Art In Bark Association of Australia president David Leisemann with Charlotte Simpson’s work “Uncle Jack Charles” which was voted the “People’s Choice” winner at the exhibition opening

May 6, 2025

There’s at least two extra reasons to make the trip to Wondai Regional Art Gallery this month to check out the latest exhibitions.

In the front gallery is a stunning 3D portrait of the late actor, Uncle Jack Charles, made from bark by Sunshine Coast art student Charlotte Simpson.

It was the overwhelming favourite among the crowd at Friday night’s exhibition opening, voted the People’s Choice winner.

The work is part of a bigger display by members of the Art In Bark Association of Australia.

A second highlight at Wondai this month is an incredibly rare photograph … of a bee “peeing”.

“Bubble Bum” was captured by Moffatdale photographer Liz Barratt (in Moffatdale!) and has since been published in nature collections, and could be only one of two such photos in the world!

A string of other stunning photos by Liz also hang around the gallery.

In the main gallery, works by the Tomlinson Family Collective, ie. Manyung artist Julie Tomlinson, her sister, daughters, granddaughters and nephew, fill the walls with works in a mixture of media.

The exhibitions were officially opened by South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff.

They will remain on display at the Wondai Regional Art Gallery until 3:00pm on Saturday, May 31.

The gallery is open seven days a week, from 10:00am to 3:00pm, and entry is free.

Julie Tomlinson, from Manyung, and her sister Gloria Tybussek … just two of the family members whose works fill the main gallery at Wondai this month
Ros Leisemann, from Brisbane, with “Shades Of Australia”, her painting made from melaleuca bark
Cr Ros Heit with Chris Delisser and Craig Yarrow who have taken over the Wondai Post Office
Moffatdale photographer Liz Barratt has works lining Gallery 3 at Wondai, including a very rare photograph of a European honey bee releasing uric acid
Mayor Kathy Duff rounded up the exhibiting artists for the official opening of the May exhibition
Wheatlands State School teacher Kerry Dunn with some of her students’ works in Kidz Korner

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South Burnett Online would like to thank Wondai Regional Gallery president Elaine Madill and her committee for also organising a small presentation on opening night.

Elaine organised for a plaque to be made to recognise the late Dafyd Martindale and his sponsorship of a painting, known as “The Dingoes”, which won the South Burnett Online Acquisitive art competition more than two decades ago.

The plaque records how the painting became part of the gallery’s permanent collection.

FLASHBACK: Wondai Art Gallery founder, the late Alison Iszlaub, and Dafyd Martindale at the South Burnett Online Acquisitive competition winner announcement, probably in 2002

 

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