Overwintering Revisited at Hunter Wetlands
The Hunter Wetlands Centre, 5 - 26 July 2019
1 Wetlands Place, Shortland NSW
The Newcastle Printmakers Workshop held an exhibition at the Hunter Wetlands Centre, Shortland, Newcastle in the month of July as a response to an invitation by Mark Kempton, the current arts director. ‘Overwintering Revisited’ was the title of the show and was an offshoot from ‘Overwintering’, an exhibition held in 2018 at our workshop attended by Kate Gorringe-Smith.
We were excited to see a number of different artists create new works inspired by the Overwintering Project theme as part of the show as it helps to raise awareness on the plight and importance of protecting habitat for these extraordinary birds. The opening was held on Saturday 6th July and was well attended by artists and their families as well as local identities, notably Sharon Claydon, Member of Parliament. Gina McDonald (Newcastle Printmakers) and Roger McFarlane (Hunter Sculptors) opened the exhibition and spoke briefly about their group’s participation in the show and future collaborations with the wetlands. Again we thank Kate for bringing this theme to our attention as the Overwintering Project expands across the country.
We were excited to see a number of different artists create new works inspired by the Overwintering Project theme as part of the show as it helps to raise awareness on the plight and importance of protecting habitat for these extraordinary birds. The opening was held on Saturday 6th July and was well attended by artists and their families as well as local identities, notably Sharon Claydon, Member of Parliament. Gina McDonald (Newcastle Printmakers) and Roger McFarlane (Hunter Sculptors) opened the exhibition and spoke briefly about their group’s participation in the show and future collaborations with the wetlands. Again we thank Kate for bringing this theme to our attention as the Overwintering Project expands across the country.
The Overwintering Project: Charles Darwin University
The Nan Giese Gallery and the Northern Editions Gallery, CDU, Darwin, 28 June - 19 July 2019
7 Ellegowan Drive, Brinkin, Darwin, NT 0810
This exhibition was timed to coincide with the 2019 Australasian Ornithological Conference (3 – 5 July 2019), to be hosted by Charles Darwin University. The exhibition will featured the prints of the Overwintering Project Print Portfolio alongside works by CDU students and local artists.
Along with the Overwintering Project Print Portfolio, the exhibition featured works by CDU students and staff. These works explored themes associated with Darwin as an important site(s) for migratory waders/shorebirds. The concept of observations in the field informing narratives and visual art was a major theme.
Work for the exhibition began with field trips to view the waders at three major roost sites around the shores of the Darwin environs. Then students and some staff visited the MAGNT wet and dry collections to make observations including examining the skins of waders in the collection.
The exhibition included video, soundscapes, sculpture, photography, painting as well as printmaking.
The works by Ian Hance, CDU artist-in-residence, along with those of other artists, particularly Lee Harrop and Nicolas Bullot, have the concepts of endangerment, absence and extinction as major themes. These works, that examine the threats to the waders along with their special requirements, formed the main nucleus in the Northern Editions Gallery. Along with a colourful plastic mobile by Korin Lesh that plays with shadowy coloured images cast along adjacent walls, works by Jane Anderson of waders constructed out of sewn remains of denim with a map of flightpaths of the waders were installed.
Lee Harrop’s large photographs speak about absence, as well as the intersect of scientific data and art, as do Ian's sculptures. Lee and Ian also created a collaborative print. Nicolas' sound-scape of the tidal mangroves at East Point similarly evoked the flux or passage of the tide and the fauna (including man) that occupy that area.
Along the walls of the Printmaking Building, student works were exhibited along with prints from the Northern Edition collection representing both Indigenous and European perspectives regarding habitat.
Cathryn Vasseleu's video and soundscape As if One Bird is a major work that set the context within the print collection in the Nan Geise Gallery. Ian's large abstract steel sculpture was also in this gallery.
Along with the Overwintering Project Print Portfolio, the exhibition featured works by CDU students and staff. These works explored themes associated with Darwin as an important site(s) for migratory waders/shorebirds. The concept of observations in the field informing narratives and visual art was a major theme.
Work for the exhibition began with field trips to view the waders at three major roost sites around the shores of the Darwin environs. Then students and some staff visited the MAGNT wet and dry collections to make observations including examining the skins of waders in the collection.
The exhibition included video, soundscapes, sculpture, photography, painting as well as printmaking.
The works by Ian Hance, CDU artist-in-residence, along with those of other artists, particularly Lee Harrop and Nicolas Bullot, have the concepts of endangerment, absence and extinction as major themes. These works, that examine the threats to the waders along with their special requirements, formed the main nucleus in the Northern Editions Gallery. Along with a colourful plastic mobile by Korin Lesh that plays with shadowy coloured images cast along adjacent walls, works by Jane Anderson of waders constructed out of sewn remains of denim with a map of flightpaths of the waders were installed.
Lee Harrop’s large photographs speak about absence, as well as the intersect of scientific data and art, as do Ian's sculptures. Lee and Ian also created a collaborative print. Nicolas' sound-scape of the tidal mangroves at East Point similarly evoked the flux or passage of the tide and the fauna (including man) that occupy that area.
Along the walls of the Printmaking Building, student works were exhibited along with prints from the Northern Edition collection representing both Indigenous and European perspectives regarding habitat.
Cathryn Vasseleu's video and soundscape As if One Bird is a major work that set the context within the print collection in the Nan Geise Gallery. Ian's large abstract steel sculpture was also in this gallery.
The Overwintering Project: Hobson's Bay
Joel Gallery, Louis Joel Arts and Community Centre, 10 May - 6 June 2019
5 Sargood Street, Altona, Victoria
To create this exhibition, Hobson's Bay City Council worked with The Overwintering Project and its partners including Bird Life Australia to highlight the unique birdlife and habitats that we have within our local area. The exhibition was the result of a series of free workshops and site visits run monthly between September 2018 and April 2019.
Through a series of workshops and site visits led by artists Ellise Roberts, Geoffrey Ricardo, Rob Mancini and Kate Gorringe-Smith, participants were allowed to experiment with a variety of printmaking techniques while learning about the area's local migratory shorebirds and habitat, and their current vulnerability.
Artists attending the workshops at the Woods Street Art Space in Laverton were invited to contribute original prints created in response to the unique nature of local Hobsons Bay bird habitats. Following the workshop program a selection of prints by artists attending the Overwintering Project workshops as well as some by invited artists were displayed from May to June 2019 at the Louis Joel Gallery in Altona. The exhibition was part of the 2019 Hobson's Bay World Migratory Bird Day Festival and World Environment Day.
All the prints in the exhibition have joined the Overwintering Project Print Portfolio, and all proceeds from print sales went to the Overwintering Project funds to donate to BirdLife Australia's migratory shorebird conservation projects.
Local shorebird lover and storyteller Jackie Kerin also ran community workshops to create an installation of The Flock which was a great success among the local community, and made a great focal point for the exhibition in the gallery gardens.
Many thanks to the participants, workshop leaders and Hobson's Bay City Council for supporting this project.
The Overwintering Project: Victoria's SW Coast
Port Campbell Artspace, 19 - 21 April 2019
50 Lord Street, Port Campbell, Victoria
Port Campbell Community Group Inc. raised awareness of migratory shorebirds, the threats to migratory shorebirds, and our responsibility to preserve their habitat with an exhibition at Port Campbell Artspace over the Easter weekend. The opening night was well attended with Corangamite Shire Cr Simon Illingworth opening the exhibition. Over 200 people attended across Easter Saturday and Sunday. Artists came from Port Campbell, the greater Corangamite Shire, Port Fairy, Warrnambool and Melbourne. Artists included: Barry Breen, Delia Crabbe, Laura Fazzalari, Ben Fennessy, Sue Ferrari, Jean Gleeson, Jodie Honan, John Irving, Lyndall Jones, Helen Langley, Marion Manifold, Ian McConnell, Jill Quirk, Andrea Radley, Maree Stewart, and Heather Wood.
The exhibition was preceded by two printmaking workshops at Marion Manifold’s Camperdown studio where artists created linocuts and etchings.
The Port Campbell Overwintering Project was an extension of a greater Australian and New Zealand project created by Melbourne artist Kate Gorringe-Smith. Many of the Port Campbell works will join the greater project which raises funds to save these birds.
Some of the prints highlighted the impact of plastics on birds and the threats of losing habitat to development, including the threats to the Latham’s Snipe from development of the Princetown wetlands.
Thank you to sponsors Corangamite Shire and Coastcare.
For further information on Port Campbell Community Group Inc. environmental projects and membership
Contact: Marion Manifold
Secretary
Port Campbell Community Group Inc. A0051688U
mmanifold@ansonic.com.au
The exhibition was preceded by two printmaking workshops at Marion Manifold’s Camperdown studio where artists created linocuts and etchings.
The Port Campbell Overwintering Project was an extension of a greater Australian and New Zealand project created by Melbourne artist Kate Gorringe-Smith. Many of the Port Campbell works will join the greater project which raises funds to save these birds.
Some of the prints highlighted the impact of plastics on birds and the threats of losing habitat to development, including the threats to the Latham’s Snipe from development of the Princetown wetlands.
Thank you to sponsors Corangamite Shire and Coastcare.
For further information on Port Campbell Community Group Inc. environmental projects and membership
Contact: Marion Manifold
Secretary
Port Campbell Community Group Inc. A0051688U
mmanifold@ansonic.com.au
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Overwintering: a Sonnet
Cutting the blank linoleum with sharp steel tracing the shapes, the knobbly knees, long legs, big feet, the shorebirds from the other world, great bills curved to probe, or flat-tipped like spoons to sweep sideways, short stabbing bills, thin delicate bills, emerging now on this lino, birds that can fly around the world and do, or halfway anyway and back, riding air currents and prevailing winds, resting in traditional tracts, lakes and littorals, reeds and coastlines, whatever has been left for them, coming in on formidable wings to winter here and I like to think that I may conjure them to rest a little longer on my linoleum. B.A. Breen Left: B.A. Breen, Curlew Running, linocut. |
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The Overwintering Project: Surf Coast Exhibition
Surf Coast Artspace, 11 - 28 April 2019
Great Ocean Road, Anglesea, Victoria.
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This exhibition opened on Thursday April 11 with a performance of 'Tales From The Flyway' by storyteller Jackie Kerin and violinist Sarah Depasquale. The gallery was transformed into a performance space, with the artists' collaborative banners gently swaying as Sarah's evocative violin helped Jackie describe the flight of Tom the Red-necked Stint from Newport, Vic. to Alaska and back. After the story finished and the spell was broken, visitors turned their attention to the wonders of this Overwintering exhibition which featured works by nineteen local artists, inspired by visits to the Western Treatment Plant in Werribee. The exhibition ran over the school holidays and attracted around 1,000 visitors! The participating artists also generously donated 10% of takings, amounting to over $800.00, to the Overwintering Project to donate to BirdLife Australia's migratory shorebird conservation projects!
Words below by participating artist, Bron Ives: 'You might have visited a print exhibition in Anglesea over Easter, and if so, you were one of the 1,000 people that visited to see the prints, to have a chat and support our local artists or perhaps you commented on how thoughtful and beautiful the works were. Some people left smiling, others reflective or a little melancholy, and a few shed some tears. For me, what was most moving was that it engaged with a whole lot of people on something invisible to most of us - migratory shorebirds. Who knew that these small, quiet, brown birds were so talented but also our most endangered birds - and that thousands and thousands of them live very close by over the summer? Over the past six months the Anglesea Art House printmakers have been working on a group exhibition about the astonishing number and variety of shorebirds that ‘overwinter’ every year at the Western Treatment Plant, Werribee. This amazing place is one of Australia’s top bird-watching sites and is an internationally-recognised bird habitat under the RAMSAR Convention. Elizabeth, Jill and Nicola chose to work on prints of the Eastern Curlew (Critically Endangered), Lee was inspired by the Latham’s Snipe (Secure), an occasional visitor to the Allan Noble Sanctuary in Aireys Inlet, Maggi and Matt worked on Curlew Sandpipers (Critically Endangered) and I couldn’t go past the Great Knot (Critically Endangered).' Images Top: Monoprinted banners by Bron Ives. Centre left: Artists' book by Elizabeth Rickey. Below left: Western Treatment Plant. Below right: detail of banner by Jill Giles. |
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Wetlanders
Gladstone Regional Art Gallery and Museum, 2 - 30 March 2019
Cnr Goondoon & Bramston Sts, Gladstone, Qld.
In March this exhibition, by members of Migaloo Press and friends, was exhibited at the beautiful Gladstone Regional Gallery and Museum alongside the collaborative artists' book Overwintering, and Jill Sampson's amazing environment art and print project, Bimblebox 153 Birds.
Image above: Sue Poggioli, Mangrove Book, hand-stitched linocut and collage, 3 x 1.2 m.
Image above: Sue Poggioli, Mangrove Book, hand-stitched linocut and collage, 3 x 1.2 m.
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Wetlanders, featuring work by Anna Bonsheck, Jen Conde, Sandra Pierce, Helen Sanderson, Jenny Sanzaro-Nishimura, Jennifer Stuerzl, Evelyne Upton, Sue Poggioli and Patricia Zuber, was steered by Migaloo Press's Jenny Sanzaro-Nishimura, Sandra Pearce and Jen Conde, who gathered a group of Migaloo members to make art around the Overwintering Project concept. In preparation, the group spent days at tidal areas drawing and photographing, and making prints of the migratory birds of the Southern Moreton Bay region. They had meetings and viewing days with the Queensland Waders Studies Group, and visited numerous overwintering sites along the shores of Moreton Bay and on some of the Southern Moreton Bay islands.
Wetlanders was an exhibition of prints, artists’ books and drawings about the wetlands of Moreton Bay and the migratory shore birds that overwinter in the region every year. Created by members of Migaloo Press Artist Collective, the exhibition examined the artists’ responses to the importance of intertidal zones for these shorebirds’ diminishing feeding grounds.The exhibition was inspired by the Overwintering Project - Mapping Sanctuary. The exhibition was beautiful and very evocative of place, featuring a wall of shorebirds, another 'sketchbook' wall featuring field notes and sketches, and an epic hand-stitched linocut and collage work, Mangrove Book, by Sue Poggioli 3 x 1.2m in size (pictured below)!
A second iteration of Wetlanderswill be held this October at me Artspace and Gallery, St Leonards NSW.
Images below: exhibition shots of the Wetlanders exhibition, also featuring the Overwintering artists book. Bottom centre: Pat Zuber, collage and cyanotype.
Wetlanders was an exhibition of prints, artists’ books and drawings about the wetlands of Moreton Bay and the migratory shore birds that overwinter in the region every year. Created by members of Migaloo Press Artist Collective, the exhibition examined the artists’ responses to the importance of intertidal zones for these shorebirds’ diminishing feeding grounds.The exhibition was inspired by the Overwintering Project - Mapping Sanctuary. The exhibition was beautiful and very evocative of place, featuring a wall of shorebirds, another 'sketchbook' wall featuring field notes and sketches, and an epic hand-stitched linocut and collage work, Mangrove Book, by Sue Poggioli 3 x 1.2m in size (pictured below)!
A second iteration of Wetlanderswill be held this October at me Artspace and Gallery, St Leonards NSW.
Images below: exhibition shots of the Wetlanders exhibition, also featuring the Overwintering artists book. Bottom centre: Pat Zuber, collage and cyanotype.
Shorelines
Riddoch Art Gallery, 8 February - 10 March 2019
1 Bay Road, Mount Gambier, SA.
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Port Macdonnell Community Complex 15 March - 19 May 2019
5-7 Charles Street, Port Macdonnell, Limestone Coast, SA.
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These exhibitions, the first Overwintering Project exhibitions in South Australia, featured work by members of the Thumb Print Workshop Inc. & friends: Anne Miles, Bronwyn Mibus, Bronwyn Rees, Libby Altschwager, Julie Bignell, Kate Gorringe-Smith, Mary Pulford, Bob Stone, Stephanie Yoannidis, Diana Wiseman, Jean McArthur, Sally O’Connor, Trudy Tandberg and Mary Pulford.
Instigated by Thumb Print Workshop artists, Shorelinesdrew inspiration from the fragile and exquisite ecosystems that support the phenomenal lives and journeys of migratory shorebirds. Inspired by the Overwintering Project, Thumb Print organised an excursion to the Coorong and Port MacDonnell in 2018, with a carefully selected group of fellow printmakers from South Australia and Victoria in order to capture this vulnerable, yet vital, ecosystem. The culmination of this trip was Shorelines, an exhibition located somewhere between the land, sea and sky, and in the flight path of these incredible migratory birds. |
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Images
Top left: exhibition title and series of monoprints by Anne Miles; top pair of images: exhibition shots at the Riddoch Gallery; middle pair: works by Julie Bigness; bottom pair: monoprint by Anne Miles (left) and stencilled mono print, 'Birds Walking' by Sally O'Connor. Left: 'Ruppia on Coorong' by Sally O'Connor. |
Overwintering
Wyndham Art Gallery, 8 November - 31 December 2018
177 Watton Street, Werribee, Vic.
Storyteller Jackie Kerin (R) tells a Story from the Flyway, illustrated by her kamishibai, a traditional Japanese storytelling ' picture theatre', accompanied by Sarah Depasquale's eloquent violin.
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'...the real beauty of this project is that it contextualises the local activity of individual artists and print groups within a much bigger, global story of these incredible little birds...'
Marguerite Brown, from her opening speech for the Overwintering Project at Wyndham Art Gallery. The second core exhibition for 2018 was opened by General Manager of the Print Council of Australia, Marguerite Brown, and Master Storytelling duo Jackie Kerin and Sarah Depasquale. The opening was well attended despite terrible weather! The Overwintering Project Print Portfolio was exhibited alongside the beautiful collaborative artist book, Overwintering, by members of Melbourne's Firestation Print Studio and Brisbane's Migaloo Press, as well as works by Cathryn Vasseleu, Kate Gorringe-Smith, Heather Hesterman, and local artists Sue Anderson, Rob Mancini and Robyn Fry. The gallery also commissioned sound artist Byron Scullin to create a site-specific soundscape for the exhibition. |
The Wyndham Art Gallery runs over two floors. Upstairs, Byron Scullin's soundscape, created from the calls of birds found at local shorebird haven and Ramsar site, the Western Treatment Plant, played, bringing habitat into the space. This was beautifully enhanced by Cathryn Vasseleu's ten-minute video of shorebirds on Darwin's Lee Point, As If One Bird, (below left) that Cathryn created especially for the Overwintering project. The video was projected onto an entire wall of the upstairs gallery, and could be seen as one walked about the space. The Overwintering artist book made a wonderful centrepiece, while Heather Hesterman's flock of godwits printed on aluminium referenced the human-made environment through which they travel, and her stack of digital prints (which gallery goers were invited to take), were both a gift and a poignant reminder of the ongoing attrition of species (below right).
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As visitors entered the Cultural Centre, which houses the gallery, their first glimpse of the exhibition was Sue Anderson's amazing painting of the Western Treatment Plant (pictured below left), a refuge for many bird species only ten minutes from the gallery. Rob Mancini is a local artist and birdwatcher. His paintings of shorebirds against urban textures also conveyed the challenges our shorebirds face as the urban encroaches upon their habitat (below right).
Over the duration of the exhibition we ran three bus bus trips from the gallery to the Western Treatment Plant so that people could experience the birds and the kind of habitat depicted in the prints of the Portfolio. These were attended by shorebird experts Penny Johns, Dr Danny Rogers, and Roger Standen, and participants were thrilled to see the actual birds in their local habitat. The gallery also ran an artists talk and a workshop, both of which were well attended.
Imprint editor Andrew Stephens wrote a wonderful piece for Melbourne's newspaper, The Age, which was syndicated in numerous other national newspapers, which brought visitors flocking to Wyndham. Curator Megan Evans said that she thought our show was the best attended they had ever had! I also spoke to Eddie Ayres on Radio National's The Hub, and was joined by Victorian Wader Studies Group chair, Roger Standen, and Migaloo Press artist, Jennifer Steurzl in speaking to Myf Warhurst on 774.
I would like to say a huge thank you to all the artists who encouraged me and made work, and to all the other friends of the Overwintering Project who have brought together such beautiful and moving exhibitions throughout 2018.
Over the duration of the exhibition we ran three bus bus trips from the gallery to the Western Treatment Plant so that people could experience the birds and the kind of habitat depicted in the prints of the Portfolio. These were attended by shorebird experts Penny Johns, Dr Danny Rogers, and Roger Standen, and participants were thrilled to see the actual birds in their local habitat. The gallery also ran an artists talk and a workshop, both of which were well attended.
Imprint editor Andrew Stephens wrote a wonderful piece for Melbourne's newspaper, The Age, which was syndicated in numerous other national newspapers, which brought visitors flocking to Wyndham. Curator Megan Evans said that she thought our show was the best attended they had ever had! I also spoke to Eddie Ayres on Radio National's The Hub, and was joined by Victorian Wader Studies Group chair, Roger Standen, and Migaloo Press artist, Jennifer Steurzl in speaking to Myf Warhurst on 774.
I would like to say a huge thank you to all the artists who encouraged me and made work, and to all the other friends of the Overwintering Project who have brought together such beautiful and moving exhibitions throughout 2018.
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Below are installation images of the Overwintering project Print Portfolio. The top right image also pictures the Firestation Print Studio-Migaloo Press collaborative artists' book, Overwintering.
Clockwise from top left: World shorebird authority Dr Danny Rogers and exhibition visitor Sarah Coffey on a gallery-run tour to the Western Treatment Plant; landscape at the WTP with spotting scope set up! Roger Standen, Chair of the Victorian Wader Studies Group leads another tour (he his the tall central figure with hat and binoculars!); bottom left - the bird haven that is the WTP.
The Overwintering Project: Maryborough, Queensland
Gataker's Artspace, 30 October - 25 November 2018
311 Kent Street, Maryborough, Queensland
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Overwintering along the shores of the Great Sandy Straits off the coast of Southern Queensland has many advantages for shorebirds visiting this part of the world. The Straits are situated between Hervey Bay in the north, along the Mary River estuary and the mainland shoreline just north of Rainbow Beach. Fraser Island makes up its eastern boundary. The Straits are very tidal and wide sandbanks bordered by extensive mangroves provide a mostly safe and extensive habitat for the migratory birds - unlike parts of Hervey Bay, where the birds often compete with human and canine disturbance. It is in this region that many of the Queensland artists have sourced their subject matter for the exhibition. Interstate artists have sourced material from their respective regions.
The exhibition featured prints, artists books, assemblages, small sculptures, textiles and ceramics. Fractured Habitat, the centrepiece of the textile installation, was made up of 4 sheer panels (one each by artists Vicki Worland, Kim Ende, Rhonda Simonis and Chris Evens), enclosing a central panel of birds in flight. |
Above: Fractured Habitat by Vicki Worland, Kim Ende, Rhonda Simonis and Chris Evens
Participating Artists
Printmakers: Carol Seeger, Jennifer Sanzaro-Nishimira, Ann Brown, Sue Pogglioli, Jen Conde, Brian Davidson, Trevor Sphor, Jazmin Wilkins, Sandra Pearce, Val MacIntosh, Pat Zuber, Jennifer Rogers, Susanne Newton, Catherine Rose, Sandra Taylor, Cecile Espigole, Judy Taylor, Anna Bonschek, Stephanie McLennan
Textiles: Vicki Worland, Kim Ende, Rhonda Simonis, Chris Evans (collaborative installation) Ann Chan (woven tapestries)
Ceramics: Ellen Appleby
Maryborough artist Ann Brown put together a Sway presentation of the exhibition which you can see here.
Below: A selection of images from the exhibition.
Printmakers: Carol Seeger, Jennifer Sanzaro-Nishimira, Ann Brown, Sue Pogglioli, Jen Conde, Brian Davidson, Trevor Sphor, Jazmin Wilkins, Sandra Pearce, Val MacIntosh, Pat Zuber, Jennifer Rogers, Susanne Newton, Catherine Rose, Sandra Taylor, Cecile Espigole, Judy Taylor, Anna Bonschek, Stephanie McLennan
Textiles: Vicki Worland, Kim Ende, Rhonda Simonis, Chris Evans (collaborative installation) Ann Chan (woven tapestries)
Ceramics: Ellen Appleby
Maryborough artist Ann Brown put together a Sway presentation of the exhibition which you can see here.
Below: A selection of images from the exhibition.
The Overwintering Project: Mapping Sanctuary
Moonah Arts Centre 18 October - 10 November 2018
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This was the first 'Core' Overwintering exhibition, or exhibition to include all the prints of the Overwintering Project Print Portfolio to date. The exhibition featured 157 Portfolio prints by artists from every state and territory in Australia (except the ACT) as well as two from New Zealand. This stunning array of prints - in every medium - was augmented by a variety of other works by the following artists: Martin King (printmaking, Vic.), Cathryn Vasseleu (video; NT), Sophie Carnell (gold and silversmithing; Tas.), Fernando do Campo (video; NSW), Helen Kocis Edwards (installation; Vic.), Andrej Kocis(photography; Vic.), Heather Hesterman (printmaking & installation; Vic.), Deb Mostert (sculpture; Qld), Alexis Beckett (installation; Vic.), Pamela See (paper cutting; Old), Perdita Phillips (print installation; WA) and me, Kate Gorringe-Smith (printmaking; Vic.).
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The exhibition opening, which included the 'ice breaker' event for the 2018 Australasian Shorebird Conference, was opened jointly by Tasmanian PCA Representative, Melissa Smith, and BirdLife Tasmania Chair, Dr Eric Woehler. Celebrated storyteller, Jackie Kerin, also performed one of her 'Tales from the Flyway' to a warmly receptive audience. Combining a conference event with the exhibition opening gave the scientific community an opportunity to see how engaging art can be in conveying people's passion about migratory shorebirds and their conservation. The exhibition was well attended throughout its duration, and featured in two articles published in The Mercury.
Images below:
Top L: Helen Kocis Edwards' installation, Skittles, in front of part of the Overwintering Project Print Portfolio (this is a shot during installation; the gaps you can see between prints were filled with artists' statements). Top R: Alexis Beckett's installation, Forage, in front of another section of Portfolio prints. Below L: At the back is another glimpse of more Portfolio prints, and to their right are Deb Mostert's beautiful resin godwits. In the foreground are Alexis Beckett's embroideries on wool felt, Fleeting. Bottom R: Gallery shot from the opening.
Top L: Helen Kocis Edwards' installation, Skittles, in front of part of the Overwintering Project Print Portfolio (this is a shot during installation; the gaps you can see between prints were filled with artists' statements). Top R: Alexis Beckett's installation, Forage, in front of another section of Portfolio prints. Below L: At the back is another glimpse of more Portfolio prints, and to their right are Deb Mostert's beautiful resin godwits. In the foreground are Alexis Beckett's embroideries on wool felt, Fleeting. Bottom R: Gallery shot from the opening.
Across the Waves
The F Project Inc., 26 September - 21 October 2018
224 Timor Street, Warrnambool
In November 2017, Marine Biologist and Ornithologist Richard Chamberlain came to talk to the Warrnambool Printmakers to help spark work on an Overwintering Project exhibition. Warrnambool, on the se coast of Victoria, is home to numerous migratory shorebirds. The small nearby town of Port Fairy is also home to Latham's Snipe, and the Latham's Snipe Project which was initiated to better understand the ecology and habitat use of Latham’s snipe (Gallinago hardwickii), a shorebird species that breeds in Japan and overwinters in Australia. Ten artists joined together for this beautiful exhibition highlighting the local environment.
Below: Andrea Radley, 2018, The Visitor.
Below: Andrea Radley, 2018, The Visitor.
The Overwintering Project: Bound for Botany Bay
Hazelhurst Art Centre, Broadhurst Gallery 8 - 18 September 2018
782 Kingsway, Gymea, NSW
Article and images, unless stated, by Suzanne Newton, Project Coordinator for The Overwintering Project: Bound for Botany Bay
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Presented by Printmakers of Southern Sydney and featuring work by Yvonne Daly, Nicole Low, Georgia Lambropoulos, Stephanie McCready, Suzanne Newton, Julianne Smart, Kim Whitbread and Naomi Woodlands.The Overwintering Project has caught the imagination of printmakers across Australia as they realise the potential to create art for social change. On World Shorebird Day, September 6, eight printmakers from Southern Sydney installed Sydney's second offering for the Overwintering Project at Hazelhurst Arts Centre in Gymea. The significance of the date is not lost on these artists, as they live in an area surrounded by environmentally sensitive shorebird habitats: Botany Bay, the Port Hacking River, and the Georges River.
The artists connected with each other through the Hazelhurst Printmaking Program under the tutelage of renowned printmaker, Laura Stark. They are all avid users of the Southern Sydney waterways listing activities like paddle boarding, outrigging canoeing, boating, swimming, walking and bird watching as some of their leisure pursuits. As residents of the local area, the change in the landscape from development and population growth has not been lost on them. From the outset, the group wanted to ensure there was a strong community link to their art exhibition. They therefore developed educational projects in collaboration with Sutherland Council, ANSTO and a local school to complement the printmaking exhibition. |
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Highlighting a Local Shorebird Protection Project
In April 2018, Sutherland Council opened the Woolooware Bay Shared Pathway Stage 6 along Botany Bay. This high profile project featured in the Overwintering Exhibition as an example of how local Council is working to protect shorebird habitats whilst addressing the community’s need for recreational space. One of the striking features of the pathway is the bird hide, a cleverly designed steel screen which screens users from the east while allowing views of the bay from the west. It features a contemporary artwork of the significant birds inhabiting the site surrounded by mangrove seeds washed up on the beach to reinforce the purpose of the bird hide and other sensitive ecologies within the site. Sight holes, provided by the perforations in the screens allows people to view shorebirds without disturbance. Sutherland Council was very supportive of our desire to raise awareness of the plight of migratory shorebirds. They provided signage graphics for our educational display, sandbag skins so we could create an “island” for our flock installation and the graphic to recreate the shorebird image from the bird hide onto the gallery wall. Brendon Graham, Senior Natural Areas Manager kindly offered to host a tour of the Woolooware Bay Shared Pathway during our exhibition. Hazelhurst Arts Centre set up a webpage for the Overwintering Exhibition and a link to book into the walking tour. You can read more about the Woolooware Bay Shared Pathway here. R: The Woolaware Bay shared pathway, and a detail of the bird hide featuring the head of a Bar-tailed Godwit surrounded by the shapes of mangrove pods. Below: Students from St George Christian School painting The Flock; SGCS Year 3 class reading The Circle by Jeannie Baker.
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Connecting with Schools: A Shorebird Unit of Study for Year 3
The Australian Curriculum places emphasis on sustainability as a priority for study that connects and relates relevant aspects of content across learning areas and subjects. One of the Overwintering artists, Suzanne Newton, worked with teachers at a local school to incorporate a shorebird art activity into a unit of study. During Term 2, Year 3 students at St George Christian School completed an educational unit in English and Visual Arts with a focus on conservation and the protection of migratory shorebirds. The students undertook speaking, listening, reading and writing tasks in response to the acclaimed picture book, Circle by Jeannie Baker. The book tells the story of the migratory journey of the Bar-Tailed Godwit. The Year 3 students also created their own Flock of timber shorebirds. These cutouts were supplied by the Overwintering artists and are based on Flock Oz templates from the Pukorokoro Miranda Shorebird Centre in New Zealand. The teachers took the project a step further with each student adorning their shorebird with paint and an element of rubbish such as twine, fishing line, plastic straws and lids. These items represented the impact of humans on the shorebird habitats and gave the students pause to consider ways in which their own habits can affect the environment. It is hoped that the Flock Oz project will form a regular part of the year 3 unit of study in years to come. The Year 3 students flock will nest at the Hazelhurst Gallery during The Overwintering Project: Bound for Botany Bay exhibition. A story regarding the project was featured in the local newspaper, The Leader. |
Environmental Awareness Art Competition
One of the Overwintering artists, Stephanie McCready, who works for the government science organisation ANSTO, organised with ANSTO's support an environmental awareness art competition for primary school students. The competition aimed to encourage students to learn more about shorebirds and their local habitats. ANSTO generously offered more that $3000 worth of educational resources as prizes.
Stephanie writes:
We extended the closing date to October 26 (originally it was September 28) to give more time for schools to respond. We only expected a small response, but had 26 schools participating, far more than expected! ...At some schools only one class participated and at other schools all classes participated in the competition! One school even took all their students through our exhibition at Hazelhurst Gallery for inspiration! We received 200 entries in total.
I was really blown away by some of the entries. The standard was so high and it was clear that the kids enjoyed the activity and put their heart into it. It was such a privilege to receive the packages each week (like Christmas had come early!) and it really warmed my heart! I received lots of positive comments from teachers as well. I decided that I couldn't be responsible for judging the competition myself, so advertised for assistants. Julianne Smart, and two representatives from the Sutherland Shire council came to ANSTO to assist. I also put a call-out across the site, and got 26 judges in total!
The competition originally advertised prizes for 1st and 2nd place for Stage 2 (Years 3-4) and Stage 3 (Years 5-6). As the standard was high, we created a 'highly Commended' category as well.
Winning entries can be seen on the ANSTO webpage and Facebook page.
Below L: Stage 2 Highly Commended; Caleb Summers Class 3/4M Yarrawah Public School; Centre: Stage 3 Highly Commended; Lachlan Ginger Class 6L Oxford Falls Grammar School; R: Stage 3 Highly Commended, Sierra Truong Class 5/6M Peakhurst South Public School.
Connecting to Community Programs
The timing of our Overwintering Exhibition was fortuitous as it coincided with several national and international environmental awareness “days”. One of our Overwintering artists, Julianne Smart, worked on promoting the Overwintering Exhibition by linking online to various environmental awareness programs like World Shorebird Day, Saving our Species Day and Threatened Species Day. We were also very fortunate to have Phil Straw, Vice Chairman of the Australasian Wader Studies Group of Birdlife Australia give the Opening Address for The Overwintering Project: Bound for Botany Bay. He also delivered a multi-media presentation at the Hazelhurst Arts Centre throughout the afternoon of the Opening.
Conclusion
The Overwintering Project has been an exciting experience for the artists involved. It has offered an opportunity to marry our art practice with environmental concerns and work towards social change. We have been overwhelmed by the number of people that have offered support for the exhibition, demonstrating the depth of feeling for our endangered shorebirds and their habitats.
The timing of our Overwintering Exhibition was fortuitous as it coincided with several national and international environmental awareness “days”. One of our Overwintering artists, Julianne Smart, worked on promoting the Overwintering Exhibition by linking online to various environmental awareness programs like World Shorebird Day, Saving our Species Day and Threatened Species Day. We were also very fortunate to have Phil Straw, Vice Chairman of the Australasian Wader Studies Group of Birdlife Australia give the Opening Address for The Overwintering Project: Bound for Botany Bay. He also delivered a multi-media presentation at the Hazelhurst Arts Centre throughout the afternoon of the Opening.
Conclusion
The Overwintering Project has been an exciting experience for the artists involved. It has offered an opportunity to marry our art practice with environmental concerns and work towards social change. We have been overwhelmed by the number of people that have offered support for the exhibition, demonstrating the depth of feeling for our endangered shorebirds and their habitats.
Images below. Top L: Suzanne Newton, 2018, Traveller, solar plate, ink drawing. Top R: Stephanie McCready, 2018, Resting, drypoint. (Image by Stephanie McCready) Middle L: Nicole Low, 2018, Pipe 1, hand-coloured solar plate etching. Centre: Nicole Low, 2018, Noodle Bowl, hand-coloured solar plate etching. Middle R: Nicole Low, 2018, Shorebird, hand-coloured solar plate etching. Bottom: Stephanie McCready, 2018, Arrival, drypoint etching a la poupée (Image by Stephanie McCready).
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Overwintering: Portland
It was an intimate group of artist members and art loving friends who gathered on the wintery evening of August 3rd for the opening of The Overwintering Project - Portland. After the exhibiton was opened by Elizabeth Knight, the artists shared stories about their bird inspirations. The artists with works were on display were Tina Biggs, Therese Coffey, Sandra Duncan, Britt Gow, Elizabeth Knight, Bronwyn Mibus, Heather Richardson, Bob Stone, and Lesley Walker. There were a variety of printmaking techniques on display; linocut, etching/aquatint, screenprinting, stamping and digital prints. Gordon Risk said "It was a great variation of artwork to a very good standard.”
Elizabeth Knight |
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Top: Exhibition opening, Portland Bay Press, Julia Street, Portland, Victoria. Images by Gordon Risk. Centre: Therese Coffey, 2018, Boarding Pass, digital print. Image by Gordon Risk. Bottom L: Britt Gow, 2018, Latham’s Snipe at Powling Street Wetlands, Port Fairy, collograph a la poupée. Bottom centre: Elizabeth Knight, 2018, Red-necked Stint, Etching. Bottom R: Therese Coffey, 2018, Bar-tailed Godwit, screenprint.
The Overwintering Project: Mapping Sanctuary (Newcastle)
Newcastle Printmakers Workshop, 23 - 24 June 2018
27 Popran Road, Adamstown, NSW
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Gina McDonald, President of Newcastle Printmakers' Workshop, wrote: 'On Saturday 23 June Kate Gorringe-Smith arrived to open the Newcastle Printmakers Overwintering Project Exhibition. We were thrilled to have her as she truly has led us on an amazing journey, opening our minds and hearts to the plight of migratory shorebirds that visit Australia each year, to overwinter away from the cold further north to far off places like Siberia. At the opening we were also joined by Tom Clarke and Julianna Ford who accompanied us on our first trip to the Stockton Sandspit where a number of birds like the Bar-Tailed Godwit and the endangered Eastern Curlew gather from September onwards through to May. Some of the birds have decided to stay and Kate was lucky enough to see them early on Sunday morning before she began her flight back home.
Thank you to all of the people who helped to pull the exhibition together especially Helene Leane, Vale Vincent, Michelle Strazarri, Robyn Culley, Amanda Donohue and Megan Lewis as well as to all the artists who participated in this inspirational project. We had close to 200 visitors to view artworks on our revamped gallery wall so another thank you to Jim Williams for creating it. Wonderful!' The exhibition was also enlivened on the day of the opening as the workshop hosted a Roaming Art Tour run by Ahn Wells of Gallery 139 whereby participants carved and printed a lino block. Thanks so much to all the members of the workshop who brought the project to life in such an amazing way, and particular thanks to Gina McDonald for all her work in co-ordinating the exhibition! Right:: Exhibition opening, Newcastle Printmakers' Workshop, Sat. June 23. |
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A selection of the works on show include (clockwise from top left): Gina McDonald, 2018, Flying to Japan - the ooji shigi bird, collagraph; Valé Zakarauskas, 2018, Wandering Tattler Foraging, multiplate aluminium etching with intaglio/relief; Anne-Maree Hunter, 2018, In the Shadow of Nobbys, dry point, linocut, hand-stamped text and image, printed in thermographic ink; Robin Hundt, 2018, Lunch at Last, screenprint and pencil.
The Overwintering Project: Sydney
Warringah Printmakers Studio Gallery, 21 - 24 June 2018
Cnr Condamine & Lovett Streets, Manly Vale, Sydney, NSW
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Members of the Warringah Printmakers Studio in Manly Vale, Sydney, exhibited their Overwintering prints in a lovely exhibition held in June in their Studio Gallery. The opening was well attended, and the prints are diverse and beautiful. The prints resulted from members' research into their local shorebirds and shorebird habitat, notably a group visit to Long Reef with BirdLife Australia member Robert Griffin.
Warringah Printmakers Studio President Sandra Williams reported that: |
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'Long Reef Aquatic Reserve is situated between Collaroy and Dee Why on Sydney's Northern Beaches. Robert gave an introductory talk about the different species of migratory waders & their habits and habitats which he had spotted at Long Reef. With Robert’s skilful guidance, and the use of his binoculars and telescope, the rock platform suddenly sprang into life and became a rich habitat filled with different bird species. We saw the Ruddy Turnstone, the Pacific Golden Plover, the Sooty Oystercatcher, the Grey-tailed Tattler and the Red-necked Stint. We also saw birds not on topic, such as the Great Cormorant, Pied Cormorant, Little Pied Cormorant and as a wonderful finale three Ospreys circled in and landed on the beach just as we were finishing.'
Sandra also reported on a visit by 12 artists to the AGNSW's Study Room where Study Room Coordinator Deborah Jones had chosen a selection of works in response to a general brief of both contemporary and traditional works onpaper related to birds and their habitats. Her selection included 'a Lake Eyre sketchbook by Frank Hodgkinson (Journey with Vincent Serventy,
John Olsen and Tim Storrier), John Olsen etchings, colour woodcuts by Imao Keinen, etchings by Elizabeth Cummings, works by Lionel Lindsay, Sydney Long, David Rose, John Wolseley, Elaine Haxton, Murray Griffin, Brett Whiteley and Max Pam.'
Thanks go to all the artists who participated in this lovely exhibition, but especially to Sandra Williams who co-ordinated Warringah's amazing and wholehearted response to the Overwintering Project.
Sandra also reported on a visit by 12 artists to the AGNSW's Study Room where Study Room Coordinator Deborah Jones had chosen a selection of works in response to a general brief of both contemporary and traditional works onpaper related to birds and their habitats. Her selection included 'a Lake Eyre sketchbook by Frank Hodgkinson (Journey with Vincent Serventy,
John Olsen and Tim Storrier), John Olsen etchings, colour woodcuts by Imao Keinen, etchings by Elizabeth Cummings, works by Lionel Lindsay, Sydney Long, David Rose, John Wolseley, Elaine Haxton, Murray Griffin, Brett Whiteley and Max Pam.'
Thanks go to all the artists who participated in this lovely exhibition, but especially to Sandra Williams who co-ordinated Warringah's amazing and wholehearted response to the Overwintering Project.
Top left and right: installation view in the Warringah Printmakers Studio Gallery. Bottom left: Avrille Ciccone, 2018, Flight of the Godwits, photopolymer etching, a la poupée. Bottom right: Negin Maddock, 2018, In Transit, linocut, stamping and monoprint.
Overwintering: Firestation Print Studio and Migaloo Press
Firestation Print Studio Gallery, 20 June - 15 July 2018
2 Willis Street, Armadale, Victoria
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Above: Exhibition images featuring artists' works on the walls and the amazing collaborative artists' book, Overwintering, bound by Migaloo Press members Sue Poggioli and Jennifer Stuerzl.
'Firestation Print Studio decided to join forces with Migaloo Press to help promote the importance of the plight of the migratory birds within the larger Overwintering Project. This collaboration brings together two very different ecological habitat, both with significant migratory bird populations' (Overwintering - Firestation Print Studio & Migaloo Press catalogue).
This beautiful exhibition featured a wonderful array of prints by 32 artists from the Firestation Print Studio in Melbourne and Migaloo Press in Brisbane. The prints themselves were superb, but the exhibition was made particularly special by its unique central feature - a concertina artists' book of all 32 prints, hand-bound by Migaloo artists Jennifer Stuerzl and Sue Poggioli. The book, which features a title page featuring letterpress by Marian Crawford, was displayed on a custom-made plinth, made by John Hinds, and took central place in the gallery. The concertina nature of the binding allows viewers to see the backs of the prints where the artists statements (including maps and poems) can be examined.
Thanks go to all the artists involved, but particularly to the organisers for envisaging this very special iteration of the project, Edith May from the Firestation Print Studio, and Jennifer Stuerzl and Sue Poggioli of Migaloo Press.
This beautiful exhibition featured a wonderful array of prints by 32 artists from the Firestation Print Studio in Melbourne and Migaloo Press in Brisbane. The prints themselves were superb, but the exhibition was made particularly special by its unique central feature - a concertina artists' book of all 32 prints, hand-bound by Migaloo artists Jennifer Stuerzl and Sue Poggioli. The book, which features a title page featuring letterpress by Marian Crawford, was displayed on a custom-made plinth, made by John Hinds, and took central place in the gallery. The concertina nature of the binding allows viewers to see the backs of the prints where the artists statements (including maps and poems) can be examined.
Thanks go to all the artists involved, but particularly to the organisers for envisaging this very special iteration of the project, Edith May from the Firestation Print Studio, and Jennifer Stuerzl and Sue Poggioli of Migaloo Press.
Clockwise from top left: Jen Conde, 2017, Eastern Curlew, etching; Peter Ward, 2017, Storm over the Connewarre Wetlands, multiple linocut; Jan Liesfield, 2017, Dreaming of Warmer Climes, linocut; Gwenn Tasker, 2017, 5 inches, 30 grammes, 25,000 km, collograph and etching. Below: Overwintering. Image of whole book by Karen Neal.
