Bundanon: 6. Times up ...

I'm looking forward to seeing all my people and the creatures back home but I wish too that I had longer in this Sherman Studio at Bundanon.

I’ve packed up my work on the three projects commenced here: whilst settling in - painting interiors of Bundanon with all their creature things; the daily rhythm of my charcoal impressions of the wombats of Bundanon and; my still life paintings, each with a mix of objects from here and from home. I’ve been pairing the likes of squared wombat poo with measuring ducks; a wombat skull from the paddock with one of my kids toys and an old kitchen scale; and a red kitchen mincer with an old man banksia cone left round the side of the studio from an artist before me - its discovery felt somewhat like a bargain find from an op-shop. Its previsous life a mystery to imagine.

My background in conservation and land management is with me as I create these works, I’m thinking about some of the science: of measuring and weighing, figuring out what’s happening and how to live with this land.  I’m enjoying the play of objects and their linkages to science, the domestic and our natural world. And leaving the wombat skull here, where the wombat lived and died, I imagine that Doug too might snippet these remains into one of his works from this place.

Each day Writer Karen Viggers generously checks in to see my progress - another strip of wombat rhythms from the afternoon to the walls. She shares some of her process too, and her immersion in science as well. Being a vet is in her bright mix of tricks. This Bundanon residency is her second, this time she’s working on her fifth novel. And it’s not only fiction and animals for her, she’s up for an essay too.  Check out her Mountain Ashed in the Griffith Review …
https://griffithreview.com/articles/mountain-ashed/
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Along with the mum and bub wombat from the burrow under the Sherman and the plethora of wombats of the paddocks  (with over 30 spied in one standing), I will treasure the people from this journey. Thanks to the volunteers and staff, in particular Julie and Jen. and all behind the scenes at Bundanon Trust.  Thanks to Authur Boyd and his family and the First Nations peoples on this Wodi Wodi land. And cheers to the other Artists in Residence of my time here. To Karen, Doug, LinRan, Tim, Maggie, Ashley and Wart, it has been so rich hanging out. I look forward to seeing and listening and reading what comes next from you all.