INCUBATOR Malleefowl Mound @ The Oasis Desert Garden in Rainbow, Victoria

Part of the town of Rainbow's Small Town Transformation

INCUBATOR is an artist led research project in which Forest Keegel will set up an outdoor Laboratory inRainbow's Oasis Desert Garden a former schoolyard. To investigate and replicate a nest mound as made by the endangered Malleefowl: Leipoa ocellata: Lowan.

Malleefowl breeding pairs spend considerable time building their mounds to incubate eggs, controlling the temperature through balancing decaying organic matter and sand. The male uses his beak to sense the temperature in the egg chamber and adjusts the sand accordingly. The chicks are independent from the time of hatching.

Time lapse building the Malleefowl mound at the Oasis, Rainbow. Thank you to the Rainbow P-12 Grade 3&4, Hands on Learning, Yaapeet Primary School, local knowledge from Hopetoun and Nhill, the community and not to forget the Artist in Residence Forest Keegel for her fabulous project vision and guidance.

The people of Rainbow and surrounds are invited to participate in building the Malleefowl Mound and ongoing monitoring of the temperature of it’s internal chamber and adjusting sand to keep it at 33 degrees.

Malleefowl walk and talk (site to be confirmed) Sunday 3 September

Mound building will occur in the Oasis schoolyard garden from Monday 4 September until Thursday 7 September.

Monitoring temperature of the mound from Thursday 7 September ongoing.

Drawing and story sharing workshops at Oasis Wednesday 6th and Friday 8th September 2-7pm drop in for an hour or stay the whole session.

INCUBATOR Malleefowl Exhibition @ Turbo Gallery, Rainbow Sunday 10 - 29 September

Exhibition opening Turbo Gallery Sunday 10 September 2-4pm

Artworks, photos, craft that depict Malleefowl and their habitat created by the Rainbow community.
Drawings of Malleefowl made in workshops.
Orchestra of Extinction Cabinet by Forest Keegel- an old radiogram cabinet encrusted with sand stencils of plants from Malleefowl habitat and emanating sounds and images of Malleefowl.
Map of Rainbow surrounding area that people can add sightings of Malleefowl and Malleefowl Mounds and write/share stories about Malleefowl encounters, which will be written on file cards for exhibition viewers to read
Nest monitoring data

Seeking drawings/artworks/craft* depicting Malleefowl for the exhibition at Turbot Gallery. Come to the workshops with Artist Forest Keegel on Wednesday 6th or Friday 7th September or make something on your own. Bring your work to Turbot Gallery Thursday 6th until 11am Saturday 9 September. Or by other arrangement with Belinda 0429 357 966

*Art/craft does not have to have anatomically realistic depiction of Malleefowl and can be photos, drawings, painting or craft item that evokes Malleefowl and their habitat.