The final of the twelve painted panels completed in the new year featuring a spotted pardalote in front of its muddy bank home and the silvereye in the wattle. Both photos referenced were taken by Chris Grounds. Today I joined the other Bherwerre wetland artists on a wetland walk guided by Plant specialist Rebecca and bird specialist/photographer Chris. It was lovely and inspiring.
Author: Vanessa Barbay
Worrowing Summer Shroud Set
Darren and I set up an array of creatures this morning amidst the mozzies and heat, some of which were given to me by a friend Danny who was taught taxidermy by my father years ago. There were lots of surprises, a micro bat and what looks to be a Cuckoo amid my collection of ringtail, mouse, leather jacket, starfish, wonga pigeon and the crowning glory, a Southern Boobook owl with wings outstretched.
Bherwerre 12
Finally finished panel 12 featuring superb and variegated fairy wren couples with tiny sun orchid and horned orchid. Still working on panel 11
Ghosts -Re-Imagining the Wool Road Exhibition, Shoalhaven Regional Gallery Nowra NSW. February 2019
Bherwerre Panel 10
I finally completed panel 10, another very detailed and therefore time-consuming painting featuring a red-browed finch, a bridal vale orchid and an Australian mistletoe bird.
NAVA Future/Forward Conference
I attended this 2-day Visual Arts industry conference held at the NGA and Parliament House.
I was inspired by the idea that Artist Run Initiatives should be paying their artists to exhibit/perform rather than artists paying to exhibit/perform.
The NAVA codes of practice will soon include a section on ARIs.
Kelli McCluskey’s interactive game developed by PVI collective was a brilliant and entertaining way to share ideas and the highlight for me.
Interview with Petra
This interview with Petra from Atelier TV occurred at my childhood home in Vincentia following SeeChange18 where I met Petra in front of my Shroud works in ‘Threads’.
Reading the Bherwerre Wetlands
I exhibited the following 5 Bherwerre panels in the Sandholme Salon Show for SeeChange 18. The 3rd Stage of the Bherwerre Mural Project received funding from the Shoalhaven Arts Board while the entire project would not be possible without my project partners BBCR Shed who installed the panels at Sandholme.
Hidden Histories – Holden st General Store
In the SeeChange Festival 2018 I have an installation in the Sandholme Salon Show 2 Jervis Street Huskisson Open daily – 10am to 4 pm 26 May 2018 to 11 June 2018. The installation is part of a larger ongoing project produced by Jenny Robertson titled ‘Shared Pathways – The Wool Road Project’ assisted by a grant from the Shoalhaven Arts Board. This video organised by Jenny and recorded by Michael Buckley and Susan McCauley will be on display as well as relics from the original Vincentia Post Office, an oral history recording of my mum Maree and uncle David (equipment and editing generously provided by Brad Slaughter BBCR Shed), Photographs of my grandparents Keith and Gloria Sheehy at the Holden Street General Store early 1960s and mum and David at the original building 2018.
Bherwerre 9
I finally completed the 9th panel which took almost 3 times as long as the other panels due to the level of detail.