Save our species

member ever since. He exhibits regularly, and his Flying Porky Studios at Montville is a regular entrant in Open Studios.

This body of work is an off-shoot of a very successful exhibition, ‘SOS – Save our Species’ at Mary Cairncross Reserve Gallery in 2022. A booklet was also produced with images from Jim and words from local environmental author Elaine Green.

Harry, the hard-working Spider

Peter C. Horrell

THE stars glimmered like diamonds; the moon was a ball of light Like a ballad the sounds of the insects echoed their songs in the night;

Harry was a hard worker, who did not stop for a break, kept going until he had finished, two hours and a half it did take.

JIM Cox is a well-known local artist and is passionate about Australian Wildlife and wild places. Jim trained as a graphic designer, worked in industry for 14yrs and the rest of his professional life was teaching art through TAFE Qld in Townsville and Brisbane. He retired to the Hinterland in 2002.

He was a founding member of Montville Community Arts which morphed into Arts Connect Inc and has been an active

The works offered in this exhibition at Vianta are part of a Limited-Edition Series, beautifully presented and framed, somewhat smaller than originals. SOS books will also be on sale at the opening to be held on Friday April 7.

The Exhibition runs from April 3 until April 30 at Vianta Arts, 70 Simpson Street Beerwah with an official opening on Friday 14 April at 6.30 pm. Jim will be present on the evenings of the April 21 and 28 to meet interested people to discuss his works .

All welcome.

My work for the day was now over, as I on my veranda reclined, It was time to relax in Maleny with a cheese and a glass of red wine.

When suddenly down swung a big spider, truly an incredible sight

His eight hairy legs so close to my nose it made me jump up with a fright.

My cheese went flying upwards; my red did splash and spill, As the spider --I named him Harry -- began to show me his skill.

Four strands he spun horizontal, swinging by just one thread, these were to be the foundation upon which he would build his web;

With speed, he then moved in circles, clockwise he moved to the right, each circle becoming much smaller, the centre now well in his sight.

His web was well positioned, and covered a large track of space, it was a beautiful work of perfection that hung like a silken lace.

It was obvious that Harry was clever, because he had a plan, He showed me his skill as the factory, the architect, and artisan; His body produced the substance that his legs weaved into a thread The design of his finished product an artistic spider’s web.

Like man; poor Harry also labours, just for his snack or a bite

His might be a fly, a moth or an ant, or some other trapped in its flight.

As I relaxed with my red in Maleny, I wished Harry, ‘Bon appétit! ` Spiders are such hard workers and deserve every morsel they eat.