardon, encouraged men to paint their stories on walls. It then exploded into a amazing art market for Australia. This work above is by Kaapa Mbitjana Tjampitjinpa, "Turbulent Spirit Child", 1972, synthetic polymer powder paint on composition board.

John Tjakamarra, 1973, Not Titled, synthetic polymer paint on composition board.

Mick Namarari Tjapaltjarri, "Sunrise chasing away the night", 1977-1978, synthetic polymer paint on composition board.

They have a fabulous collecion of paintings by Albert Namatjira. This one is called "River Gum and Mount Gillen", 1951, painting in watercolour on paper.

Albert Namatjira, "Old Man Ghost Gum, Ellery Creek", 1945, painting in watercolour on paper.

Albert Namatjira, "Central Australian Landscape", 1955, painting in watercolour over underdrawing in black pencil.

Mona Jukuna Chuguna, Pijaju Peter Skipper, "Jamirlangu (husband & wife)", 2003, synthetic polymer paint on canvas.

Enraeld Munkara, "Purrukuparli the ancestral hero, and Waiyai", 1955, natural earth pigments and natural fibre on ironwood.

Declan Apuatimi, not titled,1974, natural earth pigments on eucalpytus bark.

Bardkadubbu, "Crocodile Dreaming", 1979, natural earth pigments on eucalyptus bark.

Unknown Artist, "Hunter and Emu", 1914 Natural earth pigments on eucalyptus bark.

Tony Albert "Hopeless Romantic", assemblage, 2008.

Timothy Cook, "Kulama", Natural earth pigments on linen.

Djambu Burra Burra "Crocodile & Cypus Pine, 1997, Synthetic polymer paint on canvas.

Barrupu Yunupingu "Gurtha" 2009, natural earth pigments on bark.

Lin Onus, "Barmah Forest" 1994 Synthetic polymer paint on canvas.

The Gallery has an excellent collection of prints and works by the American, Frank Stella. This one is called "Stubb & Flask kill a Right whale" 1992 etching aquatint relief and engraving.

Frank Stella, "The cabin. Ahab and Starbuck", 1992, etching aquatint relief and engraving.

Frank Stella, "Swan engraving", 1992, etching, relief and engraving.

The view from the member's Lounge was spectacular...