Bark Gun

Wombat hole with tree

Laura's new pastel drawings for upcoming group show Wonder Fall, at Hill Smith Gallery Adelaide

Bark Gun, pastel by Laura and watercolour by Will

Sunday Morning

Today we are heading to a big band concert at Riversdale, at the Bundanon Education Centre about ten minutes drive up the road.  

It rained for the first time in 3-weeks last Friday. So we went for a walk during which we spotted wombat hole #327. There is 14km of river frontage at Bundanon, only a few hundred metres of which is accessible (on foot). While exploring we are constantly thwarted by walls of Lantana which, along the river is now protected due to its provision of habitat and prevention of erosion. 

We had an amazing private piano concert two weeks ago. Alexander Boyd (Arthur's grandson) played to a small invited audience in the front room of the original homestead. A grand setting, a grand piano (Arthur's London bought Steinway) and a diverse selection of music ranging from Chopin to Ravel, a mix of smooth traditional and lively discord.

We have been walking regularly, either down to the river or up onto the range. W has been fishing and caught some Australian Bass, fun fighting fish and quite tasty.

Our time continues to be productive, L has been busy drawing and weaving, W drawing and painting. Together we have worked on some small installation experiments both inside and outside.

We are planning new works based upon ideas and images from our time here and whilst on route during the bike ride. 

Our main focus sculpturally has been head hides or enlarged hoods. Made from various materials these small objects offer a peaceful space when ones head is inserted. A concept exploring ideas of head/mind dominance over body and a mental haven from immediate surroundings.

Collab Watercolour study

Clear wombat by Laura, pastel on paper

Collab colouring in competition, with hidden pictures, pencil on paper

Speedway by Will, watercolour

Laura Lantana

Couch Headhide by Laura

Country Tent

Bird Shelter

Country Tent

Woodbike with Bob

These images are a selection from a new digital drawing series Will and I are working on. We will most likely draw/ paint originals, not sure yet. Below is Arthur Boyd's palette, we had a very informative tour of the Bundanon Homestead and Boyd's studio. It is open for the Australian public every Sunday.

In and around...

Will harvesting nettle for dinner. We had potato and nettle soup with celery and goats yoghurt.

                                     

Laura has a wombat experience. Couch grass in abundance.

Halfway back from the river view toward Artist in Residence complex.

Tonkin Zulaikha (Sydney Architects) design which incorporates existing buildings such as the old barn. Apartments have full northern aspect giving  luxurious sunlight and warmth.

Head Hide Hood, building in the bush.

Head Hide harvest of path-side cuttings, also interesting upside down contrast to adjacent plant.

Some of William's Watercolours.

At Bundanon

Shoalhaven Rivers edge Bundanon

Tarp sailing with bike and trailer.

Loaded lilly pilly tree at the end of our studio.

Our studio at Bundanon.

Making Camp

William making camp at The Big Whole. NSW.

Way finding on the train to Melbourne.

Packing drawing. The aim of packing is to remove excess packaging and compartmentalise all food into breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.

Rock Table, Trestle Bridge camp site

We saw about 20 wombat roadkill over the ten day trip. The pink cross on the wombat means there are no young in the pouch. At Bundanon it's wombat crazy, there are burrows everywhere and you always see them at night.

On the Rail Trail just after Trestle Bridge camp, William collected spiders webs that hung onto him the whole day. They flew behind him and increased his speed.

Food Collected

Drawing of the food we collected / we given on the trip, by Laura and Will

List of food from diagram: slippery jack, fig, feigoa, apple, Safron Milk Cap, crab apples, watercress, young fern brachen, roesmary, rain water, river water

Fresh Slippery jacks (Suillus luteus) found in Pine forest next to the Deddick river just near Tubbut. We ate them in a risotto at the Strawberry Track camp at the top of Dellicknora road (near Bonang).

                                        

Camp Sites in Order

Rail Trail, Trestle Bridge

Dave's store at Seldom Seen

Strawberry Track bed

Strawberry Track kitchen

Bombala Caravan Park

Cooma Warmroomotel

emergency roadside campsite

The Big Hole

Shoalhaven River, Stewarts Crossing

Shoalhaven Riverhouse

  

Tianjara Falls

The Way

 

This is our final route taken.

Heaviest!

DIY DSi Front Handle Bar Bag, the protruding spikes warn off flying insects that often get stuck in your eye



His and Hers Bob bag



Stewarts Crossing camp site on the Shoalhaven River

We rolled down into Nowra yesterday afternoon!!! After riding approx 770 km from Bairnsdale. We had a night in the caravan park to organise ourselves,- food and art supplies for the 4-week out of town residency. We frequented 3 of the towns op shops and found a great old Jacaranda Atlas to draw on, another old book, card, wood for Will to draw/ burn on and other bits and pieces. Regina Heilmann is the arts program manager we have been in contact with at Bundanon. Last night at the supermarket we bumped into her in isle 3! This is a giant stroke of luck. Having just spent up at the art supply store and the health food shop, Regina was more than happy to deliver our heavy wares by car. Will was rightly freaking out about how we were going to ride the last 30 km to Bundanon with all the stuff as we could easily break the bikes. Regina took our box and we continued to buy food supplies for the next week. After further heated convsations in the fresh food section we settled on one carrot, one passionfruit, one orange etc. Rolling out of town this morning we are the heaviest we've been. 

Double Knicks

William in Cooma

Laura out front of the Cooma Library

The Bombala Comunity Library had to close so quick i forgot to write about the man the feijoas. Tony, a friend of a friend of Will's. His daughter Solae said they should give us a ride when they over took us coming out of Buchan. Sweet for us, bikes in the trailor and a lift up to W Tree, plus fresh feijoa and fig snacks, thanks Tony! From Bombala we changed the route slightly and are in Cooma, to get more miles in on the bitchuman, 87 km yesterday with lots of up hill. It's fast and cars/ trucks, or slower and quite roads, (like 8 cars total in the first 3 days). Constant options and decisions.