MARNIE JAY
Marnie Jay is a Territory girl who ventured to the big smoke of Sydney to get a degree in design and illustration. She currently paints in her rural studio 2-3 days a week and has a part time shop at Coolalinga Central four days a week. “Sometimes I wish I could dive into my paintings and stay for a while...if not forever. I imagine it is quiet there, apart from the sounds of nature, quirky bird calls and hauntingly beautiful dingo howls.”
About the Artwork
My dingo journey began with a six month old girl cub called Kira. Seven years we hung out. I noticed little things about her that were different from dogs, but it wasn’t until I became involved with The Australian Dingo Foundation that I learnt they are actually an entirely different species. Here are just a few cool facts:
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Dingoes are Australia’s top apex land predator
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They are believed to have arrived about 10,000 years ago from Papua New Guinea
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There are 3 types - Tropical, Desert & Alpine
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They are crucial to the preservation of Australia’s ecological stability
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Their head is the biggest part of their body
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Their tracks are single file
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They can rotate their feet like a 4wd on tough terrain
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They have “Opera House” ears that rotate to catch maximum sound
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They can hear a heartbeat from 25m away
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Their whiskers can detect insect vibrations underground (which they eat)
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They mate for life
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They have ‘cubs’ rather than puppies
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They howl rather than bark