{"id":225294,"date":"2018-12-11T23:33:46","date_gmt":"2018-12-11T13:33:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=225294"},"modified":"2020-07-25T13:02:07","modified_gmt":"2020-07-25T03:02:07","slug":"last-chance-to-see-popular-artworks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2018\/12\/11\/last-chance-to-see-popular-artworks\/","title":{"rendered":"Last Chance To See Popular Artworks"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Artist June McCotter and friends Rhonda Pullen and Paul Musk are mounting a joint exhibition at the Wondai Regional Art Gallery until January 28<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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A detail from artist Rhonda Pullen’s absorbing acrylic work ‘@ Water Hole’<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

December 11, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fans will have one last chance this summer to enjoy the works of an artist who’s exhibited at the Wondai Regional Art Gallery for more than 25 years.<\/p>\n

June McCotter, who formerly lived in Wondai but now lives on the Sunshine Coast, was one of a handful of local artists who helped the late Alison Iszlaub establish the gallery.<\/p>\n

The quirky artist has been a regular exhibitor there ever since, usually mounting a solo show each year.<\/p>\n

June began her creative career as a potter but later expanded into painting.<\/p>\n

She is now probably best known for her acrylic, oil and mixed media works, many of which now proudly hang on the walls of many South Burnett homes.<\/p>\n

This month and next, June’s latest works are part of a joint showing that also features works created by her friends Rhonda Pullen and Paul Musk, and Paul’s son Jay.<\/p>\n

At the official opening of the “Take 4” exhibition on Friday night, June paid a glowing tribute to Alison, who died recently after a long illness.<\/strong><\/p>\n

June said Alison originally set up the first Wondai Art Gallery diagonally across the road from its current site.<\/p>\n

It ran there for several years until the former Wondai railway station master’s house came on the market.<\/p>\n

Alison persuaded her husband – former Wondai Shire Mayor Percy Iszlaub – that Council should acquire the building and convert it into a public art gallery.<\/p>\n

And after a long fight, Wondai Shire Council eventually agreed to her request.<\/p>\n

The original building required extensive renovations to be repurposed as an art gallery, and the idea of a small rural council owning a public art gallery caused consternation in some circles.<\/p>\n

But when it finally opened its doors, the new gallery soon acquired a strong following that has endured to the present day.<\/p>\n

When the South Burnett Regional Council was created in 2008, Wondai became one of two Regional Art Galleries owned by the new Council (the other is Kingaroy).<\/p>\n

The Wondai Gallery has since been expanded and extended several times and is currently undergoing another extension expected to be completed early next year.<\/p>\n

Alison continued in the role of curator until 2008 when she was succeeded in the role by current curator Elaine Madill.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 2012, the Gallery’s main exhibition space was re-named in Alison’s honour to recognise her outstanding contribution to regional arts.<\/p>\n

Alison was also a co-founder of South Burnett Arts Inc, an organisation set up to promote the development of the arts in the South Burnett, and remained its patron until her death.<\/p>\n

June said she missed Alison whenever she exhibited at the gallery these days and said the building always reminded her of her dear friend.<\/p>\n

But she now plans to spend time travelling Australia, so the current exhibition may be her last at the gallery – if not forever, then for at least for the next few years.<\/p>\n