Waterlife, Artist Billyara One time I was dreaming, I was a Clam playing in the ocean. I had a hard shell that could be closed up tight, but this time I decided to peek out at the passing world. I lived on the bottom of the ocean, where currents would sweep me away on fantastic journeys. I was surprised what these currents held. I ve seen all types of Waterlife Big fellas they are could swallow me up whole no matter how hard my shell is. What about those Bream and Snapper, I ve seen plenty of them! Always busy, darting around from spot to spot. I saw Dolphins playing, and Horses, Seahorses would you believe? Around here? Mind you they don t have saddles or wear horse shoes. What about the Sharks? I ve seen plenty of them! I actually just saw one of them not long ago, chasing a heap of Pearl Perch, I don t know what they did but it must be bad! Oh and the Box Jelly Fish, keep your distance, you don t want to get tangled up with them, it could be lethal. I have seen all kinds of seaweed dancing in the currents, they remind me of my Elders when they used to dance around the fires... Speaking of Elders, I seen mine there! He was a Turtle, I picked him straight away, he was different from everything else. He taught me to Dream, that s how I can be whatever I want. I told him one day I might Dream of being a Pearl but that s a different Dream.
Three Rivers, Artist Billyara Wiradjuri is the name that the people of the 3 rivers Kalari (Lachlan), Wambool (Macquarie) and the Murrumbidjeri (Murrumbidgee) are called. Wiradjuri legends tell of many Dreamtime stories and survival purposes surrounding these rivers. The circles indicate the groups and the line work around them represents the country and the boundaries. The dots in this painting represent the river stones which were used for grounding flour and making stone axes. The Wiradjuri people were hunters and gatherers and moved around to survive along with the seasons. These ritual movements were something taught through the family clans.
Uncle Tigers Country, Artist Billyara This painting pays my respect to my Uncle Tiger Freeman and family. The circles represent his brothers and sisters and their families and the Tiger snake is Uncle Tiger connecting with family and country. It s painted from an Eagles point of view looking down.
Sun Cycle, Artist Billyara The painting depicts how Aboriginal existence has always revolved around the seasons. The Wiradjuri lived their life along with the seasons. The season affected all aspects of life from food to rituals and lifestyle. When the rivers were abundant, the Wiradjuri ate also of fish and yabbies, and in the dry seasons they hunted animals such as kangaroos and emus and gathered fruit, nuts and seeds from the land. Some groups would travel to different areas for season food such as Bogong Moths in the summer.
Murry River Hay Lachaln River Murrumbidgee River Albury Macquarie River About the Artist Wagga Wagga Dubbo Billyara Billyara is a respected artist from the Wiradjuri tribe. The name Billyara comes from the artist s totem, an eagle. The eagle stems from the artist s connection to the land. Billyara has been painting Aboriginal art for 28 years and teaches these traditions to younger generations. Billyara s work has been exhibited extensively, and has sold his paintings internationally. Through a relationship with Modern Teaching Aids, Billyara hopes to introduce contemporary Aboriginal art to young children in fun and engaging ways. The Wiradjuri Nation The Wiradjuri are New South Wales s largest Aboriginal group. Their land covers approximately from the Great Dividing Range in the east, to Hay and Nyngan in the west, Gunnedah in the north and Albury in the south. Their land is known as having three rivers: Kalari (Lachlan), Wambool (Macquarie) and the Murrumbidjeri (Murrumbidgee). The Murray River is on the southern boundary. The Wiradjuri were highly skilled hunters, gathers and fishers, and their diet came from their local land. As the land consisted of a lot of water, seafood such as cod and yabbies Canberrra were important in their diet. The Wiradjuri were made up of small clans or family groups that followed the seasonal nature of the land.