Satellites Exhibition and Stone Series

‘A group exhibition of artists who work independently, yet are held together in an ‘orbit’ of sorts.’ Curated by Alexandra Lawson 9 December – 8 January 2020 Other work in this folder is part of the series shown at Satellites, Toowoomba 2020. The Stone Story series began as I traced around found stones on what is known as Belah country. Casuarina cristata is found in threatened ecosystems which include brigalow Acacia harpophylla, Acacia Pendula (weeping myall), Yapunyah Eucalyptus thozetiana and other species in Western Queensland. During the Covid Isolation, my husband and I have been living and working on various agricultural properties, both farming and grazing. Having a caravan we have been able to live close to the Maranoa River and in the Mount Abundance area and hence my ability to work in situ. I am reading Billy Neidjie poetry from his book Story About Feeling (1989). I hadn’t expected to find many stones in the tilled soil or remnant ridge/hilltops, but I have collected petrified wood, basalt rocks, fossilized objects. Each stone has a story as I research the geology of the area and find a history of volcanic, ancient inland seas and lakes from 65 million years ago. The sound of the wind through the Belah pine needles is haunting, similar to listening to the sea inside a conch shell. The casuarina carries seed pods that I have used as a tool to imprint speckled markings across the paper surface. Returning the stones to the ground is always a cathartic experience. I return to the poetry of Billy Neidjie who reminds us that the fundamental workings of the world keep going as we sleep. Each stone, rock and star is a stable force while the tree and body follow a cycle of mortality and rebirth. Stone e never move Rock e don’t move round, E got to stay for ever and ever e’ll be there million, million…star Because e star, e never move Tree e follow you’n’me, e’ll be dead behind us but next one e’ll come exert from Billy Neidjie Story About Feeling (1989)

Stone e never move
Rock e don’t move round,
E got to stay for ever and ever -Bill Neidjie