A Collaborative Connection to Nature

This year I've began a creative collaboration with fellow artist Catherine Money.  Catherine and I have known each other for many years, sharing a passion for printmaking and the natural world.  Our collaborative partnership is exploring the notion that everything in nature is interconnected.

Our collaborative activities this year include 2 exhibitions.  Starting with Hanasho Flower & Art in July, we're exhibiting 'Of Banksia and Birds' - a reflection on the connection between flora and fauna, focusing on the banksia species and the birds that inhabit those environments.

In August, we're holding an exhibition and artist in residence event 'Insight + Onsite' at Maroochydore Regional Bushland Botanic Gardens, coinciding with Wildflower Week.  We will both be working on site at the gardens and invite everyone who visits us to participate in a large collaborative artwork.  We'll also be running some printmaking workshops there.

As a lead up to these exhibitions, Catherine and I have been engaging in a postcard swap between ourselves.  As we live over 80 kilometres away from each other, this art activity enables us to have a visual 'conversation' about our collaborative art practice.  Its an opportunity to make small artworks without pressure or expectation and the reverse side of the postcard shares some poetic text or information about our topic.  I'm really enjoying receiving Catherine's artworks in the mail - a little creative surprise in my letterbox amongst the bills and other boring day-to-day stuff. Her drawings and collages are just gorgeous!

The postcards will be on display at our 'Insight + Onsite' exhibition in August.

Below are a few samples of the postcards so far.....

Catherine's Postcard - drawing, collage, printmaking.

Another of Catherine's postcards

The reverse side (my address has been blanked out)

My drawing of a burnt forest of banksia trees -
accompanied by haiku poetry on the reverse side

My zentangle drawing of a banksia cone