“We live at a time of unprecedented change. The global pandemic has upended everything about how we live our lives and many are still struggling with this. Connecting with why we feel at home in a place is vitally important. All this change also gives an opportunity to evaluate how we live now and the urban design choices we are making. It challenges us to think about how we can share our urban environment with other species and with nature to tackle issues such as climate change and loss of biodiversity and in the end, all live a better life.”

Dr Mary-Jane Walker

This event is part of Geelong Design Week 2022, an initiative of Geelong UNESCO City of Design and the City of Greater Geelong

The Nature of Us is about the need to recognize the importance of nature in our city and the important role it plays in our wellbeing. During these last two years with Covid lockdowns many found solace walking around their neighborhood, discovering local parks and small interactions with the natural world as well as growing and cooking their own food.

We invited people to send in images of those experiences and how nature helps them feel a sense of belonging to where they live. We received a great response, with outstanding entries from many people with wonderful images and statements attached. The judging panel had the difficult task of reviewing each entry, which was done anonymously.

We hope you will be able to visit the exhibition, and view the finalists’ works. The best eight images will be shown at the National Wool Museum during Geelong Design Week 17-27 March 2022 www.geelongdesignweek.com.au and the top 20 in a paste up gallery in Dennys Place off Little Malop Street Geelong during the same period.

This project was designed and curated by Mary-Jane Walker of The School of Lost Arts, Geelong and sponsored by the National Wool Museum, Revitalising Central Geelong and the City of Greater Geelong.

TOP 20 PHOTOGRAPHS

Top 8 Photographs

Oh yes you can by Jorja McKinnon

Baby Koala by Madeline Whelan

Home is where the nest is by Tracey Hinton

Locals in lockdown by Penelope Blight

Angus in the afternoon by Lucinda McGregor

In awe of nature by Emily Minchin

Night garden by Felicity Spear

The road ahead by Phillip Doggett-Williams

Still life reflections by Kathryn Alexander

Tree of light by Judy Sault

The river revives me by Roze Elizabeth

Mysterious underbelly of Fyansford bridge by Melissa Laffy