Arts Are Also Part Of The Story

We’re all part of the story … at back, artist Patricia van Kempen, Wondai Art Gallery patron Ros Heit, Rachael Steinhardt, 13, from Wondai; artist Natasha Duncan; at front, April, 8; Gemma, 6; and Eboni Quirke, 10, all from Wondai

Art competition winners Naomi Andersen (1st Adult) and Linda Staines (3rd Adult) (Photo: Nadine Gray)

January 27, 2023

“Reflect, Respect, Celebrate” – the slogan for this year’s Australia’s Day – was also the theme for a unique art day organised by the Wondai Art Gallery.

The Australia Day activities began with a free breakfast and flag-raising ceremony in the park beside the art gallery.

More than 200 people turned up for the brekkie and to hear the Wondai Town & District Band perform.

Then the doors to The Studio at the gallery were thrown open for a free day of painting and drawing.

Young and old were invited to express their thoughts about “Reflect, Respect, Celebrate”.

Local artists Patricia van Kempen and Natasha Duncan were on hand to provide ideas and inspiration, and Wondai Art Gallery provided all the materials.

The budding artists were offered a choice of canvasses – round, rectangular and boomerang-shaped – on which to exercise their imagination.

After a hectic day of painting, the judges cast their eyes over the entries and picked the winners.

Gallery patron Ros Heit said there were eventually more than 100 entries completed, with 32 participants during the first two hours.

At 6:00pm, everyone was invited back into The Studio for a pizza celebration, live music – this time from a new local group “Don’t Cross The Ts” – and the announcement of the winners (see list, below).

All the prizes were vouchers purchased from local stores.

The art day was made been possible via a grant from the National Australia Day Council.