An Art Adventure at the Queensland Art Gallery

Copy of June cover page
Sidney Long, Spirit of the Plains, Yvonne Koolmatrie’s Hot Air Balloon, June Perkins, poem Spirit of the Plains, Images Courtesy Queensland Art Gallery

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Follow the Angel, Follow the Feathers, Follow the Art!

Imagine you are in a Hot Air Balloon

 

Discover a fresh perspective on the Australian Collection with Words & Pictures, an ongoing project that invites local artists and writers to respond to artworks in the Australian Collection. Take inspiration, and use the pencils and paper provided at the stations to create your own response through drawing or writing.

Only small extracts of the  poems and writing are here to encourage you to go visit and read them on location!

The Spring Program has been written by  Dr June Perkins.

The poems and stories are now up, September to November 2018

Queensland Art Gallery

Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art

 

SPRING 2018

This season’s Words & Pictures inspiration comes from June Perkins, Brisbane-based poet and children’s author. June has developed an interactive journey through the Australian Collection through poems and micro-stories for visitors of all ages, with particular appeal for children and families: Art Adventures in the Australian Collection.

Look for Words & Pictures labels alongside the following artworks. If you’d like to follow the writer’s journey, visit the works in the following order.

  1. John Perceval Sculpture: The Herald Angel 1958
  2. Yvonne Koolmatrie Hot-air balloon 2006
  3. Landscape wall, Gallery 10
  4. Sydney Long, Spirit of the Plains 1897
  5. Sonja Carmichael Deranji Dabayil (Rocky place, healing waters): Baskets of Culture 2017
  6. Ian Fairweather, Epiphany 1962
  7. Michael Stevenson, The gift (from ‘Argonauts of the Timor Sea’) 2004-2006
  8. Ray Crooke Woman with blossoms 1962-1963
  9. Fred Williams Echuca landscape 1961
  10. William Delafield Cook A haystack 1982
  11. Rosalie Gascoigne Lamp lit 1989
  12. Irene Chou The universe is within our hearts 1992
June cover page-3
Poem June Perkins, John Perceval’s Herald Angel, Yvonne Koolmatrie’s Hot Air Balloon, Images Courtesy Queensland Art Gallery

In Eumundi with Magic Fish Dreaming

June and Young Reader

Thanks Eumundi for your great reception to Magic Fish Dreaming.

On Saturday the 15th of April  I visited Berkelouw books, the  Sunshine Coast, to sign copies of Magic Fish Dreaming. It was also World Circus Day.

It was a super busy market day, and there were so many  wonderful stalls.  I heard about these from my daughter and husband who went for a walk around the market after they were finally able to find a park.  They saw bird whistles,  art, special healing skin creams and lots of psychics. But even with so much to choose from Magic Fish Dreaming was not overlooked by wayfarers in the market.

Berkelouw books, who stock the book, suggested that being stationed out the front of the shop to catch the passing foot traffic would be a great idea.  And it was!  Thanks to staff for having me at the shop.

I forgot to ask someone to photograph me with the Magic Fish Dreaming table, but here is what it looked liked (you can imagine me sitting on the chair).  The pavement had a slight slope so we had books on the back of the sign to keep it up.

I met some interesting people; international travelers from England and New Zealand; grandparents looking for something special;  an Aunty (who wanted something other than chocolate for her niece and nephew); a couple of mums, including a Brazilian lady now settled in Australia with her family; lovers or poetry and nature, and people of all ages and nationalities intrigued by the character props on the table, which are all featured in the book, including the dragon.

It was fun to have,  a cassowary, crocodile, tree kangaroo, dolphin, quoll, dragon and thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger) to keep me company.

The most popular creature on the table by far was the Cassowary created by Danielle Wilson of Chinky Monkey. Someone had seen this in Mission Beach when they were last up there working with Cassowary Conservation and people wanted to buy it, but I wouldn’t part with it, as this one is my buddy for visits to libraries and schools.

My husband and daughter, gave me a brief break so I could have some lunch.  I went to the bakery a few doors up and had some treats.

This is inside the Berkelouw shop and it has so many interesting things.  Notice The Fix it Man, in the background of the picture.  I told people my friend Dimity would be up there next week!

After finishing my stint in the shop, I had a chance for a short walk to see this clever creation spotted by my daughter. She thought I would love it.  She was right.

A bottle cap elephant.

Then it was goodbye to Eumundi!

Thanks so much to everyone who purchased a book.  We hope you ALL  love your book and wish you happy hunting for poems.

For people who were thinking about a purchase, there are still copies at the bookshop.

Thanks so much to everyone who stopped and gave positive feedback on the book and to Berkelouw books for hosting us.

June

Holiday Adventures Back in Australia

2015-12-30 Travel to Melbourne 167

 

Well Tawny and Tree Kanga are back from their adventures.  You can find more out about this over on the facebook page where we are gradually adding their story.

We have visited so many landmarks like the Dog on the Tucker Box, the Big Banana, the Dandenongs, and William Ricketts’ Sanctuary!

But now it is time to nuckle down and get ready for the kickstarter.

Can you hear the ripples . . . of the kickstarter?

YES  . . . the wave is coming, Magic Fish Dreaming waves of magic fish, poetry and art.  And we will appreciate and need your loyal support.

Yours Truly,

June, Tree Kanga and Tawny

 

Whilst their friends travel Europe

magicfishtrip3

 

Whilst their buddies travel in Europe, back in Australia Tree Kangaroo, and Tawny go searching for a Lumholtz Tree Kangaroo, only to find they are no longer at David Fleay Wildlife Park.

Still there other interesting creatures like CROCODILES!  And they are able to see a Platypus called Wally.

See you soon Koala and Platypus.