Archibald Prize Finalist Lucy Culliton’s finished piece at the Lake Pillans Painted River Project
Story and photos by Tracie McMahon
What do an Archibald prize finalist, an industrial ruin and aquatic insects have in common? During the Painted River Project at Lake Pillans it was an opportunity to document the extraordinary world of our waterways, including a real time underwater survival challenge.
Key Points:
- The Painted River Project aims to connect people to waterways through art, starting conversations, and encouraging us all to look a little deeper.
- Healthy waterways are critical for aquatic species and healthy cities.
- We can all help to keep our planet healthy by ensuring the impacts of urban settlement such as rubbish, stormwater and urban runoff are kept out of natural waterways.
I don’t know about you but when I Google, “Things to do in Lithgow this weekend” I’m not expecting to find: ‘Paint with an Archibald Prize finalist and check out waterbugs at Lake Pillans.’ Up until the 1990s, the Blast Furnace and the dam beside it were a pile of bricks and mortar, weeds and willows, bearing the scars of early twentieth century industrialisation.
Today, thanks to decades of work by many, Lake Pillans is a functioning wetland, space of community, and as Dr Ian Wright, Associate Professor in Environmental Science at the Western Sydney University enthuses, home to an extraordinary diversity and volume of aquatic life.
A damselfly drying its wings
The Painted River Project
The Painted River Project is the ‘brainchild’ of Leo Robba: an artist, designer and academic. It began in Parramatta in 2017 with a goal of “highlighting the importance of healthy rivers and water catchments … seeking to communicate this message through community interaction.” The idea has expanded into the regions, with events in the Blue Mountains, Moree and a previous event at Lake Wallace in 2022.
The event at Lake Pillans drew an audience of local and interstate artists, and others like me, who were just curious and keen to watch artists at work. But it was not just about the art.
There was also a table set with a microscope, pipette, and a tray of aquatic life that Dr Wright had graciously waded into the lake to acquire. And there was much to see. As I took my turn at the microscope, I was stunned to find a damselfly voraciously hunting anything smaller than itself. As it darted to the other side of the petri dish, a caddisfly timidly emerged from within a hollow twig, checking both ways, then frantically gathering algae, covering itself in a desperate attempt to survive.
A fellow participant checking out the action under the Microscope
I was so stunned by the action I sought out Dr Wright to ensure I was not attributing human behaviours to the random actions of these tiny creatures. He was a bit hard to track down as he wove his way amongst participants, asking them about their work, what they were hoping to capture and sharing his extensive knowledge of aquatic life.
Connecting Art and Science
The impromptu question and answer sessions were as intriguing as the underwater action, and I almost forget my question. One participant was cradling a section of reeds from the edge of the lake, documenting its delicate features as botanical art. Dr Wright explained that the reed is often ‘cut’ by bugs to create a home for shelter, protection, or reproduction.
Another was capturing the colours and textures of the water on a windy day. She told me, “I am not an artist, just having a bit of fun.” The Oxford Languages definition of art is: “the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination.” Seemed to me, today she was an artist.
There were works created with bamboo and ink, palette knives, watercolours, pencils, charcoal, on boards, paper and in journals. Each of them recorded the individual’s response to the site and the waterway. There were questions about artistic technique, water life, water quality, local conditions and sharing of knowledge about the health of our local environment.
Chelsea Walsh capturing the textures and colours at Lake Pillans.
Todd Whisson from Queensland, capturing the light and shadows on the grassy hillside with a palette knife.
David Carroll using pastels to capture the variation of colours in the trees.
Annie Herron uses bamboo and ink on ever-extending paper to capture the delicate lines of trees and reeds.
Amanda Holman travelled from Orange for the event after attending a previous event in Moree. The ever-changing clouds on such a blustery day featured in her landscape work.
Bunny Griffin, capturing the play of light on water.
My own nature journal of the day.
Sharing stories
One participant mentioned a recent sighting of platypus in Coxs River, near Wallerawang and Dr Wright was thrilled when another produced video footage. He remarked that Charles Darwin’s first sighting of a platypus was at Wallerawang in 1836, and the sighting was a precursor to his later theory of evolution.
My question seemed a bit dull by comparison, but Dr Wright was happy to answer and confirmed that yes, I was not imagining things: life underwater is a game of survival. And it is not only between the water bugs, but the impact of being a tiny player in a world with a city on its perimeter.
He said we were fortunate to see so much variety and activity. This Lithgow event also included a workshop for local schools involving water sampling and documenting the presence of indicator species.
Samples were taken from Farmers Creek at Oakey Park, just below Farmers Creek Dam #2: one of Lithgow’s Water Supplies. The workshop tests revealed the water to be “exceptionally high quality and able to support an abundance of aquatic life”. He said we were fortunate to have such high-quality water in the area. It is a testament to the actions taken to improve what was an industrial wasteland.”
Caring for Lithgow’s waterways
The project also aimed to draw attention to the need for continual care of our waterways and ensuring the health of water is prioritised in future urban planning.
“Water and our river systems are the foundation of healthy cities and human well-being.” – Leo Robba
The introduction to the event highlighted the work of many to restore and care for Lake Pillans over many years, but the work is never finished, and often events such as the Black Summer Bushfires or flooding can undo earlier work.
Lucy Culliton, our artistic lead for the day, with deep family connections to the Kanimbla Valley, agreed. She pointed to a copse of eucalypts towering overhead. Her brother-in-law, Boris Hunt, assisted in planting these as part of rehabilitation works in the mid-1990s. Beneath them, hundreds of seedlings planted earlier this year by Landcare, poked maroon and pink leaves from beneath tree guards.
Tree plantings on the edge of Lake Pillans.
Dr Wright pointed out there are many things we can do to protect the health of our waterways and we can all play our part. The Painted River Project is about slowing down and focusing on the water and its inhabitants. As I followed the path of a hovering dragonfly over the lake, I saw the odd can, torn plastic bag, and cardboard box dotted amongst the reeds. The water that runs off properties and streets (urban run-off) contains both visible and invisible contaminants.
Thankfully, the results of the water testing suggested Lake Pillans had not been adversely impacted on this day. But this may not always be the case and we can all help.
Take Action:
- Ensure domestic rubbish is secured for appropriate collection and disposal.
- Ensure urban run-off drains into the pits and pipes that connect to the stormwater management system for effective treatment.
- Check and clear gutters and drains regularly so they do not overflow into natural waterways.
- Plant appropriate vegetation in backyards, to slow down and minimise run-off from hard surfaces.
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Want to know more?
Local councils and Landcare organisations are a great place to start if you want to know more about your water, where it comes from, and how to keep it healthy. Here is a sample of information from Blue Mountains and Lithgow City Council and links to some of the other events and initiatives aimed at creating awareness and improving the health of Lithgow’s waterways.
Lithgow City Council – About our water. https://council.lithgow.com/water/about-our-water/ Explains the sources of Lithgow’s drinking water, ways to save water and water quality indicators.
Blue Mountains City Council – https://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/environment/waterways Includes the Water Sensitive Blue Mountains Strategic Plan and information about Council’s water monitoring program. The Blue Mountains has some of Australia’s healthiest streams. Find out how everyone can help to protect them.
Farmers Creek Management Plan https://council.lithgow.com/services/farmers-creek/ Contains details of the agreed rehabilitation and management plan for Lithgow’s key waterway.
Planting for Their Future. https://lithgowlocalnews.com/bushcare-at-farmers-creek/ Native vegetation planting along Farmers Creek waterway to provide habitat for Gang Gang Cockatoos and native fauna.
Citizen Science at Lake Pillans. https://lithgowlocalnews.com/citizen-science-at-lake-pillans/ A brief history of Lake Pillans and the goals of citizen science, together with the results of a Bioblitz at Lake Pillans in March 2023.
The Frogs are Calling https://lithgowlocalnews.com/the-frogs-are-calling/ Frog monitoring at Farmers Creek as part of FrogID week in November 2023.
Lucy Culliton paints Lake Pillans
A one-minute reel where you can watch Lucy’s painting come to life:
This story has been produced as part of a Bioregional Collaboration for Planetary Health and is supported by the Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (DRRF). The DRRF is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments.
News From Around The Region
Some of the most popular activities we`ve run over the last year have been our plant-based cooking demonstrations. If you`d like to learn more about how to prepare meals that are cheaper, healthier and better for the planet, Teja Brooks Pribac from PlantInspired will be demonstrating how to use pantry essentials to create delicious and healthy plant-based meals tomorrow: Friday 6 December at Junction 142 in Katoomba. Ph. 0434 691 496
#plantbased #planetaryhealth #planetaryhealthdiet #cookingclass #katoomba #bluemountains
If you`ve heard about how inspiring and fun our Skillshare Saturdays are with our free Upcycling Fashion workshop from 9am to 3pm, our Wildlife Exhibition from 9am to 1pm, and our Bushcare to regenerate the Planetary Health Precinct at 1.30pm, there`s still one more opportunity in 2024 to come along and join in, this Saturday 7 December. Well be having some delicious Christmas nibbles to celebrate the end of a very productive year and all are welcome. The Planetary Health Centre is at 33-39 Acacia St Katoomba. Bookings for Upcycling essential (link in profile). To find out more about joining Bushcare ring 0407 437553 #upcyclingfashion #bushcare #planetaryhealth #learntosew #patternmaking #katoomba #bluemountains #natureconnection #wildlifeexhibition #birdphotos #wires
The inspiring Lyrebird Festival kicks off in the Megalong Valley this evening and runs until Sunday 17th November. Enjoy a weekend of music, art, food, wine, talks and nature walks as The Bowerbird Collective brings together art, science, conservation and world class music performances. All events can be booked separately or together with a Festival pass. Pricing includes a `Pay what you can` option.
The Lyrebird can be heard in the Megalong Valley imitating the calls of hundreds of other species, as well as producing their own thrilling sounds. The festival also includes a very special film screening of The Message of the Lyrebird on Sunday afternoon.
Tickets available here: https://bit.ly/3AON8In
(or at link in profile)
#megalongvalley #lyrebirds #lyrebirdfestival #bowerbirdcollective #bluemountains #planetaryhealth
In April 2021 Blue Mountains City Council became the first local government in Australia to adopt a motion to integrate Rights of Nature principles into its operations and practices. Today the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Initiative, the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute and lawyer Kingsley Liu, had the great pleasure of workshopping further ways to implement Rights of Nature with this inspiring group of Law students from the University of New South Wales.
#rightsofnature #UNSW #lawstudents #planetaryhealth #bluemountains
At our World Animal Day event we launched the Community Supporting Community Program with a plant based cheese degustation. Teja Brooks Pribac from PlantInspired is now offering interactive classes in which you can have fun learning new techniques for using vegetables to create delicious meals that are good for your health and the health of the planet. Small groups: 6-8 people. $65.50pp. Bookings essential.
Classes currently on offer:
Plant-based cheese making & demo
Saturday 9 Nov, 1-3pm. Lawson NSW: https://www.facebook.com/events/1274663973560691
[DATE CHANGE!] The Tastemaster: how to turn your average vegetable into a mouthwatering masterpiece
Sunday 17 November, 11am-2pm. Katoomba: https://www.facebook.com/events/517611447925601
End of year special: plant-based cooking essentials 2-class bundle
Saturday 30 November, Sunday 1 December, 11am-2pm. Katoomba NSW: https://www.facebook.com/events/1116156823213312
Cooking with seitan
Saturday 7 December, 11am-2pm. Katoomba NSW. https://www.facebook.com/events/1553960262666738
PlantInspired is also offering interactive plant-based cooking classes and demos for individual clients, private groups and businesses. Choose from a range of preset classes or get in touch to tailor your own.
All profits utilised to help vulnerable members of the community through the Community Supporting Community program. Check the website for more info: www.plantinspired.com.au (link in profile)
#plantinspired #plantbasedcooking #vegan #community #planetaryhealth
Skillshare Saturdays literally offer a `breath of fresh air` at the Planetary Health Centre on the first Saturday of the month! At our free Upcycling Fashion workshop this month you can learn more about all types of zips and how to do basic pockets and pocket flaps. You can bring your own sewing machine or use one of ours. And at Bushcare in the afternoon, you can immerse yourself in the bush at the Planetary Health Precinct as you help restore habitat and protect biodiversity (while meeting some great people and enjoying time in nature). Bookings essential for Upcycling Fashion at Eventbrite here: https://bit.ly/4dZWUoM (link in profile)
If you`d like to join our Bushcare Group contact Karen Hising at khising@bmcc.nsw.gov.au or call the Bushcare Office on 4780 5623
#upcyclingfashion #skillshare #planetaryhealth #bushcare #community #togetherwecan #zerowaste #regeneration #circulareconomy
As 190 countries gather for the @cop16colombia UN Biodiversity Summit, to focus on how we can protect the world’s flora and fauna, we’d like to thank all those local individuals and organisations dedicated to the same goal who came together for World Animal Day at the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre on Saturday 5 October. They offered ways for everyone to learn more and take action. From the Blue Mountains Bird Observers, who led over 40 people on a guided Breakfast with the Birds walk, to many others who offered information stalls, talks, workshops, a Wild Life exhibition, live music, plant-based food and hands-on Bushcare. We also launched the Community Plant Based Cooking Project with the first class to be held on Saturday 9 November at @roseyravelstonbooks in Lawson. Places are limited. Learn more here: https://plantinspired.com.au/
#worldanimalday #biodiversity #plantbased #planetaryhealth #bluemountains #katoomba
Did you know that old lino, window putty, and adhesive can contain asbestos? Yesterday the Asbestos & Hazardous Materials Management Conference kicked off with a pre-conference workshop at the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre. It included hands-on `spot the asbestos` and asbestos sampling sessions. This year`s theme is `Working together for a safe and healthy future`. #asbestos #hazardousmaterials #conference #planetaryhealth #bluemountains #katoomba
Delicious plant based and gluten free pastries courtesy of Clean Cravings at World Animal Day today at the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre. Such a lovely day! #planetaryhealth #worldanimalday
Paul Nagle and other members of the Blue Mountains Bird Observers leading 40 people on a Guided Breakfast with the Birds as part of World Animal Day at the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Precinct. It`s a stunning day. Lots more to come at 33-39 Acacia St Katoomba.
A huge thank you to Josh Logan from Logan Signs, Lithgow, for installing our Circular Water Signage in time for our World Animal Day Celebration today at the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre (33-39 Acacia St Katoomba). We have a full program of events with lots of information on how to prepare for the summer ahead and how to create urban areas that help us share our home respectfully with all species. It will be a fun family day too with storytime, craft and live music for kids! (Link in profile) #worldanimalday #planetaryhealth #familyday #katoomba #bluemountains
And our Wild Life exhibition is now up for World Animal Day tomorrow at the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre. Photographs by Warren Hinder, Merryl Watkins, Holly Kent and Tracy Burgess. Check out all the other events from stalls, talks, possum box demo, kid`s craft and animal storytime, plant based food and live music to Bushcare. @33-39 Acacia St Katoomba Link in profile. #planetaryhealth #worldanimalday #katoomba
