The Substation/ Hobsons Bay Libraries Art Club/ Flight of Hope: Return of the Skipper Butterfly/
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PRESENTED BY THE SUBSTATION
Flight of Hope: The Skippers Return is a collection of artworks by emerging artists aged from 5 to 12 who created these works during Newport Library’s after-school Art Club.
During Art Club, children explored how the Altona Skipper Butterfly breeds, feeds and lives, in the shade of only one plant species: the Chaffy Saw-Sedge grass (Gahnia filum).
Due to grassland habitat loss, the Altona Skipper Butterfly had almost disappeared. Thanks to massive planting efforts between the Community and Hobsons Bay City Council, the tiny Altona Skipper butterfly numbers have moved from near extinction to endangered.
These images are just a few of the Art Club artists joyful responses to exploring this local environmental win!
Cultural burning and land management is important for the Chaffy Saw Sedge to thrive. The charcoal and flames seen in many of these works represent respect for Aboriginal land management knowledge. The increase in numbers and locations of the Altona Skipper Butterfly is a massive win for the community, biodiversity and of course, the endangered butterfly itself.
We hope these artworks create curiosity about some of the lesser-known local species we share our lives with and how positive ecological outcomes and opportunities can be achieved when we work together.
Created by emerging artists who attend and curated by Georgia Ensor Family Engagement and Learning librarian at Hobsons Bay Libraries.
Materials: Acrylic paint, watercolour, chalk pastel, charcoal, artists ink, She Oak branches and reclaimed yarn.
ABOUT HOBSONS BAY LIBRARY ART CLUB
Hobsons Bay Libraries Art Club is a creative afterschool club that welcomes and supports emerging artists between 5 and 12 years old.
Art Club artists come to Newport Library from around the municipality. While we have a core group of regular creators, the artists exhibited here may only have attended once!
Art Club is facilitated by Artist and Children’s Librarian Georgia Ensor, who has extensive experience encouraging emerging artists from Early childhood settings to Tertiary Institutions and Special Education Schools.
ABOUT THE BILLBOARD GALLERY
The Substation Billboard Gallery is located outdoors on the east wall of the building, parallel to the train line. Read on for access and travel information.
Photos by Khoi Nguyen
