BICHROME COMPOSITION FROM BULL CREEK

COLORS used in this piece are raw umber, black, and dirt from Maroon Bell , Colorado . Dirt from Maroon Bell is incorporated into the color to give it its red/maroon cast. Maroon Bell is located near Maroon Lake , which is at an altitude of 9,580 ft. The lake is in a basin that was sculpted by Ice Age glaciers. It took nature 300 million years to form the landscaping in this glacial valley with peaks that reach 14,000 feet, making up part of the Rocky Mountains . The red color from the dirt in this area is the result of weathering of hematite, an iron-bearing mineral.

BACKGROUND is flat white.

TEXTURING is accomplished with prominent amounts of gypsum lending to the three- dimensional effect of the artwork. Edges of prepared board are carved, giving a rock-like appearance, highlighted by a raised, carved border.

SIZE is 15”H x 15 ½”W

CULTURAL INSPIRATION: This composition comes from Bull Creek Gallery, a group of galleries which is located on the north side of Bull Creek about two miles above the convergence with the Normanby River. It is some thirty miles northwest of Cooktown. This is Gugu-Imudji country. It comes from Site A(4) which is a small dismal shelter with a six foot high ceiling. This site is most likely sacred and the men wear some ceremonial apparel. The four figures from left to right represent an echidna; which is white, outlined in dark red with the interior done in dark lines and dots. The small bichrome man sports a large yellow headdress, outlined in dark red and the interior has dark red lines. The shadow bichrome man, shown under a similar figure is in yellow, outlined in dark red with an interior of red lines. The bichrome man shown in the forefront with bumps on his knees and elbows is yellow with dark red outline and the interior done in dark red lines. The unusual mammal, the echidna or “spiny anteater” was first discovered in 1791 and sent to England . It was incorrectly described as being related to the anteater and the porcupine but it is in fact a monotreme, (another monotreme is the platypus) an ancient mammal which followed an evolutionary line separate from the marsupial and placental mammals. They are elusive creatures with acute hearing and will burrow and hide before they can be observed. In the 1960s CSIRO Division of Wildlife Research, (which is in Canberra , A.C.T. ), collected large numbers of echidnas for research and study, the majority being males. In October and November for numerous years in the 60’s, the people of suburban Canberra saw their streets and gardens being invaded by the spiny creatures. They abandoned their rainforest homes and headed for the capitol! This phenomenon was never explained or repeated .