It was a good evening at the Sustainable Living Forum in Armidale when I spoke about the exhibition ‘Bimblebox: art – science – nature’ and about coal mining proposals in Queensland’s Galilee Basin to a dedicated audience of around 15 people. This audience was aware and sympathetic, and grateful that their regional gallery, the New England Regional Art Museum, was hosting the exhibition and bringing these issues to a national regional audience. We had a great discussion about the role of regional art galleries and the potential for artwork to foster wide social debate and discussion. People were asking if they could get their own copy of the ‘Coal Face’ artwork mask to wear in public protests or a digital copy of Luke Roberts’ photographic artwork ‘All Souls Day (tree)’ to reproduce on banners, posters and T-shirts!

Thanks so much to Sustainable Living Armidale for hosting my talk. Best wishes for your efforts in trying to prevent coal mining on the Liverpool Plains and the clear felling of the Leard Forest, and also for all your other initiatives. Thank you for the fresh produce from your beautiful community farm.

That’s me (Beth Jackson) in the middle with Patsy Asch and Iain MacKay (Convenor) of Sustainable Living Armidale.

Sustainable Living Forum Armidale

Artist Alison Clouston wearing her artwork ‘Coal Face’ at a protest.