Thank you -Kickstarter success!
We did it! Thanks to our 106 Kickstarter campaign supporters we were able to print 400 copies of
'The Green Man and Brown Mountain' picture book ! Woo hoo!
Celebration of wonderful Exhibition and Launch
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.
The Green Man and Brown Mountain 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
Background process to the creation of The Green Man and Brown Mountain picture book
The Green Man and the Brown Mountain
Front cover of The Green Man and Brown Mountain.
Exciting news!!
Thanks to our 106 Kickstarter backers we now have this book in print. Only a limited run but still a chance for you to get a copy and share this beautiful story of hope, inspiration and working together to protect our wilderness. Copies available by contacting Gracie via the button below:
Thanks to our 106 Kickstarter backers we now have this book in print. Only a limited run but still a chance for you to get a copy and share this beautiful story of hope, inspiration and working together to protect our wilderness. Copies available by contacting Gracie via the button below:
Current project: Green man and Brown Mountain
Gracie's talented husband Leigh has just finished writing a story based on our nephew- Andrew Lincoln's heroic contribution to the stopping of logging on Brown Mountain in East Gippsland. Leigh, being an active conservationist, always finds time to write letters to prominent people reminding them to care for our planet. This true story has inspired him to write about it and to spread the word as to how ordinary people can do extra-ordinary things and help save our native flora and fauna.
Gracie is now in the process of working out appropriate images and in researching, learning lots about the shapes, colors, lines, patterns and habitats of our precious native animals and bushland. Gracie hopes to bring the story to visual life with her paintings!
Gracie is now in the process of working out appropriate images and in researching, learning lots about the shapes, colors, lines, patterns and habitats of our precious native animals and bushland. Gracie hopes to bring the story to visual life with her paintings!
Long footed Potoroo
Here is a photo of a couple of sweet Long footed Potoroos which are rare now due to the depradations of foxes and cats. They have been found to be living safely and undisturbed in Brown Mountain. Thanks to the active group of conservationists who were meticulous in their survey, mapping and photographing (with night cameras) work that brought this knowledge to the court and saved this species.
Brown mountain - East Gippsland, Vic
Here is a photo of one of the old growth forest trees. It is now saved for itself, for us, for all the countless creatures who depend on it for life, security, food, oxygen, and shelter, just to name a few!