Australian Catastrophe 2020

View of Country, Margaret Ngwarraye Long

Bay Gallery Home has been meaning to write a blog for some time about the slew of environmental catastrophes devastating Australia. The impact of the widespread destruction of our home country, Australia, is extraordinarily difficult to put into words. My daughter, Greta, I think can say it best through the lens and emotions of a child: raw and honest. This is an excerpt of a presentation she did for a Australian fundraising event at her school in the UK.

“As you all might know some parts of Australia are on fire and that’s quite a sensitive subject for me as I’m Australian. The thing thats bothering me the most at the moment is the fires in Australia. It makes me so upset that I can’t do anything about it apart from think about it. I want to get over there and help the animals and the people. I want to help in anyway I possibly can and that’s why I think I am in this world. I want to hug everything. Thinking about going there again and seeing its all burnt down gives me the chills. The thing I most wish for this year is to make the world a better place.

We need to remember not only the iconic animals are in danger, like the koalas and kangaroos but the wombats, platypus, the birds, the Emus, insects, fish and many other animals and plants essential to the Australian eco system.

Please donate, if you can, to the fire brigade and the animal shelters. Thank you.” Greta, 11 years old

Here are some suggestions for those wishing to donate:

redcross.org.uk

findabed.info

NSW Rural Fire Service quickweb.westpac.com.au

Wildlife Emergency fund - wires.org.au

Animal Rescue Collective Craft Guild - making pouches for injured wildlife

Father's Day weekend special exhibition 17 - 18 June 2017

Bay Gallery Home is holding a special exhibition for father's over the Father's Day weekend to offering father's a glass of wine or coffee while visiting the gallery on Saturday or Sunday.

Aboriginal Father's teach their children the many skills needed to survive in the harsh Australian outback environment.  They are instrumental in teaching their sons how to hunt and share their wood fashioning expertise to make spears, boomerangs and shields from the incredibly strong Mulga tree found throughout the desert and depicted in many of our paintings.  (we will have examples of these on display) The Father's also teach their young boys and men the Dreamtime stories through secret ceremonies and initiations some of which can take months to complete.  This repetition of the Dreamtime through ceremonial dances and song is essential to the preservation of their culture including the deep knowledge they have of the land, animals flora and fauna.

We wish you all a Happy Father's Day.  

A fantastic new painting currently being stretched ready for our Father's Day exhibition.