Black Finch Project

A huge nod to THE AMAZING Charlotte Watson for creating and curating this project. 

From her and to date:

The last week or so has seen my phone drain its battery all over again, with multiple articles coming through the media in response to the project. In case you missed them:

• 'Hundreds Of Artists Are Fighting Adani With Heartbreaking Works Of Art  - Junkee

• 'Adani opponents mail bird art to politicians in silent protest' - ABC

• 'Black Finch Project: anti-Adani art campaign - in pictures' - The Guardian

Protest art: rallying cry or elegy for the black-throated finch? - The Conversation*
(*This article was done without any interviews or requests for information on the project. So interpret how you will!)
The artwork count is now around 1440, and new subscribers continue to join the project. If you have finished and sent your artwork, the survey will remain open for your feedback until 22nd August.

MY ACTION
Most importantly, I didn't wait for politicians to end up with a work of art that they could admire and 'forget' the politically action that we artists were requesting.

The resulting work was an action. The work, a hand-built black finch form was not fired. The request was to submerge it in water, 'at the place where you make important decisions'.

The raw clay sculpture would then dissolve and disappear, a metaphorical action of what was happening to the Black Throated Finch.

WORK IN PROCESS

 

Wrapping raw clay sculptures in black 'shrouds' for delivery in tubes with instructions enclosed.

INSTRUCTIONS  

Be careful.

This is a handcrafted clay bird, little more than dried mud.

It is fragile, birds are fragile as is our earth.

I have made and sent you this small sculpture to call your attention to the plight of the Black Throated Finch.

I ask this of you: an action and reflection.

Find your favourite office glass, fill it with water.

Place this glass in the space where you make your most important decisions.

Take your clay finch and gently drop it into the glass of water.

Watch intently or glance occasionally and you will see the form slowly dissolve.

Every action has a consequence.

I implore you to block the proposed Adani Carmichael mine which will certainly contribute to the mass extinction of the Black Throated Finch.

It is as simple as this single action but the repercussions will be great.

Yours sincerely, Robyn Phelan

www.robynphelan.com.au

Black Finch Project

DELIVERED TO VIA TINNING STREET PRESENTS

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk

PO Box 15185City East, Queensland 4002

QLD Minister for Environment (and the Arts), Leeanne EnochGPO Box 5078BRISBANE QLD 4001

Federal Environment Minister, Sussan LeyPO Box 672Albury, NSW, 2640

PM Scott Morrison Box 6022, House of Representatives, Parliament HouseCanberra ACT 2600
Senator Matt CanavanPO Box 737Rockhampton QLD 4700