A exhibition of Northern Territory bark paintings, dating back to the 1950s, opens at a museum in Sydney today.The 260 paintings were collected by an American graphic designer and were sold to the Arnott's Biscuit company in 1987. The Museum of Contemporary Art bought the collection in the early nineties and is showcasing the art for the first time today. Curator Keith Munro says the paintings show stories and traditions from the Territory."There are major stories that are connected to aspects of ceremony ... and other references to the country that have specific stories."(They works show) specific laws, languages and customs that were handed down on their travels across country and also the association that's directly connected to bark painting as a tradition."