In February 2019 for two weeks I was fortunate enough to be accepted for a residency on the island. During this time I collected history, stories, local materials, created collagraph and tetra plates, sketched, photographed, explored and ran workshops for locals and school children on the island.
The museum on King Island a warehouse of historical facts provided much needed resource information on the maritime history and that of the extinct dwarf emu. I was captured by the similarities between the convicts of the Neva and the dwarf emu both killed ultimately by sea, both entombed on the island, both removed from their land never to return and die on a foreign shore. This ultimately was to lead to an artists book and sculptures which will be featured in the exhibition.
Birds feature heavily in my art work and see birds as indicators of the sustainability of the land. King Island has nine endemic species. This means that these birds have adapted to the island and are no where else to be found in the world. The dwarf emu once roamed freely on the island but by 1822 the last of its kind had passed. Two very interesting and endangered visitors use the island as a stop over The Swift Parrot and the Orange Bellied Parrot. In the right conditions the Swift Parrot will breed.
Of the endemic birds The King Island Brown Thornbill and The Scrubtit are critically endangered and The Currawong and Green Rosella are vulnerable.
The other endemics include the Fairy wren, the Wattlebird, the Scrubwren, Dusky robin and The Tasmanian Thornbill
Wings on Kings is a project which has now run for four years and its purpose is twofold in that collation of data on the birds not only help to acquaint people with the birds of the island and its population but also provide valuable information on the environmental sustainability of the island . With only 1/3 of the islands vegetation left and changes in laws making it easier to clear land it is important that country be preserved not only for the fauna and flora but also for the wellbeing of the inhabitants.
Connections with Luke Agati from King Island Museum, Kate Ravich ornithologist, Julian Hume Avian ornithologist from the United Kingdom, provided the springboard for more indepth research on the Neva and also the Dwarf Emu.
A body of work has been created which consists of 36 framed works, 6 mounted, three sculptures and an artist book .
The solo exhibition will also have a Powerpoint and bird calls to assist and enlighten audience on the birds and the inspiration for the art.
One year later the whole body of work has been posted by Australia post and sent on its flight to King Island where it will wait to emerge like a bird from its egg and enter the world.
You are invited to come along and enjoy this show, visit the island and all it has to offer and learn about the wonderful endangered endemic and extinct birds of King Island. Love to see you there.