Tag: woodblock print

Bush stone-curlew

Burhinus grallarius

Bush stone curlews are largely nocturnal with large eyes to assist a life in low light. They favour open areas to forage and nest. Eggs laid directly on the ground are vulnerable to being eaten by predators. Nesting parents can adopt a range of strategies to protect eggs, the bush stone curlew relies on camouflage, as the name suggests. It’s able to strike a pose like a statue, sometimes lying flat on the ground, neck extended, looking like a stone. The eyes are partially closed when the curlew is intent on blending in, but flutter wide open if detected, with eye contact maintained while the bird attempts to distract attention from the nest.

The eggs are also speckled to blend in with the leaf litter and go unnoticed.

If a person should come too close to nesting curlews they will attempt to lead them away from the nest by hissing, strutting and flapping around with raised wings. Naturally time off the nest is not good for the eggs and stressful, stone-curlews would prefer to remain on the eggs. Stone-curlews in repeated contact with people have been observed to allow closer intrusion towards the nest.

Bush stone-curlew numbers are under threat in NSW where they are declared endangered. Feral foxes make an easy meal of ground dwelling birds.

Tom Kristensen 2024 ǂ

Bush stone curlew mini print and 5 card pack

One hand made Japanese woodblock mini print on hand made washi paper. Plus 5 facsimile cards with message to politicians. 19 x 12.5cm

A$45.00

Bandicoots mini print and 5 card pack

One hand made Japanese woodblock mini print on hand made washi paper. Plus 5 facsimile cards with message to politicians. 19 x 12.5cm

A$45.00

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Horseshoe Crab blood harvest

Horseshoe crab: Family: Limulidae Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Merostomata (legs attached to mouth) Species: Limulus polyphemus. Status: Four very similar species endemic to Eastern Americas and the Indo-pacific. Two species vulnerable to extinction in 2016.

450 million years ago horseshoe crabs were almost identical to horseshoe crabs living today. They pre-date the emergence of the woody plants that formed coal beds. Their closest modern relatives are spiders and scorpions. They have 10 legs, blue copper-based blood and 10 sets of eyes – including 2 photoreceptors in their tail.

Harvested for fertiliser, fishing bait, and for biomedical bleeding.

For years, HC were unprotected, shovelled up by the dump-truck load, crushed, and spread to fertilise fields in Delaware US. They are now protected in New Jersey, so after 10-year maturation in the Atlantic off Delaware Bay horseshoe crabs return to the beaches to mate.

Their only defence is their strong shell. The stingless tail is used for navigation and balance, their eggs and hatchlings are essential food for migrating Red knots, another endangered species.

Horseshoe crab blood contains proteins that react to the presence of bacteria forming a protective gel. Most people will have benefited from horseshoe crabs because their blood is used by the biomedical industry to detect positive gram bacterial contamination in vaccines and IV drugs. One litre of blue blood was worth about $16000 USD in 2020, “one of the most expensive resources in the world”

A synthetic alternative has been available for many years but it is even more expensive than the crab blood because of the high profits available and a patent protecting intellectual property.

This Double Dagger lino and woodblock print was made by Joanna Bradley in collaboration with Tom Kristensen who carved the coloured background wood blocks and helped research.

This print is about how human greed and disregard can drive the most resilient and biologically perfect creatures to the brink.

Horseshoe crab blood harvest

By Tom Kristensen and Jo Bradley 4 shina woodblocks hand carved and 1 lino block hand carved. Hand printed on Japanese washi paper using a baren

A$100.00

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Double Dagger Art

For the purpose of conservation.

The Adélie penguin is a the smallest of the Antarctic penguins and the most numerous, being widely distributed around the fringe of the Antarctic continent, its conservation status is of least concern. However, life on the frozen continent depends on food produced in the Southern Ocean and climate change and fishing for krill are key threats to penguin survival. Australia is responsible for managing 42% of the Antarctic continent and the adjacent waters. Penguin conservation is a concern of the Australian government.

Dotting the eyes (click here for info in koala offsets)
3 Adélie penguins heading off the ice

This woodblock print made in an edition of 100 on Awagami kozo using Holbein gauche colours. It’s traditional Chuban-sized; 25 x 19 cm. Signed and sealed with the double dagger. Available through Saru Gallery

Click link to Saru Gallery

Adelie penguins woodblock print

Japanese woodblock print hand carved on 4 cherry block. Hand printed with baren onto hand made Japanese/Thai washi paper. 25.5 x 20cm

A$150.00

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