Artcore presents: Paul Taylor: Didjeridoo-Making Workshop

Since coming to live in US in 1992, Australian native Paul Taylor has presented shows for all ages, sharing stories, multi-media images, and music of Aboriginal and European Australia. He is an authentic player of Aboriginal percussion and didgeridoo, having learned from Yidumduma Bill Harney, the last male custodian of the Wardaman culture in Australia’s Northern Territory, who made Paul an honorary member of the clan. 

Paul celebrates the culture of his Australian homeland by presenting “Aboriginal Skies.” This planetarium performance is a unique illumination of the world’s oldest living culture in story, song, dance and didgeridoo, showcasing stunning rock art and the Australian land that link directly to the wondrous southern night sky. You will hear the Wardaman Creation Story and Songs of the Dreaming, and how they link to the Aboriginal Songlines in the night sky with photo galleries of rock art, land, animals, culture, video clips of Yidumduma Bill Harney, and night sky projections, amassed by dedicated research over many years.
This presentation celebrates the vast Star Law of Australian Wardaman Aboriginal Elder, Yidumduma Bill Harney, and his groundbreaking work with Dr. Hugh Cairns in their 2003 publication of Dark Sparklers. This presentation was conceived in the US by Adelaide born Paul, who has been Yidumduma’s student for 27 years, in collaboration with Colorado University Astronomy Professor, Dr. John Stocke. Presented for over 12 years at Colorado’s Fiske Planetarium, this show has been endorsed and co-presented with both Yidumduma and Dr. Cairns.

Paul trained in theatre at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, and worked professionally as an actor and stage manager in Australia’s regional theatres as well as a circus clown performing throughout England, Scotland and Wales. He is a 2015 recipient of the Wyoming Governor’s Arts Award, traveling the US, performing and conducting hands-on interactive sessions, but still makes time to go to the Outback bush each summer. 

Co-Sponsored by the Nicolaysen Art Museum, the Casper Planetarium, St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish School, the Des & Carrie Bennion Family/the Bon Agency Insurance, and Mount Rushmore Broadcasting.

Partial funding is from the Wyoming Arts Council through the National Endowment for the Arts and the Wyoming State Legislature, the Schneider and Cate Funds in the Wyoming Community Foundation-Casper, and Natrona School District No. 1.