Launch day -a great celebration:
Read below for reflections and link to speeches.
Gracie's reflection: Have finally had a chance to reflect on the launch day. Thanks to everyone who came -it felt like there were people from all parts of my life: family, old friends, friends from teachers college to current workmates and the others unknown! It was a wonderful experience that began by a wonderful introduction by Bernadette Joiner, the Dromkeen gallery owner, followed by a heartfelt speech by Dr Sue Emmett who revealed the most amazing connections between ourselves and the area of East Gippsland. Sue also spoke about the importance of environmental education and her pioneering work with the Environmental Education in Early Childhood (Victoria) [EEEC] that was the first organisation in the world to specifically look at how environment education could be incorporated in early childhood. Leigh followed with a speech focussing on what inspired him to write the story and how his very first 'environmental' activist work was when he was a teenager in 'Project Jonah' -very inspiring and I remember that I actually wrote to this group for information about whales (before knowing Leigh, haha!). I shared how my life experiences influenced the way I illustrated the story of The Green Man & Brown Mountain and the power that art can have to connect with you. I hope that the illustrations help you to connect with the story and the main character, hoping that the connection will help with empathising and seeing the child-and later the green man-as not just a 'radical' but someone who cares enough to act. I hoped that through the empathising, the reader will continue to care for our wild places. I shared how the first time I actually encountered a visual artwork was through a picture book: A Little Golden book called 'My puppy' and how I was able to develop my aesthetic awareness through these little books too. I read the story-just love the way Leigh has written it, a joy to read and then this was followed by Andrew (the real green man of the story) sharing his latest work in raising awareness of issues in Toolangi and in other forests in East Gippsland: how the struggle still goes on. We are grateful to all conservationists who keep persevering and give a voice to the otherwise voiceless animals, plant and forests on our behalf. The exhibition has all the original paintings, folios of the development process for the story and illustrations and interactive display for children too. It is open until August so there's still a chance for you to go see it if you weren't able to make it.
If you would like to listen to the speech by Leigh or myself, you can do so by following this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bm8z5RBfGoGbtFuc7gdEBMLUbw8hXGVS/view?usp=sharing
If you would like to listen to the speech by Leigh or myself, you can do so by following this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bm8z5RBfGoGbtFuc7gdEBMLUbw8hXGVS/view?usp=sharing
We are very excited to announce that there will be an exhibition and launch of The Green Man and Brown Mountain book complete with all the original illustrations, developmental process for story writing and illustration in April! Stay tuned for an invitation mid March.
Exhibition and Launch coming soon!
About echo ink
(c) A vibrant life. 2016
Echo ink features art and writing by Gracie Scala Adamson.
Available for purchase and commission work.
Gracie's art expresses her passion for nature, culture, early childhood and spirituality.
Gracie hopes to share the beauty she sees in the world with others.