Paintings by Aboriginal great stolen

Two prints from one of Australia's best-known Aboriginal artists, Albert Namatjira, have been stolen from an arts centre in Alice Springs, but his originals works are safe.

The reproduction prints by the renowned watercolour artist were taken from the
Araluen Arts Centre early Monday morning.
"The offenders smashed a glass panel in a door leading to the foyer and the two
prints were removed from the wall of the Araluen Galleries shop," centre director
Tim Rollason said.
The shop contains ten different reproduction prints based on original works by
Albert Namatjira, sold for $27.50 each.
In a statement issued by the NT Department of Natural Resources, Environment, The
Arts and Sport, Mr Rollason said the break-in had been reported to NT police and
repairs were underway on the building.
"Despite the breach in the surrounding entrance area the original works by Albert
Namatjira remain safe in the gallery," said Mr Rollason.
All originals by the artist - who died in 1959 - have security devices attached and
are under constant electronic surveillance.
"Other reproduction prints by Albert Namatjira have subsequently been removed from
view in the Araluen Galleries shop to discourage any further break-ins," said Mr
Rollason, adding that a work was currently underway to upgrade security.
Namatjira was one of the first Aborigines to paint in a contemporary style with
western-style painting materials.
He grew up in an Aboriginal community at the Hermannsburg mission near Alice Springs
in the Northern Territory.
He and fellow artists met Melbourne watercolour painter Rex Battarbee in the 1930s
when he journeyed to Hermannsburg to paint the desert landscape.
Namatjira, who was one of Battarbee's camel drivers, took notice of Battarbee's work
and asked the artist to teach him watercolour painting.
Namatjira excelled and created more than 2,000 works spanning 20 years.