Artists hope for lasting impression

With logging of Helms Block Forest underway, South West artists are making a statement with the Artists at the Helm exhibition this week.

Located near Jalbarragup, Helms Block Forest is home to endangered black cockatoos, including baudin's, carnaby's and red-tailed species.

Artists at the Helm leader Helen Seiver said 34 artists, writers and musicians travelled to Helms Block last month where the owners of the Jamarri Black Cockatoo Sanctuary, Dee and the late David Patterson, educated them about the region.

Mr Patterson died on January 16, which Ms Seiver said made the effort to stop logging at Helms Block Forest more important.

"He was a fantastic warrior for the forest, to have the logging cease in his name would be indescribable," she said.

The opening of the exhibition at Bunbury Regional Art Galleries will feature a performance in Mr Patterson's honour by his relative, Wadandi elder Mitchella Hutchins, who will be wearing a cloak created by an artist for the exhibition.

Ms Seiver said the logging would only be worth about $300,000, but could devastate the red-tailed black cockatoo population.

"Their territory is only 10km in diameter and they only live in family groups," she said.

"Most of the cockatoos that are rescued from logging can't be released because there's no group for them to return to."

The trees typically targeted by logging would be particularly harmful to species numbers, according to Ms Seiver.

"They only nest in hollows, which are only in the old trees, which are the prize in logging," she said.

Ms Seiver praised the role BRAG played in supporting the artistic protest by providing exhibition space, food and wine for the opening, advertising and administrative support.

"The support of BRAG has been critical," she said.

BRAG director Julian Bowron said supporting Artists at the Helm encouraged the role of artists as leaders on community issues.

"If we didn't support them here the gallery would be failing in our duty," he said.

Artists at the Helm opens at BRAG tomorrow and runs until March 23.

"He was a fantastic warrior for the forest, to have the logging cease in his name would be indescribable" - Helen Seiver

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