Honeyeaters at the Bell Tree - Limited Edition 4 of 10 Artwork

This red gum can be found in the Bell Tree Paddock on the corner of St Judes Street and St Andrews Terrace in Willunga. The bell from the original Wesleyan Church was placed in the tree in 1895, and I wanted to use it to prove that many trees in the area are more than 120 years old. Sitting on the sign is a New Holland Honeyeater ( Phylidonyris novaehollandiae), while the other bird is a Singing Honeyeater (Gavicalis virescens). The old bell echoes the sound of the honeyeaters as they sing their morning songs, and the life force figure stands tall, basking in the beautiful morning light, a ritual they have shared for more than a century. 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.