Nature Cries Out

The warmth of the rising sun begins to lift the veil of mist from this holy forest sanctuary in Kariong, NSW. Here in the heart of this meeting place, is a special tree called “Grandmother Tree”.  I feel she is under stress and crying out. It seems like she is shedding tears of sap to warn of impending danger to this sacred area. This ancient tree, that was here before any white settlers, has seen generations of destruction by overzealous developers.

The local Darkinjung Aboriginal Land Council has submitted a planning proposal to rezone land just 300 metres above this location. Darkinjung Chairperson, Matthew West, said the planning proposal would see 7.1 hectares of the 13.2-hectaresite on Woy Woy Road zoned E2 – environmental conservation – making it an untouchable green space to protect the bush and resident wildlife. “The proposal would preserve more than half the site in its pristine ecological state for people to cherish and for animals and plants to flourish for generations to come,” Mr West said. “We seek to develop the remainder of the site for residential housing”.

So the Land Council acknowledges the pristine state of this area, but wants to sell off almost half for housing development. What are they thinking? All that added humanity, with its pets and traffic, will hardly make this “an untouchable green space to protect the bush and resident wildlife”. And worse, the proposed development area is part of the water catchment system supplying water to the sacred land where “Grandmother Tree” stands.

It is disputed whether the Darkinjung Land Council actually speaks on behalf of the custodians of this area. I was taken there by Paul Craig who is a proud indigenous Guringai man, and has proof of his connection to this area. He said that the Darkinjung Land Council does not have legitimate rights to sell off the land of his Guringai people.  I refuse to get into a divisive argument around ownership, as that has been a trick of Land Councils, mining corporations and developers for years.  I believe this is the way you can tell a true custodian: they protect the land for future generations. As a respected Aboriginal Elder taught me, “We don’t own the land; it owns us. We are caretakers for future generations.”

Kariong is believed to mean meeting place in the local Aboriginal language. Other early residents were told the name meant “place of the cold winds”. So here is a meeting place where suburbia is overwhelming nature. This is a cold wind of change, aided by government endorsed custodians, who –judging by their actions – seem to have lost their way.

Profits from the sale of this print will go to help protect this amazing sacred area.

I urge you to join the fight to stop this development of pristine forest as this is only the tip of the iceberg of land grabs for development under this method. Come visit “Grandmother Tree”. Give her a hug and feel for yourself the cry of nature.

How is your Artwork Produced?

Attention to detail and quality of workmanship is what makes a Ken Duncan Artwork truly special. Your Ken Duncan Print will be created using the finest archival materials and processes to ensure the integrity of your artwork for generations to come. It will be printed on Hahnemuhle 100% Cotton Rag using Epson Ultrachrome inks for maximum stability, then digitally signed and numbered. (If you order a 40” size or larger, your print will be hand-signed by Ken.) Your Artwork will then be sprayed 3 times with Hahnemuhle UV matt varnish to maintain the surface integrity and protect against fading.

How is your Artwork Framed?

Your Ken Duncan Print will be expertly framed with your choice of sustainable timber frame. Then it will be finished with lightweight, optically clear, museum grade acrylic which offers 95% protection against UV rays. It will undergo one final inspection, before being securely packed for shipping. If your print is not being framed, it will be carefully rolled with cotton interleave and placed into a cylinder for delivery.

How do your care for your Artwork?

You should gently dust the frame and the acrylic face of your print on a regular basis (we suggest weekly) with a clean microfiber cleaning cloth. Avoid using glass cleaners or other liquids. If there are any marks on the outside surface of the acrylic, just dampen one corner of the microfiber cloth slightly and rub very gently until the mark disappears. We recommend the use of a Ken Duncan cleaning cloth which will keep all your glass and acrylic surfaces dust and static free.

How will you hang your Artwork?

So you get the most out of all your artworks, we recommend you install hanging track in your home. This is the most convenient and reliable hanging solution for all your artworks and allows you the flexibility of moving artworks around to different spots in your home. And the hanging solution we recommend is the Artiteq System.

Each Ken Duncan Artwork is fitted with two D-rings on the back of the frame. With the easy to install Artiteq system, you won’t ever have to worry about drilling horrible holes in your wall or trying to get your artworks level. You can read more about the Artiteq System right here.

How will you light your Artwork?

While a Ken Duncan Print will look spectacular in any setting, we do recommend you invest in a lighting solution so you can see it at its absolute best. Our friends at 3S Lighting have worked with us to provide a fabulous domestic lighting system that is light and affordable and will allow your artwork to really shine.

For further information - everything you need to know about Ken Duncan artworks, but didn’t know who to ask - click here. Or simply call our gallery on +61 2 4367 6701 between 10am and 5pm (AEST) and one of our professional consultants will assist you.

After printing and framing, your Ken Duncan Artwork will undergo a final quality assurance inspection. Then it will be expertly packaged to suit the freight method you have chosen. Your Artwork will be delivered right to your door and will be fully insured along the way. In the unlikely event of damage in transit, we will have the damaged print collected from you and replaced with a perfect one – at no additional charge to you.

The price of your Artwork includes delivery within Australia or delivery overseas for unframed prints. If you require a framed print to be delivered overseas, there will be an additional charge for freight. If you would prefer to have your print delivered unframed, we will include detailed instructions for your framer.

If you order 18”, 24” or 30” size prints, they will generally be despatched within 14 days after you place your order. If there is going to be a delay, we will contact you. If you order a 40” size or larger, despatch of your artwork will usually take up to 4 weeks from the time you place your order. Sometimes additional delays can occur as we work around Ken’s travel schedule. If you place your order online, a Gallery consultant will contact you to confirm your order and advise the anticipated delivery date.

For further information - everything you need to know about Ken Duncan artwork, but didn’t know who to ask - click here. Or simply call our gallery on +61 2 4367 6701 between 10am and 5pm (AEST) and one of our professional consultants will assist you.