May 23, 2013
The Wondai Art Gallery’s permanent collection has been boosted with the addition of a long-term loan, a magnificent portrait of Lady Bjelke-Petersen by Brisbane artist Jan Lewis.
Jan – who paints under the signature “Jane Stewart” – is an old friend of gallery curator Elaine Madill.
Over the years, Jan and her husband Greg have regularly stayed with Elaine and supported the Wondai Gallery.
A couple of years ago, she asked Elaine to arrange a sitting with Lady Flo at Bethany. The portrait is the result.
Jan decided the portrait belonged in the South Burnett, so she has given it to Elaine on a permanent loan; Elaine, in turn, has loaned it to the gallery to become part of its acquisitive art collection.
Elaine says her friend has captured Lady’s Flo’s smile “and the twinkle in her eye”.
But what does Lady Flo think?
She came face-to-face with the portrait for the first time in Wondai on Thursday, after hearing positive reports from gallery visitors.
And it was a thumbs up!
“She has done a very nice job but I wish she had made me a little bit slimmer!” she joked. “But maybe it’s the truth …”
Elaine said the painting would be on display at the Wondai Gallery and may also travel to other South Burnett galleries.
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The current exhibition at Wondai Art Gallery also features a range of other paintings by Jan Lewis.
“Fabulous Fakes” are classic artworks reproduced by Jan for a national competition. They will be in Gallery 3 until the end of May.
Then in June, a new exhibition will take over the walls, celebrating “Our Inner Creativity”.
It will feature numerous artists, including Fiona Groom, Carole Ronay, Dawn Cambal, Paulette Cauley, Yuki Cheetham, Gillian Smith, Yvonne Thompson and June McCotter.
The opening night will be held on Friday, June 7, from 6:00pm. The $5 entry fee includes supper and punch. Wine will be available from Crane Wines.
- Related article: Curator’s Choice At Wondai
