Crowds flock for glossy black art
Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 13:00 
Glossy Black Cockatoo Photo: Marj Kibby
The combination was unbeatable – artwork inspired by the Island’s iconic Glossy Black Cockatoo, fine KI food and wine, a glorious sunny day and the perfect backdrop provided by Adelaide’s Botanical Gardens.
No wonder 1000 people were enticed to the opening of the How do We Love Thee: Glossy Black Cockatoo art exhibition held at the Natinoal Wine Centre on Sunday.
Last year Fine Art Kangaroo Island introduced its How do We Love Thee:
Narrow Leaf Mallee exhibition to Adelaide with great success. The choice of the endangered Glossy Black Cockatoo as the theme of this year’s exhibition opened up a partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources supported by the Kangaroo Island Natural Resources Management Board. This partnership provided the opportunity to promote the plight of the Glossy Black Cockatoo and the recovery project to a wider audience. Artists were quick to embrace the theme and the Island’s businesses offered financial and in-kind support.
Artist Audrey Harnett, in red dress, speaks to guests at the opening. Picture: Colin WilsonAt the exhibition opening, curator Fleur Peters welcomed guests and introduced the 20 artists present commenting on the commitment they brought to interpreting the theme.
DENR’s chief executive Allan Holmes spoke of the success of the recovery project that helped to increase the numbers of birds from 150 in 1995 to close to 350 today, an amazing turning around of what seemed an inevitable decline towards extinction. A change, he said, created by the passion and caring of the community.
Mayor Jayne Bates paid tribute to the early pioneers of glossy black conservation including Terry Dennis, Lyn Pedler, John Pepper, and Bryon Buick, highlighting the important role that art played then in raising funds and promoting the cause – a role continuing today. She officially declared the exhibition open.
Past and present members of the Kangaroo Island community attended the exhibition supporting the artists and businesses. Many people who attended last year’s function returned to see how artists had interpreted this year’s theme, and all were impressed by the quality and creativity of the works on display.
Funds from Glossy Black t-shirts sales, donations and the sale of selected artwork will go to support the Glossy Black Recovery Project.
Project officer Mike Barth will attend the exhibition on August 13 and 14, providing an opportunity for people to learn more about the project.
The artists and Fine Art KI are to be congratulated on mounting such an inspirational exhibition drawing attention to the Glossy Black Cockatoo and Kangaroo Island’s natural environment.
If the interest from the audience at the exhibition is indicative, the elusive, reclusive Glossy Black Cockatoo has just acquired a flock of new friends.