“We have met here on the same page that we call art and the thread of creativity has drawn us together” said Nikki Green last weekend at the ‘Living Gondwana’ Eco-Art Camp. Basil Schur from Green Skills facilitated the camp at Balijup Farm in Tenterden, in the middle of the Forest to Stirlings section of Gondwana Link. Eager participants, from budding to experienced artists, were joined by Carolyn and Cheryl Narkle from Mungart Boodja Art Centre in Albany, Joey Williams of Denmark based Poornarti Tours and Nikki Green and Janine McCrum from Denmark’s Old Butter Factory Studios and Gallery.

We all responded to the bushland, views, skyscapes and lakes of Balijup in different ways. Carolyn and Cheryl painted the landscape as their mother, Bella Kelly, had before them. Joey designed a huge canvas based on an aerial view of the property and we all knelt on the canvas and joined in the painting. There was lino cuts, dying silk and paper with leaves, drawing, rubbings on all the marvellous old farm equipment and of course photography – that was me!

Evenings by the fire gave us opportunity to exchange cultural knowledge as well as talking while we worked.

The camp also gave me more insight into all the work Basil Schur, Green Skills and others do in the area. Fencing to protect bush, work to maintain lake health, revegetation, predator proof area with bandicoot release and relationships with landholders….. Very impressed.