AN environmental art project created by 19 printmakers from the Anglesea Art House launched at Anglesea\u2019s Surf Coast Art Space last week, igniting conversation about a group of threatened species in Australia.<\/p>\n
The exhibition is part of a nation-wide project \u2013 the Overwintering Project \u2013 initiated by Melbourne-based printmaker Kate Gorringe-Smith, vice president of the Print Council of Australia.<\/p>\n
Much like her previous project, the Flyway Print Exchange, the Overwintering Project engages with other artists to raise awareness for one of Australia\u2019s most endangered group of birds, migratory shorebirds.<\/p>\n
Over 150 artists from Australia and New Zealand have participated in the initiative, contributing $10,000 to shorebird research.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese birds have been pushed to the margins,\u201d said Gorringe-Smith who opened the exhibition in Anglesea.<\/p>\n
\u201cBasically, wetland habitat is being destroyed at a greater rate than our forests. I think there is a lot of misunderstanding about what wetlands are. We don\u2019t value mud, we don\u2019t understand that when the seas rise it is the wetlands that are going to be able to absorb extra liquid, that\u2019s their job \u2013 and we are so busy reclaiming them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Surf Coast Art Space coordinator Cinnamon Stephens said she was \u201cblown away\u201d by the number of people who came to see the exhibition.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe artworks are all so exquisite and really capture the very delicate essence of the birds they were inspired by. It was a great honour to have the project\u2019s originator, Kate Gorringe-Smith, open the show,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n