My new art offering this week from the Sacred Art Pilgrim creche collection is an unusual cross-cultural Nativity scene on tree bark by an unknown Aboriginal artist from the Djinang people of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia. Painted in natural ochre earth pigments on the inner surface of a Stringybark Eucalyptus tree panel, the Holy Family inhabit a russet rectangle at the bottom of this highly stylized image with cross-hatched patterning typical of Arnhem Land Aborginal art. In this Djinang version of the Christmas story, hunting dogs take the place of the ox and ass at the manger in a shelter filled with plant-fibre dilly bags for storing food and possessions. Hunters substitute for the shepherds, welcoming the Baby Jesus with gifts of tools, weapons, and fresh game--the highly-prized goanna lizard. This Australian Aboriginal Nativity scene is now on view in the gallery of the newly created Nativity Sets and Scenes page in the Schools of Art section. (John Kohan)