Logan’s birdlife will be turned into art, sound, film and community-made lanterns as part of a major exhibition at Logan Art Gallery.
Where do I belong? will run from June 19 to August 29, bringing together artists, environmental specialists, First Nations representatives, youth and people with disabilities from the Logan area to explore Australian birds, the pressures they face and the role residents can play in protecting them.
Community-made lanterns from the related Night Jarring workshop will also be displayed at the gallery’s UPLATE event on Thursday, July 16.
Logan-based music producer and audio engineer Louise Wheatley has helped bring the city’s birdlife into the exhibition through The Birds of Australia STORYBOX, a 3D interactive cube now on display in the Logan Entertainment Centre forecourt.
Ms Wheatley filmed birdlife across Logan, including suburban areas and local wetlands, and produced sound and music for the project from her Heritage Park studio.
“This footage was shot all in this region,” Ms Wheatley said.
“I’ve got a recording studio here in Logan, in Heritage Park, so you can see where it was all done.”
The STORYBOX includes Australian birdlife images from the Australian Museum, alongside audio field recordings captured across Logan.
Ms Wheatley said the work became a story told through music and visuals.
“I love to edit to music,” she said.
“It’s the best way to edit, I find, and it just helps to tell the story.”
She said the project had also given her a chance to reconnect with nature through her work.
“What’s been amazing about the whole project for me has been being able to go into nature for my work,” Ms Wheatley said.
“We live such busy lives. We’re all incredibly busy.”
Ms Wheatley said the work was inspired by a desire to draw attention to birdlife and the spaces birds need to survive.
“We build these structures in what was their environment to begin with,” she said.
“I think it’s important to maintain beautiful spaces, nature reserves and things like that.”
Logan City Council says more than 270 bird species can be found in the city, including the wedge-tailed eagle, eastern whipbird, powerful owl and azure kingfisher.
The council says Eagleby Wetlands is so significant, almost a quarter of Queensland’s bird species can be found there, while wetlands at Berrinba, Spring Mountain and Priestdale also support local birdlife.
Logan City Council Thriving Community Committee chair Mindy Russell said the exhibition would highlight the pressures facing native birds and the community’s role in protecting them.
“People who are passionate about birds, art and nature are sharing ideas, celebrating community and promoting positive environmental action through Where do I belong?,” Cr Russell said.
“We encourage the community to learn more about our local feathered friends and the important role they play in our environment.”
Local artists have created 15 new artworks for the exhibition, shown alongside loaned works from the State Library of Queensland, the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Australian Museum.
The July 16 UPLATE event will include Living Sculptures: How the birds got their colours, a performance featuring ARC Circus and Luther Cora’s team from Yugambeh Aboriginal Dancers at the Logan Entertainment Centre.
An Art and Nature Symposium will also be held at Logan Art Gallery on Saturday, 22 August.
The Birds of Australia STORYBOX will be lit from 6am-9pm daily in the Logan Entertainment Centre forecourt until Monday, 31 August.
More information is available through Logan Arts.
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