MALENY local Megan Lee won first prize for her big cockatoo artwork, at the Biodiversity of the Sunshine Coast regional art competition on November 9, as part of a Bioblitz event.
This major community citizen science program event was coordinated by four major Landcare groups, including Barung Landcare, Mooloolah River Landcare, Noosa Landcare and Ecollaboration.
It’s dual purpose was to capture data about the health of our ecosystems, and to invite the broader community to learn from experts through innovative, fun and creative activities.
Throughout the event, there were eight days of events, 32 experts engaged, and 200 people joining in from the Sunshine Coast community.
At the art competition, artworks submitted needed to tell the story about biodiversity on the Sunshine Coast, which was judged by Dr Sue Davis, an environmental educator, facilitator, guide and artist.
Megan has a background in conservation and therefore understood the importance of what this art competition represents, and the deep message behind her art piece.
“Personally, having worked in the conservation space for over 16 years, this the kind of fresh, creative energy the movement needs, and is so important for building relationships, connections, skills, knowledge and ultimately ongoing collaborations which are and will be most important as we face further environmental challenges,” she said.
“My lino print highlights the magic, beauty and diversity of life amongst our local coastal dune systems, and is a celebration of the yellow-tailed black cockatoo and the places it relies on for habitat.
“Habitat we are all responsible for looking after and caring for, so that such beauty continues to exist in this world.”
Megan said the entire collection was a celebration of the beauty of our environment, represented through art.
“The artworks were beautiful and diverse, capturing the stories of this landscape and the species that are home to it,” she said.
“Art is a wonderful way to connect people to broader perspectives and conversations about the natural world, and it was so great to see this included as part of a science and community engagement event.” Megan said the overall event was a great opportunity to provide many young, passionate, environmentalists who are driving for change, with a platform to deliver something special.
