November 25, 2024
A two-day art exhibition held in a large white marquee on the Bunya Mountains at the weekend has proven two points … firstly, the natural beauty of the Bunya Mountains is a lure to artists who want to capture the magic in their works.
And secondly, the area really does need a new community centre to house future exhibitions and workshops.
The large marquee, hired by the Bunya Mountains Community Association Inc (BMCAI), was lined with paintings by guest artist, Frida Forsberg.
He works were inspired by the Bunyas rainforest, ie. towering pines, figs, cunjevoi and wallabies.
This exhibition was accompanied by works by South Burnett artists including Nikita Law, Dallas Bond and Pat van Kempen and astrophotography by Donna Glass.
The marquee also housed two sold-out workshops on Saturday, an acrylics painting workshop led by Frida, and an Indigenous weaving workshop by Gamilaraay and Anaiwan woman Christina Howard.
The “Art of the Forest” exhibition was made possible by an Regional Arts Development Fund grant through the South Burnett Regional Council as well as sponsorship by RES and Tilt.
Funds raised over the weekend will be put towards the BMCAI’s dream of having a community centre on the mountains..
Secretary Carol Weekes said the decision last month by the South Burnett Regional Council to grant the group the lease of a block of land opposite the fire station was the culmination of years of hard work and planning by the BMCAI.
Now that this was in place, the group could start the serious business of fundraising, including drafting grant applications.
She said a community centre would be the perfect place for future art workshops however she warned it could be years before it could become a reality.
