In this episode of CABAHCAST, journalist and CABAH media consultant Fiona Gruber captures the story of how Canberra/Ngunawal/Ngambri-based artist and researcher UK Frederick created her work Unseeded.

Unseeded (2022) comprises 35 hand-blown glass boab nuts – one for each site with evidence of human occupation that researchers surveyed on an archaeological survey trip to the Ningbing Range with CABAH Chief Investigator Sue O’Connor from The Australian National University (ANU), Miriuwung Gajerrong rangers and Traditional Owners, archaeologists from the University of Western Australia and volunteer ecologists.

UK Frederick travelled with the archaeological survey team to the Kimberley region of Western Australia in May 2019. During their trip, the team observed the mature boab trees that inspired the artwork.

UK Frederick is an artist and researcher with a PhD in Visual Arts from The Australian National University. Ursula brings processes of contemporary archaeology to her art practice to reflect the methods, analysis and histories of Australian archaeological research and how it’s communicated.

Unseeded was commissioned by the Australian Research Council's Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage (CABAH) for CABAH's Art Series and now resides with the University of Wollongong Art Collection.