Roleystone: Birds of a Feather exhibition all about birds

A CREATIVE duo has paired up to create a Birds of a Feather exhibition featuring photographs and artworks of birds.

Sally Edmonds lives in Stirling with five birds and met Melissa Zappelli through the Western Australian Bird group on Facebook.

“She had photographed an egret rising from the water. I had to paint it!”

She won the Stirling Art Award’s local artist category with her subsequent painting.

“More importantly to me, I met a great friend,” she said.

Zappelli spent her childhood on a remote sheep station in the desert and became intrigued by seasonal changes and native birds.

“I have always taken photographs,” she said.

“There is an almost manic desire to record what I see, so I can show others and keep the memories alive in my mind.

“It is the ruthless beauty, infinite subtlety, the continual change, tiny moments and the defiant ungraspable nature of life that I try to capture in my images.

“I use bird photography as a way of staying connected to the natural world, expressing myself and connecting with others.”

Edmonds is a Cliftons Art Prize finalist and is a finalist in the Holmes Art Award in Queensland.

She will exhibit about 10 works in acrylic, pastel and colour pencil, and about 50 photographs will be on display at the SoulJas Café and Wellness Centre on Brookton Highway in Roleystone.

The exhibition opens 2.30pm on Sunday, October 23 and will continue until 6pm the next day.

Edmonds and Zappelli will be in the cafe during the exhibition, so people can meet and talk birds, art and photography.