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"Queensland Seagrasses - Art and Science" Exhibition

The North Queensland Branch of the Australian Marine Science Association and Marine Plant Ecology Group of the Queensland Department of Primary Industries are holding a unique exhibition of seagrass inspired water-colour paintings at the Museum of Tropical Queensland, Townsville.

The commissioned works, painted by Far Northern artist Ruth Berry, are botanically-correct, delicate paintings depicting 16 different species of the seagrasses so abundant in the coastal waters of Far North Queensland.  Work on the seagrass artworks started four years ago when the Northern Fisheries Centre, a division of Queensland's Department of Primary Industries, investigated producing a working field manual for participants in the Seagrass-Watch Project.

The Seagrass-Watch Project is a program currently being run across Queensland, and involves members of coastal communities voluntarily assisting the DPI with the monitoring and identifying of seagrass species and their health.

Ms Berry is a natural history illustrator and documentary film-maker. Her background in producing technically and botanically correct images, combined with a personal passion and interest in the natural environment, has seen her produce a set of 19 water-colours.

The Seagrass exhibition includes a complete set of depictions on all 16 species and eight genera of seagrass and will be on show at the Museum of Tropical Queensland from November 15 - 21, with a special preview occurring Wednesday, 14 November at 5.30pm. The DPI have also produced 500 limited edition fine art reproductions of the 10 water-colours which are available for sale through the Northern Fisheries Centre, Cairns.