October 13, 2023
Art lovers have less than a fortnight to see two of the Kingaroy Regional Art Gallery’s most unusual exhibitions.
On October 6, the Gallery unveiled “Mum Went To Town” and “Rusty Relics” and both will remain on show until October 27.
“Mum Went To Town” is a collection of clothing and craft works created by Kingaroy woman Yvonne Cope between the 1970s and early 2000s.
It includes matching outfits – some by designer labels, some designed and sewn by Yvonne herself – along with quilts, pottery, tea cosies and even a collection of Barbie doll outfits (complete with Barbie dolls) that Yvonne put together with the aim of delighting her grandchildren.
It is complemented by a smaller exhibition of artworks by Sharon Hunjas, one of Yvonne’s three daughters, which focusses on quirky drawings of old, unrenovated houses.
Sharon has exhibited in galleries in Brisbane, was selected for the Grafton Gallery’s 2022 Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award and was featured in the 2023 BAD (Brisbane Art Design) exhibition.
By contrast, Ina Patterson’s “Rusty Relics” is a collection of paintings in watercolours and acrylics that captures the beauty of dilapidated or abandoned South Burnett farm sheds.
Ina is probably better known for the Glendon Street forecourt sculpture “Postcards From The South Burnett” which she created with her son in 2017 to win the inaugural Kingaroy Sculpture Prize.
“Rusty Relics” is her first solo exhibition in 13 years and it fills the rear gallery.
Kingaroy Art Gallery curator Fran van Vegchel said she was both surprised and pleased at the reaction the exhibitions had received.
She said “Mum Went To Town” was quite an unusual show for any gallery to display, but it appeared to have struck a positive chord with most people who came to see it.
And while Ina’s show was more traditional gallery fare, its focus on regional farm sheds certainly wasn’t – but it, too, had found admirers judging by several red dots that appeared on Ina’s works during opening night.
“Mum Went To Town” and “Rusty Relics” will remain on display at the gallery at 126 Haly Street, Kingaroy, from 10:00am to 4:00pm week days and 9:00am to 1:00pm on weekends until October 26.
Admission is free.
