Exhibition open 8 May to 23 June. Overstory brings together prints and paintings of local birds and plants inspired by local reserves.
Drawn together by their love of birds and the natural environment, printmaker Karen Neal and painter Bron Elmore present Overstory - an exhibition in direct response to the artists' exploration of local reserves throughout Maroondah and the birds and plants that inhabit these precious and beautiful ecosystems.
Maroondah is home to habitats which contain a diverse range of plant and animal species - some of which have national and global significance. But the world is facing climate, habitat and biodiversity crises and the care of the wildlife and green corridors in our urban areas is now more important than ever. In this exhibition the artists celebrate and raise awareness of the birds and habitats throughout Maroondah, providing their own artistic responses to the local environments.
As a Croydon North resident for over thirty years printmaker Karen Neal is very familiar with her local reserves and has been making artwork informed by the direct local area for the past 8 years. Her favourite walking trails are through Candlebark Walk, Narr Maen, Yarrunga, Hochkins and Warrien Reserves. Karen’s layered installations are informed by shared bird stories incorporating imagery such as eco prints from local leaf fall and linocuts with found objects.
Karen Neal, Looking Up, 2019 linocut print and mica powderLiving and working as a painter in the neighbouring suburb of Warrandyte, Bron became acutely sensitive to the variety and complexity of the birdlife in the environment around her studio over lockdowns in 2020 and 2021 and has since been closely observing and painting the birds that she could see within her own garden. In this exhibition she turns her focus to responding to the natural environments within her neighbouring suburbs of the Maroondah area.
As part of the exhibition, the artists will be collecting stories from the local community about their interactions with birdlife which will be available for visitors to read during the exhibition period.
Share your bird stories
Exhibition Launch
Join us to celebrate the combined launch of Sound and Syncopation and Overstory: Karen Neal and Bron Elmore.
- Thursday 11 May
- 6pm to 7.30pm
- RSVP Online or by phoning 9298 4553
Exhibition opening hours
- Monday to Friday
- 9am to 5pm