This soft, fabric pillow features the painting Leaves Over Country by Indigenous artist Billyara. The pillow cover is removable and is machine washable. The pillow is made from cotton/polyester, and measures 50cm x 50cm. The cushion cover may shrink a small amount after the first few washes, so we have designed the cushion cover a little larger to allow for this initial shrinkage. Billyara describes the painting used in the pillows as follows: “Leaves over Country is a painting based on a conversation I had with an Elder many years ago about how all things on Earth are living. Leaves in Aboriginal culture have many meanings and purposes for our people. They are used when we are sick to heal wounds and for smoking ceremonies, to cleanse a person or area. For shelter when we need protection from the elements and for fire to keep us warm. To cleanse the air we breathe and to provide food for animals and people. Not only do leaves have purpose when they are living and connected to trees, they also have purpose when they have disconnected from their branches and have blown along in the wind. Leaves protect the soil from drying out and when they decay they enrich the soil with nutrients for future flora and fauna to thrive. This painting shows a journey from one waterhole to another, across country and past sacred grounds where traditions and knowledge have been passed on. Like the leaf, we once swept over country having many purposes and living as one with nature, enriching our environment for our future generations to thrive.
” Billyara is a respected artist from the Wiradjuri tribe. The name Billyara comes from the artist’s totem, an eagle, which stems from his connection with the land. He has been painting Aboriginal art for 23 years and teaches these traditions to younger generations. His artwork is a mix of traditional and contemporary Aboriginal art with a Western influence. He has 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. Through play, children are able to understand the people and the world around them. Our range of global and multicultural resources help to support children’s learning about their communities, as well as the world in general. These resources aid in the promotion of understanding and acceptance of different cultures, beliefs, languages, families, appearances and lifestyles. As children gain an understanding of their community, they also gain an understanding of themselves. This develops confidence and a sense of identity. Incorporating multicultural resources into play is a great way to introduce these concepts in fun and unobtrusive ways. Play is an important part of early childhood. Play encourages children to learn, develop and grow whilst they have fun. Through play, children can develop important cognitive and physical skills. Play encourages creativity, imagination, perseverance and the development of language and social skills. We love creating products that allow indigenous communities and artists to communicate their culture through their art and in turn allowing children to develop awareness and understanding of the significance of cultural heritage in their world. If you are an indigenous artist and would like to work with MTA to also develop culturally sensitive and appropriate education resources, please contact info@teaching.
com.
au.
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