Tingoora artist Robyn Dower with “Dave”, one of her major installations at the Wondai Art Gallery and the “People’s Choice” winner on opening night

December 7, 2022

Wondai Regional Art Gallery is hosting a “must-see” exhibition over the Christmas break that has been at least three years in the making …

“Inspired” is a whimsical collection of paintings, collages and installations by Tingoora artist Robyn Dower, her sister poet Kay Gorring and Ipswich artist Dot Rowland.

The trio has filled the four rooms at the gallery with their collaboration.

They say Robyn inspired the vision, Dot inspired the soul and Kay inspired the story.

One end of the main gallery is taken up by “Forgotten Heroes”, Robyn’s interpretation in papier-mâché of a poem by Kay recounting an old man’s memory and a wartime debt of gratitude.

Copies of the poem sit alongside the installation.

Kay read her work aloud to an appreciative audience on opening night.

And then there’s “Dave”, a life-size dappled horse by Robyn which takes up so much space that the official exhibition opening, conducted by South Burnett mayor Brett Otto, had to be moved into The Studio for the first time.

(Robyn’s husband, Russell, admitted he was glad “Dave” was no longer in his living room, urging Robyn to stick to painting in the future!),

A large crowd gathered for the opening last Friday night, enjoying music by Neil Hutton and wine from Clovely Estate.

Robyn expressed her gratitude to the gallery’s volunteers who had “let her be boss” and organise the placement of the many items on display.

The exhibition will remain on show at the Wondai Regional Art Gallery until the end of January.

The gallery is open from 10:00am to 3:00pm, seven days a week (except on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day).

Entry is free.

Works by poet and writer Kay Gorring and artist Dot Rowland also fill in the gallery, including a large collaboration between Kay and her sister, Robyn Dower, called “Forgotten Heroes”
Christine Hall and Ian Schafferius, from Brisbane, were enjoying the opening night
Gallery patron Ros Heit with curator Elaine Madill … Ros chaired the opening
Kingaroy artist Garry Eyre and his wife Lorinda also dropped in to see the exhibition
Members of the Ipswich Arts Society travelled to Wondai for the opening night … Lyn and Tom Mason, and Jan Stolberg
Clare and Kerry Sluggett, from Wondai, were two more locals exploring the many pieces on display
Former Wondai residents – and gallery volunteers – Gil and Michelle Smith returned to town for the opening night
Cr Scott Henschen and Gloria Kirkness, from Nanango, were taking a break waiting for the official opening
South Burnett mayor Brett Otto with his wife Ros … the mayor officially opened the exhibition
Hannah Ravn and Tom Albert, from Clovely Estate Vineyard, were serving up the opening night wine
Another of Robyn Dower’s quirky installations … the cat climbing the wall, left, created this cat-astrophe, right
Robyn and Kay Gorring collaborated on this installation … Kay’s moving poem, “Forgotten Heroes”, explained why the old man fed the pigeons “until his debt was repaid”
One of Robyn’s pigeons helps himself to a jam drop
Two more of Robyn’s carefully crafted birds perched in another part of the gallery

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3 Responses to "Inspired Art Fills Wondai Gallery"

  3. Congratulations to Robyn, Kay and Dot – my children and I visited the gallery on the weekend and it’s truly a world class exhibition!

    Thank you for sharing your creativity with our community. Your poem certainly struck a chord with me. I would love to see this travel to other galleries.

    Reply

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