Dear Frank

Nice to hear from you again. I quite understand - I have similar pressures. I spent most of last year digging out a cellar that Italians had filled in sometime in the 1960s. No bodies or treasure. I put in a sump pump and wine racks and am now almost finished putting in a new hardwood floor above. My intention is to build a library. I have not seen my books since 1988. Shame about all those children's books now that the children have grown up.

I also have a small farm about 3 hours away at the very bottom of Australia. But it's winter there now and very muddy. I went down last weekend and the wind was ferocious.

Meantime I have several conference papers to finish. One of these might be of some interest. It's for an ETD conference in Sydney and about the Flight of Ducks. I'll send you a link soon.

Let's stay in touch from time to time.

Best wishes Simon

Dear Justin

Do I have your permission to put these up on the Flight of Ducks? We may find people for whom these are important images.

Best wishes Simon

Dear Hirofumi

I do not sell churingas, but I buy them and I record details of the sales of ceremonial objects on eBay. Why are you interested in churingas?

Best wishes Simon

Dear Justin

How kind of you to send these images. The faces are very moving. I wonder if we can find anyone who can recognise any of the faces? Do I have your permission to include them in the Flight of Ducks and see what happens?

Best wishes Simon

Dear William

Many thanks for this photo and your haunting words that remind me of something my father wrote in the Australian desert some years ago:

http://www.duckdigital.net/FOD/FOD0877.html

I guess this was taken in Iraq quite recently. Is this you in the foreground? Is there a reason that you have sent me the image?

Best wishes Simon

Sorry! And not so! It my nature at times to be cryptic with the questions which at times leads to wonderful fines like your last email. Apologies for the delay Independence Day Day here in the states and there was a cookout here a at place all day.

I'm Frank Herrmann an artist, painter, Professor of Fine Arts, School of Art, College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio.

In the early 1980's I was in the Rockefeller collection of the Metropolitan Museum, NYC (at the same time there was pressure from the university to become computer literate, me dragging my feet) when I saw a small piece of rock carried by an aboriginal inscribed with the concentric circles with connecting bars motif which was a map of the sacred water holes. I felt what more important information could one want imbedded in a piece of silica (likening it to a computer chip) then where to fine water. The motif, although not copied found its way into the paintings as an answer to the pressure. The motif slowly disappeared from the paintings in the early nineties.

Small drawings I produced next involved a an oblong shape that was at times heavily marked. Had no idea where it came from!. In the late 90's I became connected to the web. I started looking at everything. Searching Australian artifacts turned up the churinga an I was amazed at the similarity with the shapes I had drawn. I'll send some images....some statements

At this same time my search has expanded into New Guinea. I was looking at everything. On by birthday in 2000 my anthropologist son handed me Dirk Schmidt's, Asmat Art I was hooked and have working on paintings with that influence since then. http://www.ohioonlinearts.org/index.html Type in Herrmann

Two years ago I became interested in message sticks and have read as much as i could fine, although very little. I think I understand their use ,purpose? But what happened in the mail room at school was that the UPS man put down some boxes and I must have been in the right moment to notice the tracking labels. Here was concentric circles and dots (peck marks?) Allowing this information, goods etc to travel safely across the landscape. I not sure how long message sticks have been used, 4000 years? 10,000 years? When i look at the labels I asked my self what has changed. And why does this motif make sense in the digital world, who developed it and is the modern landscape myth, do I write the letters to UPS and FEDX to find out where this was developed? And how do I attempt paintings with this idea. for over two years I have been on and off trying to deal with this and not trying to deal.

I like to find a message stick with the circles and dots that I felt was real. I have seen some offered that did not ring true even on the screen. For now I just save some here a there that look interesting and real.

I'm going to send images now. one at a time. First the work with the churinga images and then some where I'm trying to deal with the message stick / tracking label idea, also see statements attached

Simon, why do you do this? these are some wonderful mythic objects you are tracking. The motifs and use of these objects of interest to me.

Thanks, Frank

Is there a home site for these auctions. I'm most interested in message sticks.
Frank

I grew up with bull roarers in backwoods Kentucky. Where the Cherokee used them to scare game into a capture pit. Can you help me in remembering how to make them again. Convex means In or out?

Kenneth Goins; 325 Cragmor Rd #210; Colorado Springs, Colorado 80907.
Email; Kenneth.goins2@amedd.army.mil

Hi Simon,

I write cross-genre fantasy novels and poetry, see my site www.artmedia.com.au/cathar.htm, and www.1stmist.com Now just suppose Lasseter didn't reveal the full details of the location of his find because he was prevented from doing so. Think what a great hidout it would be, if anyone found the site. If they didn't want to be found, no one could find them.

They would then be in a position to use it as a base for, what? Suppose The Messiah of Lasseter's Reef actually finds it, but discloses its location only to those of his disciples whom he wants to join him there, for what? For whatever the devotees of a cult can be trained for, whether good or bad.

I have thought of writing a controversial novel along these lines, but I can't afford to go looking for the Reef. Any advice however would be much appreciated.

Yours - Adrian Rogers

Dear Simon,

Thanks for the prompt reply, the search, and the consideration of my request. Two things: first, you are correct about the URL. Second, regarding the tortures of maintaining your site: Huh? I'm nearly a computer moron. It all sounds complex and awful. I really admire your labors from a cautious distance!

Yours, Virginia Kropas

Dear Simon,

I've just read S. Thybony's notes on talks with Judge Leslie. I've had the honor to meet him. He is a very spiritual and thoughtful man. Thanks for maintaining the site. I haven't been able to print out those notes. Is there a reason.

Virginia Kropas

Hi Simon: My interest tems from a nice colection of Oceanic items that I just purchased. Most is from Australia via a museum which deacsssoned it. Items include shield clubs (a.k.a. stick shields), fighting sticks, a spear thrower, a fighting (non-returning) boomerang, clapping sticks, sacred message boards, a stick knife with imbeded blades like sharks' teeth but made of quartz crystal, a wide-bladed, deeply-serrated stabbing sword, a spear thrower and throwing clubs.

It's me again, Simon - I accidentally hit 'send' before signing off or using spell check. To continue: Another neat item in the collection I purchased is a two-handed club about 4 1/2 feet long, studded with large and small knobs (but all thin) facing in all directions over most of its length. A formidable weapon! Since my initial message, I found some additional info, but not much. Major auction catalogs were of little help. My next move is to contact museums in Australia unless you know of U.S. collections and would so advise me. Best, Joel

Reply:

Thanks for the great site. Can you lead me to a site with comparable info on Aboriginal stick shields, fighting sticks, spear throwers and boomerangs?

Thanks in advance, Joe Goleman

Reply:

Dear Simon

Thank you for replying my letter. But I am sorry because I forgot to include that the documents had to be written in the 1800's. To be specific, could you recommend a book or internet site(I am not sure, but the information that is obtained form a site wouldn't be primary, right?) that shows sympathetic or non-sympathic views towards aboriginals from other groups.

Thank you again in advance

Triple HHH

Reply:

Hi Simon

I was looking for some primary documents on aboriginal racism and I came across your site. So I was wondering if you could either send me some documents or recommend a book or site for it. Also, if you any documents showing sympathetic views towards aboriginals, then if you could send me that as well. And if you could also recommend some sites on aboriginal history, then that would be great. If you are sending me some documents, then could you tell me the sources of them.

Thank You in advance

Reply:

Hello

I was wondering if you could send me links directly to Harold Lasseter diary entries from he's expedition that he went on to try and discover the gold reef. Or send me any relevant details that show what he did on his expedition.

Thankyou please just reply to lyndal_maree@hotmail.com

Reply:

Simon,

I have just returned from 7 days in Alice and 3 in Adelaide.

I went to Mt. Liebig for a day. I think people knew I was going because I had met a few of them in Alice and they remembered me!

Here are my thoughts on the following:

Alice

I found Alice a bit disappointing at first. Obviously things change but I just found that the shops appeared to be slower than normal. The casino was ‘dead’ compared to a decade ago. The tourist industry seemed to have slowed down- perhaps as a result of September 11.

There were lots more aboriginal people in town than I remember but I found out that royalty payments have just been made and perhaps that was one reason that they were in town.

I also noticed a major increase in the aboriginal art industry. It was just everywhere...everywhere I looked I saw art centre troop carriers. A decade ago there was only Papunya Tula and a few others. Now it seemed every community has its own art centre as well as the commercial art galleries.

Positive- It is good to see that aboriginals are starting to create, preserve their culture and make money from it- although the ‘real’ money is made at Sotheby’s by the rich white people.

Negative- It concerns me that because of the vast number of art around that when the next recession/ down turn occurs and sales start to drop of that the aboriginals have become too reliant on it and have no other ‘back up’plan. By this I mean education/ training/ skills to get jobs.

Mt. Liebig

From what I saw the things were pretty much the same. There were a few more new buildings but generally the people were the same- except they were 10 years older- some had died.

I can’ t really comment on any more than that because I was only there for the day and there was sorry business going on. It was also the day after sit down money and most were playing cards. The winner takes all and they go to town to buy a new car, fill it up with grog and...

It’ s such a hard thing to comment on.

That is my summary

Arthur

Simon,

When I was there is 94-96 petrol sniffing was only a 'minor' issue.

The problem was drinking.

Also I do remember we had a community meeting in 95 about converting to av gas.....I can't remember the outcome though.

As I have already said I'm here now and I will give you my thoughts next week. I am going for a day trip to Liebigh tomorrow.

Arthur

Reply:

Simon,

I worked there from 94-96 and was in Alice for a while in 93.

Due to family issues I left to help my dad in late 96.

I have not been back to the Centre since then.

I reason I have shown interest is becasue I am currently on vacation in Alice for the first time since 96. I am here until Saturday.

I am in two minds about going to Liebig. I would like to see how things have turned out but then I have great memories that I don't want to spoil.

I also have a young family with me making thins/ trips even more difficult.

Arthur

Reply:

Ironic.....April 18 is my birthday as well.
I was a teacher there over a decade ago now and spent a couple of years there.
Thanks for all your help with the info.

Arthur

Reply:

Thanks for your email Simon.

I agree that it is German. I used to work there as teacher over a decade ago and was just doing some research. I know that the aboriginal name is Watiyawanu which means 'amongst the tress'. I asked one of the aboriginals one day and I remembered. If you find out then I would be interested for my own interest. Liebig Fleisch is a name that has popped up in my reaserch though.

Arthur

Reply:

Hi Simon,

I was on your website and was wondering if you knew who Mt. Liebig was named after. I look forward to you reply.

Arthur

Reply:

I would be interested to know if you have any information pertaining to a painting which was done by a group of Lubras in the Tanami Desert. It is of Mully grubs and the title appears to be "Withetty Grub Dreaming" with the name Warlpiri and another name which I do not believe is spelled correctly Cwgarlkirdi. The first three of four letters of this last name I cannot decipher.

I have found the name Warlpiri in some of the information of the internet but nothing I can relate to regarding this item.

Thanks for your assistance.

J.A. Maloney

Reply:

Simon hello - gina ~(stubbs's wife!)

ive just been really intoxicated by youre site and its way to late to be reading for that long!

fortunately i twice got a bad explorer crash when i clicked to hear you sing, so I have read/seen some of this - i need to spend far more time with this to be able to see the shape and structure - is it linked like a mind map or more sequential/obviously chronological? - brilliant, thank you

Gina

Reply: missing

Hi fellow Australian,

Today when we celebrate the Australian National day I am reflecting on the national song of advance Australia fair. For whatever it is worth I think it is disappointing that it does not allude to the aboriginees in some way. My email address is rjvmfreeman@hotmail.com

Yours sincerely

Victoria

Reply: Thur, 27 Jan 2005 12:10:41

Hello Simon,

Thanks for your response and thanks for sharing. Your father's story is remarkable, sad, romantic and powerful. Hmmm - sounds Homeric - perhaps a reason for the bond to 'The Hostage'.

It sounds right on track that singing it would be easier than recitation of the prose. Modern translations favor the prose for accessibility but it is the song or poetic versions that the original bards of Greece carried with them. Your father's wandering and singing certainly resonates of an ancient bard.

'Where did all the Greek go?' Seems like you have it and have shared some with me!

Peace & Blessings

Robert

Santa Fe, NM

Reply: Tuesday, January 25, 2005 11:04 PM

Greetings,

I came across your site in searching for information regarding the ability (anyone's) to recite Homer's Iliad. Being Greek and a having a long time interest in Greek history and culture, I've recently become (re)interested in Homer. If you can recount or reference any of your father's ability in this recitation, I'd be very much interested. This is so remarkable. I wouldn't even think it possible. A truly remarkable feat.

Michael Wood's in his 'In Search of the Trojan War' describes a Gaelic orator who has this talent - it is very rare indeed.

> Reference: 'He also taught himself ancient Greek and, returning to the
>centre in 1976, managed to climb Central Mount Olga in order to look back
>over where he had been and recite The Iliad
> which he had learnt by heart'
>

Blessings

Robert

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Reply: Tuesday, January 18, 2005 11:04 PM

The coverage of the trip is very good. To me it is very strange the a writer, iobviously educated in miles, and pounds shillings and pence, starts off telling a story is this light and towards the finish talks in kilometres and cents per litre. Strange, one would be led to believe that there is a trait of bullshit in the story.

Yours faithfully.C.B.

Reply: missing