By KATH GANNAWAY
THE launch of the final stage of Dances with Lyrebirds at The Memo in Healesville on Friday night was, in a word, ‘superb’.
mystical, mesmerising, captivating and entertaining.
Yes, all the words that spring to mind when you encounter a lyrebird in the wild, would work equally well.
Drawing on the sensory experience of the forest, lyrebird encounters and mythologies, artists Kate Baker, Gretel Taylor and Anthony Magen have put together Dances with Lyrebirds depicting the unique forest-dweller through dance, photography and sound.
Throughout June and July, the project has included the photography exhibition at Burrinja in Upwey, a Soundwalk led by Anthony at Badger Weir and a presentation by the Sherbrooke Lyrebird Study Group on Lyrebird ecology and folklore.
A dance created by the Indigenous Djirri Djirri Dance Group to honour Bulen-bulen (the lyrebird) was a sensational introduction to the exhibition, along with Jackie Rutten’s vocalisation and violin by Myfanwy Alderson.
Gretel Taylor’s dance, performed in the exhibition space, surrounded by Kate Baker’s photography, was a rare, magical experience that brought the quirky and flamboyant characteristics of the lyrebird to life.
The project is funded by the Shire of Yarra Ranges and Healesville Community Bank Branch of Bendigo Bank.
The Dances with Lyrebirds photographic exhibition is on display at The Memo, Healesville, until Wednesday 26 August.
