Overwintering in Burnie
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Published on 18 December 2020
THE OVERWINTERING PROJECT: Mapping Sanctuary will open to the public at the Burnie Regional Art Gallery on Friday 18 December.
The Overwintering Project is an environmental art project showing artworks, mostly prints, by 305 artists from Australia and New Zealand who have researched and responded to the unique nature of their local migratory shorebird habitat.
Burnie City Mayor Steve Kons said “Australia and New Zealand have over 100 internationally important shorebird overwintering sites, sixty-six in Australia alone and five in Tasmania.
“This exhibition and project is to raise awareness of the international importance of migratory birds of the East Asian- Australasian Flyway and the intrinsic value and biodiversity of local shorebird habitat. Artists have contributed to a portfolio of prints, plus film, paintings and drawings to create this exhibition.”
Organised by former science educator and editor/illustrator/printmaker with Birdlife Australia, Kate Gorringe-Smith, The Overwintering Project is a monumental exhibition that focuses on the birds that rely on fragile wetlands to provide sanctuary as they make their annual flight paths.
Kate’s determination to effect change and her passion has inspired artists to grow the exhibition portfolio to over 300 artworks. The exhibition has been touring since its first iteration as the Flyway Print Exchange in 2014. Since that time Kate has shown the exhibition across Australia and supported printmaking workshops, satellite projects, children’s art-making projects and worked with dozens of community organisations. In addition, the project has raised over $27,000 toward tagging and tracking migratory shorebirds to add to our collective understanding of the birds and their habitats.
While we are not able to host an opening event, visitors will be able to see the exhibition from Friday 18 December 2020 to Saturday 6 February 2021.
Public programs and art projects will be held throughout the summer school holidays so please check the Gallery’s social media pages and www.burnie.net for dates and times.
Kate Gorringe-Smith will give a lunchtime lecture on Wednesday 20 January. Numbers will be limited so persons wishing to attend must book by calling the Burnie Regional Art Gallery on 6430 5875 or by emailing [email protected]
The Gallery is open free to the public from 10 am to 4.30 pm Monday to Friday and Saturdays from 11 am to 4 pm, closed Sundays and public holidays. Visitors will be asked to sign in on entry for contact tracing and to comply with local, state and commonwealth regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Burnie Regional Art Gallery is an initiative of Burnie City Council and is assisted through Arts Tasmania by the Minister for the Arts.
Images available on request
For further information please contact:
Regional Art Gallery Director Burnie Regional Art Gallery
P 03 6430 5875 M 0423 637 524 [email protected]
Council requests that all patrons observe social distancing and practice good hygiene as directed by the State Government COVID-Safe measures in place. Hand sanitizer will be available. If you are unwell, please do not attend the event.