By Rain White
Think Global Act Local! Buy a plant from the gallery. This is the last week to view the Burrinja Climate Change Biennale. This exhibition’s theme ‘The Heat is on’ showcases responses by 44 Local and interstate artists. The award winner is Katherine Boland and the People’s Choice award is to Emma Jennings. This exhibition is delivered in partnership with Yarra Ranges Regional Museum, ngurrak barring/Ridge Walk, Yarra Ranges Council and Your Library.
Local Artist Rain White has created Loci Plantae (local plants) to showcase our local species and to take a practical empowering step to ‘think global act local’. This piece consists of ink studies of ten local indigenous plants and a shelf of tube stock you can purchase from the gallery shelf for three dollars each to take home and plant. You can also pick up a free brochure on local indigenous plants. Plants produce oxygen,
microclimate, shade and cool our planet.
This piece honours and highlights the beauty of our local flora and all we could lose and connects us back to traditional owners of the land who had knowledge and use of all these plants.
I wanted to create a piece that provided a solution, that overcomes a sense of overwhelming people feel in the face of environmental issues, everyone can learn about plants and feel empowered by planting one. This is art and activism. It is a way we can care directly for our planet. You can create a habitat and cool your local area. Action creates momentum. A lot of people feel powerless and this piece presents something practical you can action.
This piece is a partnership between the artist and the Southern Dandenongs Community Nursery at Birdlands Reserve in Belgrave Heights and aims to increase community awareness of and provide local indigenous species with a sustainable environment,” she said.”
I was determined to create something to make people feel empowered not overwhelmed about climate change. It is an act of sanity, not radicalism to ask and act for meaningful action on climate to halt biodiversity loss.
‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.’ – Margaret Mead
Response to the piece has been very positive with people engaging with the piece and the artist talk as well as buying plants from the gallery. It has been a lot of work keeping the plants rotated and alive
throughout the show since it opened on 3 December 2022, but it has been a labour of love and brought me much purpose and pleasure. I love combining my passion for the area with my art practice and am excited for future possibilities.
The exhibition’s last day is Saturday 25 February running on the day is Live on the Lawn a mini music festival in The Park at Burrinja and artist market and studios open from 12-4pm, see website for full details @burrinja.org.au Burrinja Cultural Centre 351 Glenfern Rd Upwey Hours: Wed-Sat 10-4pm
Rain White has a studio at Burrinja contact: stain.studio.burrinja@gmail.com
