Magpies on St. Judes - Limited Edition 2 of 10 Artwork

A tall sturdy gum on St Judes Street Willunga offers a site high above the ground for Australian Magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen) to nest. Magpies are often heard early in the morning or as the sun is setting; I really love their beautiful warbling melodies. However, magpies have a reputation for aggressive behaviour in the breeding season, when they swoop and attack those who come too near their nest. In this image, the life force figure bends over backward, a symbol demonstrating that magpies are not malevolent; they are merely prepared to do whatever it takes to look after their families – a lesson for us all perhaps. The Money Tree series, created in 2015, was inspired by events in my home town of Willunga South Australia, which resulted in the removal of some large trees to allow for high density housing. Many birds and animals made their homes in these old trees, which had hollows for nesting and resting. It will take decades for any replacements to provide a similarly protective and welcoming habitat. In capturing images of other significant trees in the area, my aim was to raise awareness of the fact that these trees are unique individuals that play a vital role in supporting the existence of other creatures. All the birds featured live in the Willunga area. The nude figure depicted on each tree trunk represents the life force within the tree and its relationship with the animals. The question that should always be asked: Is removal of these significant trees the only solution or is there another way? After all, if they have survived in a particular location for one hundred plus years, they surely deserve to be respected. The following poem, written by my daughter Dani, expresses this concept in a beautiful way.

Old Friends
In every life there is a spirit, one defined by time, by every sight seen, by every song heard, and each with a story to tell. Dear irreplaceable friends who shared cloudy skies and dry cracking earth, who together watched the golden sun rise. Companions and care-givers, they watched over all, and would shelter any who asked. They have grown as we’ve grown, and counted the passage of time, life etched deeply into their skin. They are the givers we take from again and again, until nothing is left but their ghosts. And no more golden suns will ever be shared, no more storms will they shelter us through. Unless in this moment a new choice is made, forever gone will be the friends that we knew. Dani Ciannamea #AustralianArt #ContemparyAustralianArt

Mixed Media:Digital on Paper

Artist Produced Limited Edition of:10

Size:20.9 W x 31.1 H x 0 D in

Delivery Time:Typically 5-7 business days for domestic shipments, 10-14 business days for international shipments.