ACT Newsletter - August 2023
Book Club
In two weeks we'll be meeting up for our fourth book club of this year! Join us as we deepen our knowledge of nature and ignite our curiosity and creativity while celebrating and coming to a better understanding of the world around us.
The book we will be discussing this time is:
Platypus Matters: The Extraordinary Lives of Australian Mammals by Jack Ashby
Publisher’s description:
A compelling, funny, first-hand account of Australia's wonderfully unique mammals and how our perceptions impact their future.
Think of a platypus: they lay eggs (that hatch into so-called platypups), they produce milk without nipples and venom without fangs and they can detect electricity. Or a wombat: their teeth never stop growing, they poo cubes and they defend themselves with reinforced rears. Platypuses, possums, wombats, echidnas, devils, kangaroos, quolls, dibblers, dunnarts, kowaris: Australia has some truly astonishing mammals with incredible, unfamiliar features. But how does the world regard these creatures? And what does that mean for their conservation?
Date: 4 September 2023
Time: Monday evening from 6pm - 7.30pm
Venue: NatureArt Lab Studio, M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith, ACT
Price: NatureArt Lab Members $10, Non-members $20. (Price includes wine and nibbles)Above: photo by Meg Jerrard on Unsplash, Featured photo: Danny McCreadie
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Boronias in Watercolour - Two-day workshop on this weekend!
Learn all about the Boronia genus, its variety and how to paint these beautiful native plants in watercolour with award-winning artist Halina Steele.
Date: 26 -27 August 2023
Days/Times: Saturday and Sunday, 9.30 am to 4.30pm
Location: NatureArt Lab Studio, M16, 21 Blaxland Street, Griffith
This workshop will introduce you to the world of boronias, how to render them in watercolour and includes a talk from Justin Roberts, an expert on Boronias and allied genera, explaining the main characteristics and features of these wonderful plants!
Image: Halina Steele
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NatureArt Lab's Canberra studio is an amazing learning space and a great place to paint and draw. Every month we open our studio to the public to come along and spend some time with fellow students of NatureArt Lab.
Take some time out to sketch and research, nature journal, photograph and learn more about nature. This is a 'do your own project' event and as such there is no guided tuition. Bring your own inspiration and materials, or you can take inspiration from our collection available in the classroom.
Next sessions open for bookings:
- Wednesday 6th September 2023, 9.30am - 12.00pm
- Wednesday 4th October 2023, 9.30am - 12.00pm
- Wednesday 1st November 2023, 9.30am - 12.00pm
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New Island Destinations for our Nature Tours in Australia!
Image by Lesley Wallington
We recently announced a few new nature tours! Whether you would like to immerse yourself in a living breeding colony of spectacular sea birds at the beautiful Montague Island off Narooma with artist Lesley Wallington, or join our specialised nature photography group with Glenn Pure these are two opportunities not to be missed. Further information is available at:
Montague Island for Artists - 17 - 20 November 2023
Montague Island for Photographers - 1 - 4 December 2023
In February 2024, we are offering another opportunity to visit Heron Island, this time to illustrate marine sea creatures with artist and marine biologist Dr. Lindsay Marshall. Having illustrated all of the rays and sharks of the world, as well as turtles, crustaceans and many other sea creatures, Lindsay also brings her scientific knowledge of marine biology to our unique five-day art/science nature tour to Heron Island off the coast of Queensland.
Further details and bookings can be made through our website at:
Heron Island - 28 February - 4 March 2024
Don't miss your chance to join our exceptional team to explore these fantastic island destinations in Australia!
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