Exhibition by Jenny Fournier
The Art Gallery Gladstone Hospital
December 2023 to January 2024.
Exhibition Statement – My artworks celebrate some of the native birdlife I encounter in my own backyard, neighbourhood and the
wider Gladstone area. Although renowned for its concentration of heavy industry, I’m grateful that parks and green spaces are also a predominant feature of our region, providing rich environments for a diversity of fauna.
Painting the birds in scenes where there is a mixture of both their natural habitat plus man-made structures and equipment, (sometimes depicted being reclaimed by nature,) I hope to portray their ability to adapt and co-exist with humans when we encroach on their homes. This relationship is however a fragile one and we must ensure that the balance remains healthy so that the more vulnerable species can endure our intrusions.
Each scene has been layered with a combination of acrylics and spray-paint using my own hand-cut stencils plus collected leaves and found man-made items.
I’ve endeavoured to showcase not necessarily the most popular or spectacular of our local avians but ones that never-the-less bring me joy. Hopefully you’ll recognise some of these feathered friends and their descendants will continue to delight our future generations.
This project is supported by Aestec Services, Nhulundu Health Service, CQ Health, Connell Enterprises, Cosmos Arts for Health Inc and Gladstone Regional Council RADF. The Regional Arts Development Fund is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Gladstone Regional Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.
