Fears for native birds depicted in prints

Printmaker Valerie Cuthbert poured a lot of creativity, and a decent shot of anger, into the works in her latest exhibition at Estuary Arts Centre.

Called Song of Islands, the 26 works flowed from significant research that Valerie did, both while curating last year’s Predator Free 2050 exhibition and since.

What she found out made her angry at the birds NZ has already lost, and somewhat despondent about the future of those currently on the endangered list.

One bright spot in the story is the role that islands such as Tiritiri Matangi, Ulva, and Codfish Island/Whenua Hou play in protecting native species.

She says her exhibition is in three stages, looking at the devastation and loss of the past, what species we have left and what could happen in the future.

All the birds are depicted in prints, both black and white and colour, made by Valerie in her Stanmore Bay studio.

Although she considers the future for many native birds is bleak, Valerie says she also celebrates “the wonderful work being done by conservationists – which gives hope for the future”.

Song of Islands is on from May 2-27 at Estuary Arts Centre in Western Reserve, Ōrewa

Tetra Pak printing: Valerie has recently taken up what she says is “a craze” in printmaking that reuses Tetra Paks – containers used for milk and juices. After being cleaned and flattened, they can be cut into and printed off to make an image. The resulting lines are from folds in the packs.