Fly Home, a new exhibition at Gen U’s James Street Gallery, features paintings and drawings of local endangered birds as part of a fundraiser to aid the region’s vulnerable wildlife.
The artists have donated the use of their works from the exhibition to produce a 2023 calendar, the profits from which will be donated to the Bellarine Peninsula Orange-bellied Parrot Regional Group.
The group seeks to support the ongoing recovery of the orange-bellied parrot in an effort to build a viable wild population of the critically endangered bird, whose numbers in the wild are currently as low as 50.
James Street Gallery coordinator Teresa Lawrence said the gallery was proud to help the wildlife organisation in its fight to save the orange-bellied parrot.
“It is difficult to comprehend but in the Geelong region alone, there are 84 endangered birds,” Ms Lawrence said.
“At the exhibition opening last Friday Chris Morley, the Bellarine Peninsula Orange-bellied Parrot Reginal Group coordinator informed us that the recovery team continue to adapt methods to improve numbers of orange-bellied parrots in the wild, including the release of captive-bred birds at various times of the year.
“They need help to continue their work and that’s what we’re aiming to do with our calendar sales.”
The exhibition continues until November 4, with calendars available for sale along with paintings, drawings and sculptures.
