Have you seen this bird too?

5 July 202414 July 2024 by Theo

A stone carving of tarāpuka, the black-billed gull. This endangered bird was one of many that nested near the Ashburton Bridge during the summer of 2023-24. On Christmas Day, I photographed one of the birds and then later created some lino-cut prints. And then from the lino-cut print, created the stone carving.

I made one print onto some reclaimed Oamaru stone and then using that image, carved this sculpture of the gull out of the stone.

Have you seen this bird too?, Oamaru stone

I thought an alternative name for this sculpture could be Jonathan Limestone Seagull, but this species of gull does not appear to spend much time at sea. It prefers to nest on the braided rivers, but if there is a danger of flooding, they have been known to rest on farmland instead.

Have you seen this bird too?, Oamaru stone during the carving process

This work is being exhibited in the Ashburton Society of Arts 60th Annual Exhibition at the Ashburton Art Gallery from 1-26 July 2024.

Have you seen these birds?

5 July 202414 July 2024 by Theo

A collection of lino-cut prints of tarāpuka, the black-billed gull. Printed on different colored papers and assembled like an Andy Warhol inspired poster, the work has a handmade driftwood frame to give the birds a home amongst the river debris.

*Have you seen this bird, original lino printing block*

The tarāpuka (black-billed gull) that featured in the photograph, Have you seen this bird? is repeated here in linocut prints. A reflected silhouette of the photograph was transferred to an offcut of lino and then carved. The resulting linocut was then printed with blue and white inks on a range of colored papers. Finally the resulting images were pasted to a board as if they had been put up on a billboard on the street to advertise an upcoming event. The handmade driftwood frame completes the work and gives the birds a home.

This work is being exhibited in the Ashburton Society of Arts 60th Annual Exhibition at the Ashburton Art Gallery from 1-26 July 2024.

Have you seen this bird?

4 July 202414 July 2024 by Theo

During the 2023-24 summer, the Ashburton River, near the Ashburton Bridge was the home to a colony of endangered black-billed gulls (tarāpuka).

On Christmas Day 2023, I captured several photographs of these birds. It was a challenge to get a good shot. The nesting area was fenced off to protect the birds and they were very energetic.

Have you seen this bird?, photograph mounted on reclaimed wooden post, approx 150 x 150 x 400 mm.

I’ve mounted two prints of the photograph on the sides of a piece of reclaimed post to give the impression of a lost pet notice.

I have made other works based on this photograph. A collection of lino-cut prints, “Have you seen these birds?” and a stone carving “Have you seen this bird too?”.

This work is being exhibited in the Ashburton Society of Arts 60th Annual Exhibition at the Ashburton Art Gallery from 1-26 July 2024.