Artist contributions to Leaves - Palmer Sculpture Biennial 2026
Lisa Conolly
I worked with Liz Ports to manage the Leaves project. My visits to the casuarina grove inspired drawings of the casuarina seeds, and abstract forms of casuarina shadows on the ground. I created about four metres of drawings of casuarina seeds on calico, which were sewn with wire mesh inserted so they could be shaped to form a sculptured piece coiling around the central casuarina tree. I made many smaller wedge shaped pieces that were inspired by shadows of the casuarina trees . These were designed to be interspersed among other art works and help create the spiral shape.
It was a joy to receive so many different textile works and a privilege to prepare most of these works for ground installation. I used canvas, calico or blue sheets for backing, and added crochet edges or looped edges for threading rope. Some had inserts to take wire mesh which added form.​ I liken this to framing the textile work - as well as making it possible to install. Images of the framed work can be viewed on the various artist pages, alongside the original work before framing.
 Casuarina seeds detailMarker drawing on calico. Several metres of this art work were designed for installation around the central casuarina tree. |  Casuarina seedsInstalled March 11 around the central tree of the spiral. |
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 Casuarina seeds in progressMarker drawing on calico |  Magpie with nestThis magpie has a nest made up of all the sewing ends and pieces of fabric. Inspired by a real nest I discovered in my garden which even used a coat hanger and fencing wire. |
 MagpieMarker drawing on calico, with embedded wire mesh. The magpie is drawn on both sides, |  Casuarina shadows with antThe form of these pieces are inspired by casuarina shadows. Fabric collage on canvas. An embroidered ant was added by Sarah Marshall. |
 Casuarina Shadows 1Cotton fabric collage, machine stitching on canvas |  Casuarina Shadows 2Cotton fabric collage, machine stitching on canvas |
 Casuarina Shadows 3Cotton fabric collage, machine stitching on canvas |  Casuarina Shadows 3 (detail) |
 Casuarina Shadows 4Cotton fabric collage, machine stitching on canvas |  Casuarina Shadows 5Cotton fabric collage, machine stitching on canvas |
 Casuarina Shadows 6Cotton fabric collage, machine stitching on canvas |  Ant trailsCotton fabric collage, jute twine, machine stitching on dyed canvas |
 Print framed as wedge piece 1Lino cut print by Lesley Goulden, on dyed canvas, with machine embroidery. |  Print framed as wedge piece 2Lino cut print by Lesley Goulden, on dyed canvas, with machine embroidery. |
 Casuarina ShadowsFabric pieces, cotton thread, machine embroidery on canvas, cotton crochet edging. Several of these wedges were made to help form the spiral shape of the installation, placed between other works. |  Casuarina shadows 6 (front)Cotton sheet collage, cotton thread on canvas |
 Casuarina Shadows 6 (back)Cotton sheet collage, cotton thread on canvas |  Cotton mulch 1Cotton fabric collage, cotton ends, jute twine, machine stitching on canvas |
 Cotton Mulch 2Cotton fabric collage, wool crochet, machine stitching on canvas |  Cotton Mulch 3Cotton threads, cotton crochet, wool ends, copper on canvas |
 Cotton mulch 3 (detail)Cotton threads, cotton crochet, wool ends, copper on canvas |  Lace MonitorMarker drawing on calico and blue cotton sheet, cotton thread, wire mesh embedded |
 Framed workOriginal fabric pieces from Maggie Thomas (printed leaves) and Sarah Marshall (embroidered ants). I sewed these onto a canvas wedge shaped piece. I added looped edges using green wool chain stitch to form an ant trail. There is a green cotton skirt waistband sewn to the bottom edge. |