The Sulphur-crested cockatoo is a large & beautiful bird. And yes, often noisy! But, have you ever watched the grace of their flight, the way they play with their fellow birds, or open 'hard nuts to crack'? They feature in much of my work as I see them as messengers who 'keep a look out', always posting one bird higher in the tree to warn the flock of any dangers. These special birds are the totem for Kuku-Thaypan people of the Quinkan Country around Laura. They were also once the emblem on our Kuranda Primary School T-shirts growing up here! When I find them meeting my path, gleaming & sunlit, or screeching and wheeling in the winds, depending...
'Dancing Woman' & 'Dancing Man' (2012) are two of my hand-painted festival banners measuring approx. 60 cm wide x 280 cm deep. They are painted on calico with acrylics, approx. 30 hrs work in each. My intention for each was to embody the essence of male energy, the active principle, and female energy, or the receptive principle in simple lines and colours. The curves and flowing lines of dance! They were originally painted for the Kuranda Roots Festival, and typically hang either side of a stage or dance floor. A decade ago, friend and event organiser Morgyn reached out to ask me to lead the decor and stage dressing for the now iconic Kuranda Roots festival. In the photos I am using for print, they have a painterly photoshop filter...
'Heart of the People' is about BIG LOVE!
It represents all the people that make up our diverse community: black and white, male and female, with 8 people for balance and success on the material plane.
All us mob who together make the one big heart, supporting each other and holding space, in harmony with, and respect for nature (green), illuminated from within and without by the sun/life force (yellow). An 8 pointed star/flower = success, creation, balance, radiation of this core intent. Eternally (infinity sign) creating and being and connecting. In LOVE (red heart, one red blood) ♥
'Vision of Eternal Freedom', or 'Eyes of Infinity' as I sometimes call it, was painted it in 2008 while still living in the Byron Shire. The opportunity was given to me by my dear old friend D to paint a banner for the DJ booth in 'The Tipi Forest Stage' at 'Splendour in the Grass' 2008. The original measures approx. 250cm wide x 110cm deep. I began with chalk, free-hand on a black piece of fabric, then painted the first layer with white undercoat, then layered acrylic colours for depth, then a final thin layer of fluorescent paints over that, so it glows under UV light too! Another peacekeeping banner, watching over everyone! Wandering by it some nights with it rigged...
Cicadas, Wattle, a Jacaranda, Kangaroos. The setting sun, lighting the head of our rainbowed Serpent, and held at the end by the female Black Cockatoo, heralding the rains that will soon come again to drench the parched land and keep the Rain-forest being just that. "May this painting bring peace, joy and respect for this beautiful place we are privileged to call home, to all who gaze upon it!”
