Artists collaborate on World Heritage Forests while Liberals shame Australia in pledge to destroy

Weld Echo Art Exhibition Opens Tonight in Hobart

Official Opening: Thursday 9 January 2014 @ 6:00pm
With Guest speaker Bob Brown and performance by Lawson’s Heart
Long Gallery Salamanca Arts Centre

In the face of the new Liberal Federal Government pledge to remove the forests, recently listed as World Heritage and added to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, more than 50 artists have collaborated to celebrate the immeasurable value of these forests in Weld Echo Art Exhibition, opening tonight in Hobart.

Huon Valley Environment Centre’s Jenny Weber said, “Our exhibition is political, beautiful and evocative. The collaboration of more than 50 artists and the attendance to our exhibitions by thousands of people in the coming weeks will be testimony to the support and interest in wild places and keeping them intact.”

“Weld Echo is a breathtaking show curated by Black Sassy Artists Collective, the artistic arm of Huon Valley Environment Centre. For the first time ever, we have also had contributions from the indigenous people of Baram River in Sarawak, whose lives and environment are threatened by mega-dam expansions. We look forward to raising money for the indigenous people of Sarawak and give a voice to their important campaign,” Jenny Weber said.

“The Liberals are set to undo hard won protection of forests in Tasmania that were recently listed as World Heritage, Weld Echo art exhibition is an opportunity for many visitors to the Long Gallery to experience the wonder and beauty of these ancient forests. Parts of the Weld Valley were recently included in the World Heritage Area, and to the international embarrassment of Australia, the Liberal party at a state and federal level are planning on excising them for logging.” Jenny Weber said.

“In the ninth year of Weld Echo, it will showcase the forests long campaigned for that are now listed as World Heritage. For the first time in 9 years of curating Weld Echo exhibition, and decades of campaigning for the protection of these ancient ecosystems, the globally significant values of these forests have been recognised, and 6300ha of the Weld Valley has been protected,” Jenny Weber said.

“Weld Echo is a collaborative exhibition inspired by the Weld Valley and the campaign for its protection. Hundreds of artists who have exhibited in Weld Echo over the years have contributed to the success of this World Heritage Listing, and this year Weld Echo exhibition will be a celebration of the collaborative community efforts and all we have achieved. It will also be a reminder that there are still very important campaign efforts ahead of us, and community based NGOs who will stand up to defend forests will need ongoing support,” Jenny Weber said.

Weld Echo runs until the 22nd January 2014.
Huon Valley Environment Centre’s Jenny Weber