How a Burnt Tree Became "The Spirit Tree"

Last year I spent a great deal of time on the trails (Wellington Park reserve) below kunanyi / Mt Wellington. The photographs taken were mainly of the many tree stumps scattered throughout the park caused either by natural environmental weather or by humans with chainsaws. Also, what grabbed my attention was just how many trees that survived the great Hobart bush fires (see video below this page) that still show their scars from that horrific historical time 1967.

The image above is of one of those trees. I saturated the image sightly then blurred the trees out on the right. This was the start of creating, the Spirit Tree.

Then whilst playing in my sandpit/studio before working on the final outcome the four-grid image below is my way of getting into the right frame of mind, a creative exercise process I have been using ever since working on this form/style/theme/motif shall we say. Then most importantly choosing the background music till completion. Most recently was introduced to the musical band Tonbruket. Albums played throughtout this process was, Forevergreens, Dig it to The End, Masters of Fog and Nubium Swimtrip.

And now below finally the end result combining artwork, photography, collage and digital techniques, “The Spirit Tree”

In just five hours 62 people would lose their lives, 900 would be injured and 7,000 left homeless. Over half a million acres would be burnt and 1,293 homes destroyed in what is now known as the Black Tuesday fires.

Watch video below, Black Tuesday - 1967 Tasmania Bushfires.

Above are the album covers on the CDs from the band Tonbruket that I played throughout the process creating “The Spirit Tree”. I played them all over and over until I was satisfied with what I wanted to achieve. Should YOU want to hear for yourself this amazing band that inspired me, go to tonbruket.bandcamp.com.

Have to thank Mr Oink here for introducing me to Tonbruket.

What Is to Be Done

Found this quote below in the book, “What Is to Be Done” - by Barry Jones, Political Engagement and Saving the Planet.

Man is but a reed, the feeblest in nature, but he is a thinking reed. There is no need for the whole universe to take up arms to crush him. A vapor or a drop of water is enough to kill him. But even if the universe were to crush him, man would still be nobler than his killer, for he knows that he is dying and that the universe has the advantage over him. The universe knows nothing of this.

Thus all our dignity consists in thought. It is on thought that we must depend for our recovery, not on space or time, which we could never fill. Let us then strive to think well; that is the basic principle of morality. Blaise Pascal, "Pensées (Thoughts) - a collection of fragments written by the French 17th-century philosopher and mathematician.

This must read book is a collection of insightful articles from Barry Jones. Jones sees climate change as the greatest problem of our time, especially because political leaders are incapable of dealing with complex, long-term issues of such magnitude.

What Is to Be Done

The Opal Hunter #1

Surfaced late today from diving into the sandpit and came up with…. Opal Hunter. In my younger days I was known to be adventurous and at times a loner.

One thing I’m glad for is that I didn’t pursue joining an opal mining community, as my favorite stone is, yep…you guessed it, opals. I may never have returned to where I am now, as am certain I would have succumbed to the opal bug. So below is my first attempt at creating an image titled “The Opal Hunter #1”.

according to Bedouin folklore, opals fall from the sky during thunderstorms and get their marvelous color from lightning trapped within them.