Three stories in one here about busy Lithgow area Wiradjuri artist Jessica Ann Leffley (known also through her brand Bird Girl Creations). In late September she completed a 24m long mural along the Nevil Barlow pathway on Wambuul Macquarie River walk in Bathurst (behind Bathurst Showground). Each panel features a threatened species local to the Bathurst region and surrounds: Bathurst Grassland Earless Dragon, Booroolong Frog, Granite Zieria and the Purple Copper Butterfly. Funded by www.environment.nsw.gov.au it highlights incredible local species and how we can protect them. READ MORE on Culture Maps.
Jessica also has produced a new picture book, Curious Cockatoos, with crowdfunding pre-orders open now. This is a full colour, A4 children’s book with watercolour illustrations and thoughtful rhymes that count the species of cockatoos found in Australia. $5 from each book will go to the Feathered Friends Bird Sanctuary to support their valuable work in Black Cockatoo conservation on Dharawal and Gundungurra country.
AND, the artist has been offered sponsorship to have a stall at The Finders Keepers Indigenous Program for the Sydney Design Market (14-16 November) at Carriageworks.
“This is basically like winning the lotto for a creative like me, I’m so grateful and excited to share my creations alongside makers I’ve followed and respected for many years,” Jessica said of the Finders Keepers sponsorship.