Nothofagus Locations and Peripherals
“GONDWANA IN TOOWOOMBA”
Two of Toowoomba’s well-known artists – Gillian Scott and Ben Beeton – have spent the last year working together on a project (funded by the Regional Arts Development Foundation – RADF) that explores the floral history of this area since it was part of the ancient supercontinent, Gondwana, more than 65 million-years ago. In particular, the Boyce Garden – where they are Artists-in-Residence – has been the focus of their attention.
The Boyce Garden includes some remnant rainforest of the type that clothed the slopes of the Great Dividing Range before settlement by Europeans in the mid-19thC. Ben and Gillian decided to trace the history and relationships of the trees and vines in the rainforest through the turbulent volcanic evolution of this area.
In this they were helped by various scientists from both Brisbane and Toowoomba who supplied maps and diagrams from which were developed their final depictions of the flora of the region.
Whilst Gillian Scott has an international reputation as a botanical artist, Ben has followed a different direction of specialization focusing on developing a broad understanding on the ecology, geology and deep time history of the natural systems where he undertakes artist residency projects. Using these skills, he has specialized in creating artworks from a broad range of scientific data.
What brought these two very different artists together? Both Ben and Gillian admire fine, intricate work and are prepared to put many, many hours of effort into producing their beautiful works of art.
Gillian says, “The amount of half-hidden background detail in Ben’s pictures is amazing. You must take the time to find everything you can; and when you think you have – then it snowballs!”
Gillian’s paintings of some of the trees, and her drawings of the many vines, will also be displayed.
One featured work is a folding screen on which is drawn a family tree (a cladogram) of the history of our current flora. It is illustrated with the relevant plants – ferns, araucarias and flowering plants – that have been drawn or painted by the two artists.
The exhibition was opened by the Mayor, Cr Peter Taylor.
By Gillian Scott phd fsba
https://youtu.be/XHkhUExdhtk