FLYING FOXES, BOOKS, AND RECOVERY

Gracia Haby & Louise Jennison
With wings outstretched and quivering
18 page concertina artists’ book, inkjet print on Canson Arches 88 310gsm, with accompanying narrative (by Gracia Haby), housed in a box (by Louise Jennison) with original watercolour cover on Saunders Waterford Aquarelle 300gsm white hot-press paper
Printed by Arten
Edition of 2

Give a shriek!
Give a loud descending whistle!
A whoop of joy!

Threefold readiness. For flying foxes. For viewing. For lighter days.

We have received our DELWP wildlife foster carer license to assist Bat Rescue Bayside. Our studio, the front room of our house, is all set up for Grey-headed flying fox pup season. Our backgarden too. Ready to look after them until they are in turn ready for crèche and then release. We can’t wait to help these important forest pollinators. They’ve been here longer than us and have much to teach us.

It is pup season now, and you can see the mums warming their tiny pups in the sun at the nearby colony at Yarra Bend. They gently fan the pups resting on their tummies with their wings. In the cycle of paying attention, walking this stretch of the river, it is always lovely to see how things transform so quickly. Familiar patterns, but never the same. (Walk with us.)

The bowerbirds have been busy and our artists’ book, With wings outstretched and quivering, is ready for viewing.

Those of you near Geelong can also see the 2021 Geelong acquisitive print awards, which runs until the 17th of this month. For those of you, like us, who can’t make it to the gallery (owing to restrictions or other geographical constraints), here is a look at the exhibition, with photos courtesy of the gallery, and taken by Carli Wilson (thank-you).

2021 Geelong acquisitive print awards
Saturday 18th of September – Sunday 17th of October, 2021
Geelong Gallery
Little Malop Street, Geelong

Thank-you for your kind and supportive words, your love and good wishes. Home, safe and sound, and sweet, sure is. Ready for lighter days. Yes, here’s to that.

Image credit: Gracia Haby & Louise Jennison, With wings outstretched and quivering (detail), 2021, artists’ book. The original Bowerbird collages, of which this artists’ book is a variation of, were created especially for Genevieve Lacey’s Bower. Bower was released as an album by ABC Classic on the 14th of May, 2021.