Exhibition to ease possums’ plight

Bellarine artist Moyra Le Blanc Smith’s paintings express her passion for the country and coast she calls home.
At her first solo exhibition, to be held at Eagles Nest Gallery throughout April, Le Blanc Smith is giving back to the environment that inspires her by donating a portion of sales to the Friends of the Leadbeater’s Possum as part of Possum Awareness Week from March 28-April 3.
The exhibition is titled Inspired by Nature and will feature paintings of forests, flowers, the outback, gum trees and the sea.
For some time now, Le Blanc Smith has been searching for a way to make a difference to how the country is cared for and to leave a better environment for future generations.
Leadbeater’s possums live in Victoria’s Mountain Ash forests and were thought to be extinct until it’s rediscovery in 1961 near Marysville.
Now they are on the critically endangered list due to loss of habitat from clear-fell logging and bushfires, with 45 per cent of their protected habitat decimated in the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.
Upon hearing of the leadbeater’s possum’s plight, she knew that this was a cause that needed her support.
“I thought, ‘why not use the art to make a difference to the survival of this creature and along with it, the other animals and plants which will be nurtured in the process?’” she said.
Inspired by Nature will be at Eagles Nest Gallery in Aireys Inlet throughout April, with the official opening on April 2 from 3-5pm.
Le Blanc Smith will be at the opening and will also donate 20 per cent of all sales from the exhibition to Friends of the Leadbeater’s Possum.
For more information, visit moyraleblancsmith.com.