Art, History, Place

Christine Nicholls brings genuine academic authority to this 40-page Working Title Press introduction to Indigenous Australian art — she is an art expert and academic at Australian National University, and it shows in the care with which she traces both Central and Western Desert traditions and the rarrk painters of Arnhem Land alongside contemporary Indigenous Australian artists. The book was shortlisted for the Children's Book Council of Australia award in 2004, which is meaningful recognition in Australian children's publishing. For Australian primary-age students and their teachers, this is a respectful, expert-guided introduction to an underrepresented cultural tradition. Two honest caveats: the 40-page length means coverage is necessarily introductory, and the book's relevance narrows considerably outside Australia. Faith-oriented readers should note that Indigenous Australian spiritual traditions are presented through a cultural-appreciation lens.