Voting, windows and exquisite art work

Atherton is the commercial hub for the southern Tablelands. Unlike our small village of Malanda, Atherton has Woolworth’s, Big W, Target, all the banks, many other shops along its main street, 3 pubs, and of course MacDonald’s.

Saturday was election day here in Australia and because this is not our home electorate we went earlier, last Thursday, to register a postal vote at the courthouse. As we went in to vote I just had to take a photo of the courthouse windows. The challenge from Dawn of “the day after”  to show windows we have seen keeps me always on the look out for different or unusual windows. So just one this week.

Windows of Atherton courthouse

On the way home we stopped at the Art Gallery to look at the latest exhibition. It was amazing. It is only a small gallery next to the library but we were astounded by the quality of the art on display. “Portraits of birds by William T Cooper”. They were world-class. So perfect in every detail, I almost expected them to fly away as we approached for a closer look at the exquisite detail, the colours, the feathers even the bark, moss and lichen on the trees vibrant and flawless.

“Sir David Attenborough believes Bill Cooper is “Australia’s greatest living scientific painter of birds, he is possibly the best in the world.” Sir David made a film about Bill in 1993 called, “Portrait Painter to the Birds” and it showed around the world. In Australia it was released as a Video after its TV debut. His bird paintings are scientifically exact, no wonder they end up in so many publications in collaboration with leading ornithologists such as Joseph M Forshaw.

Bill now lives and paints from his studio in the tropical rainforest of North Queensland. His resume is the stuff of dreams. He has worked with Sir David Attenborough. The Australian National Library and Papua New Guinea Government have purchased entire collections of his work. He has designed two sets of postage stamps for the PNG Government.

William T Coopers Originals and Limited Edition Prints of beach scenes, eagles, cockatoos, riflebirds, cassowary and kangaroos have to be seen to be believed. They are simply awe-inspiring.”

This reproduction cannot come any were near to the beauty you see when standing in front of the actual work of art. Bill Cooper is self-taught and has painted for over 50 years. I consider it a real privilege to have seen these paintings. Click here to see more images of his art.

The cats, of course had a very busy day while we were out…

Mungo

 

Good friends