Birds & banksias on show at Juniper House | Photos

Last week saw the iconic Juniper House host the The Banksia Amour: Walking & Talking Exhibition and Installation.

Guests were invited to meet at the gate for a bagpipe performance by Anna Boykett, before being led down the driveway by marching drummers, and performers Melia Brent-White and Andrew Mason Bland.

The walking guests were interrupted by a pair of locals, dressed as red-tailed black cockatoos who squawked through the crowd, causing much merriment.

At a curve in the driveway where a number of Banksia Grandis were flowering, local botanist Sharnya Yates gave a presentation on Banksias, highlighting acute threats to the species such as drought and phytophthora.

The drumming led procession continued as guests were invited to enter the underground gallery to view the exhibition and installation.

Contributing southwest artists included Kashmir Rouw, Chloe Wilder, Cherry Delfs, Angus Watkins, Elizabeth Reed, Sasha Cameron, Bill Meiklejohn, Nigel Lullfitz, Rika Rouw, Vasilisa Sok and Caralynn Hoft.

The exhibition was centred around an installation by Kashmir Rouw and Elizabeth Reed titled ‘Banksias: Barometers for a Changing Landscape’ and acts as an acknowledgement of the ever-changing conditions of the unique Western Australian bush.

Suspended Banksia pod segments and printed Banksia leaves function as a visual metaphor for changing landscapes through passages of time.

Artwork crossed a range of mediums including ceramics, sculpture, mosaics and printmaking.

Themes included the black cockatoos endemic to the southwest of WA, exploring the very real threat of extinction, with ten percent of all art sales donated to the Kaarakin Black Cockatoo Recovery Centre.

Music was performed by Megsy, Undies, Sleepy Boys (with special guest Keeley) and Dj Saramony, before the night concluded with a spectacular display of fire spinning.

Event organiser Elizabeth Reed was thrilled with the event.

“It is a tribute to our southwest community to be able to draw on such a diverse range of artists across so many practices to collaborate in such a unique event themed around Banksias and black cockatoos,” she said.

“We would like to continue to raise awareness for the survival of Banksias and the plight of black cockatoos by taking the Exhibition and Installation to other galleries locally and internationally.”

The exhibition is available for viewing by appointment only until the end of November. Contact elizabeth@flormarche.com for more information.