Urban Aboriginal ArtCloths[1]ArtClothMarie-Therese Wisniowski

Preamble
For your convenience I have listed below other posts on Australian aboriginal textiles and artwork.
Untitled Artworks (Exhibition - ArtCloth: Engaging New Visions) Tjariya (Nungalka) Stanley and Tjunkaya Tapaya, Ernabella Arts (Australia)
ArtCloth from the Tiwi Islands
Aboriginal Batik From Central Australia
ArtCloth from Utopia
Aboriginal Art Appropriated by Non-Aboriginal Artists
ArtCloth from the Women of Ernabella
ArtCloth From Kaltjiti (Fregon)
Australian Aboriginal Silk Paintings
Contemporary Aboriginal Prints
Batiks from Kintore
Batiks From Warlpiri (Yuendumu)
Aboriginal Batiks From Northern Queensland
Artworks From Remote Aboriginal Communities
Urban Aboriginal ArtCloths
Western Australian Aboriginal Fabric Lengths
Northern Editions - Aboriginal Prints
Aboriginal Bark Paintings
Contemporary Aboriginal Posters (1984) - (1993)
The Art of Arthur Pambegan Jr
Aboriginal Art - Colour Power
Aboriginal Art - Part I
Aboriginal Art - Part II
The Art of Ngarra
The Paintings of Patrick Tjungurrayi
Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri
Australian Aboriginal Rock Art - Part I
Australian Aboriginal Rock Art - Part II

Introduction
Experts estimate the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders that existed at the time of the start of the Anglo-Saxon colony in Australia in 1788 numbered 700,000. It fell to its low of around 93,000 people in 1900, a decrease by almost 87%. It will take until 2021 for population figures to recover to 1788 level if the current annual growth rate of 2.2% remains stable.

At present, 3% of Australia’s population identify themselves as Aboriginal. However, there are a large number of people who don’t answer the Indigenous question in the Census. It has been estimated there are approximately 1.1 million people whose Indigenous status we don’t know.

Contrary to what many people think the majority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live in Australia’s Eastern States and not in the remote desert regions of the continent. Furthermore, more than 66% of Aboriginal people live in NSW, Queensland and Victoria while Western Australia and the Northern Territory contribute only 24% of the Aboriginal population. Queensland is expected to overtake NSW for the title of most Aboriginal residents in the not-too-distant future. The population is the lowest in South Australia (5.6%) and Tasmania (3.6%). The Australian Capital Territory is home to only 0.9% of Australia’s Aboriginal people. The Northern Territory has the largest proportion of its population who are Aboriginal (30%), compared with 4.7% or less for all other states and the Australian Capital Territory.

Aboriginal population in Australia. About 60% of Australia’s Aboriginal people live in New South Wales or Queensland. The figures are almost stable since 2001.
Courtesy of "Creative Spirits".

In 2006 the majority (75%) of Aboriginal people lived in cities and non-remote areas. 32% lived in major cities, 21% in inner regional areas and 22% in outer regional areas. Only a quarter lived in remote (9%) and very remote (15%) areas.

90% of Aboriginal people live in areas covering 25% of Australia, while 90% of non-Aboriginal people live in the most densely populated 2.6% of the continent. Compare this to who owns how much of the land!

Aboriginal people live in cities, not in the outback. It is a common myth that the average Aboriginal Australian lives in a remote community. Only a quarter do so.
Courtesy of "Creative Spirits".

National Sorry Day is an Australia-wide observance held on May 26 each year. This day gives people the chance to come together and share the steps towards healing for the Stolen Generations, their families and communities. Stolen generations refer to Indigenous Australians who were forcibly removed from their families and communities. This post underlines our support for National Sorry Day and it does so by showcasing the artistic talent of our indigenous peoples.

The following images are ArtCloth created by urban Australian Aboriginals.

Urban Aboriginal ArtCloths
The population of Australia was estimated to be 23,239,022 as of 6^th November 2013. Australia is the 52^nd most populous country in the world. Its population is concentrated mainly in urban areas so its not surprising that that is also reflected in the location of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Below is a small collection of urban aboriginal ArtCloth work, the images of which have been procured from reference [1].

Artist and Title of Work: Marlene Young – “Brabralung Dreaming” (1995).
Technique: Painted on Silk.
Size: 295.5 x 116.0 cm.
Courtesy of National Gallery of Victoria.

Artist and Title of Work: Bronwyn Bancroft (Designer) – “Snake Escape” (1995).
Lani Durland Studio, Sydney (Australia).
Technique: Screen print on Cloth.
Size: 314.0 x 145.5 cm.
Courtesy of National Gallery of Victoria.

Artist and Title of Work: Euphemia Bostock (Designer) – “Possum Skin” (ca. 1985).
Sydney College of the Arts (Australia).
Technique: Screen print on Silk Taffeta.
Size: 300.0 x 120.0 cm.
Courtesy of National Gallery of Victoria.

Artist and Title of Work: Lawrence Leaslie (Painter) – “Yarraboalla karuldai (rock painting)” (ca. 1983).
Linda Jackson Studio, Sydney (Australia).
Technique: Screen print on Cotton.
Size: 445.0 x 137.0 cm.
Courtesy of National Gallery of Australia.

Artist and Title of Work: Donna Brown (Painter) – “The Gounge” (ca. 1995).
Bachelor College, Batchelor, NT (Australia).
Technique: Painted on Silk.
Size: 115.5 x 293.0 cm.
Courtesy of National Gallery of Victoria.

Artist and Title of Work: Muriel van der Byl – “Marrinhan” (1992).
Technique: Screen print on Silk.
Size: 83.0 x 110.0 cm.
Courtesy of Art Gallery of South Australia.

Reference:
J. Ryan and R. Healy, Raiki Wara, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne (1998).