Come and see the latest exhibition of artworks by renowned children’s book author and artist, Jeannie Baker. Co-produced by Penrith Regional Gallery, home of the Lewers Bequest, this travelling exhibition also celebrates the publishing of Jeannie’s latest
book, Desert Jungle, in 2023.
Jeannie’s vibrant and visually distinct collage works explore the complex biodiversity of the Sonoran Desert. Over one-third of the Australian landscape is classified as desert, and yet for most settler Australians, the desert remains a barren space. In this new story, Jeannie explores the Valley of the Cirios in Mexico, through the perspective of a young child and his grandfather.
In parts of the Valley, towering stands of Cardon Cactus – some of the largest cacti on Earth – and Elephant Trees, mix with Cirios and other unique desert plants as a ‘forest’, almost a desert jungle. These cacti and other plants form both subject and material for Jeannie, who incorporates clippings from plants in her intricate and stunning works.
‘This work developed from the concern that few children today grow up incorporating nature into their sense of “home”, Jeannie explained. They are often unfamiliar with even the common names of the plants and animals around them. They can feel so distanced from nature, they come to fear it.’
An exhibition by Penrith Regional Gallery, home of The Lewers Bequest co-produced with Jeannie Baker.
Image credit: Jeannie Baker, Desert Jungle #10 (2023), collage, 291 x 450x 60mm. Courtesy the artist. Photo: Jaime Plaza.