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Helen McCullagh

Wendy McDonald

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SPECIAL RELEASE

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The landscapes continue to tell stories of our ephemeral wetlands which have swung from extreme dry to lush green thanks to drought breaking rains. Pollack Swamp and Thule Lagoon are significant remnant wetlands of the Murray/Edwards/Wakool  River systems with much cultural heritage and environmental value. We are now thinking about the possibility of floods in the coming Spring. Each swing of the seasons and ecology fascinates and embeds me here more deeply. Understanding these landscapes nurtures connection with our first nation peoples and acknowledgement of their stories.

 

As lock down commenced I felt compelled to paint some still life works depicting an internal world of quiet reassurance. Balancing our internal and external worlds as the world drew breath and acknowledging the persistence of nature as we harvested our Autumn produce. Time to pause and reflect.  

 

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Wendy in Studio for Nancybird collection

"The free but considered mark making by Wendy McDonald in her paintings and drawings reinterpret a country she knows so well. Billabongs, dry lakes, creeks and rivers, redgum and box country, sandhills, forests and farms.

This is the home and workplace for McDonald. Her discerning and insightful eye bring an authority to the work that can only come by someone deeply invested in this landscape."

Ian Tully, Director Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery

 

"Artists of all types are our most talented communicators. Claude Monet’s impressionistic paintings of waterlilies remain one of the world’s most powerful wetland imagines. Instantly recognisable his images cross all social and cultural borders and speak to us all individually.

Full appreciation comes through an intimate knowledge of the subject. The wetlands of the Central Murray Region are complex in ecological structure and seasonal variations. Capturing these natural subtleties and differences as Wendy does so skilfully gives an intimate and unique view, improving our appreciation and understanding of these precious and iconic wetlands."  

 

Dan Hutton,  Environmental Consultant 2020

wendy mcd special release works in studi
works in studio.JPG

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WENDY MCDONALD CV

Qualifications:  Bachelor of Arts (Ed), Deakin University

 

Solo Exhibitions

 

2021  Special Release, AK Bellinger Gallery

2020   New Works, AK Bellinger Gallery, Inverell

2019  History &Geography, Works from Pollack Swamp, Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery

2019  Transitions, Elms Gallery, Surry Hills, Sydney

2019  Quietly, Koskela Gallery, Sydney

2018    “And So It Goes” , AK Bellinger Gallery, Inverell

2016   "This Place 2" , Campaspe Regional Library  

2016   "This Place" Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery, travelling exhibition, Cohuna 

2016   “This Place” , Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery

2010    Landscapes from the Murray Darling, Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery

           

Group Exhibitions, Prizes & Residencies

 

2021   Textile collaboration, Nancybird Design

2020   TWIG Residency, Noorong for The ACRE Project, Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery

2020   Floodplain, Group Exhibition, Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery

2019    Recent Acquisitions and Works from the Permanent Collection,  Swan Hill       

              Regional Art Gallery

2018    Finalist, The NSW Parliament Plein Air Paintimg  Prize, Parliament House, Sydney

2018    “A Painted landscape”, Special Group Studios, Sydney

2018    “Regional Women’s Exhibition”, Southern Buoy Studios

2017    Finalist, The NSW Parliament Plein Air Painting Prize, Parliament House, Sydney

2017    "The Inauguration", Southern Buoy Studios, Melbourne

2017     "At Home", Birds Gallery, Melbourne   

2016    Finalist, The NSW Parliament Plein Air Painting Prize, Parliament House, Sydney

2016    "LIFE, still"  , Saint Cloche, Sydney

2016    "Twelve, Koskela, Sydney

2016     Annual Group Show, Lauriston Press, Kyneton 

2015    Artist in residence, Aspire Me Regional Arts Camp, Riverina

2015    Finalist, Calleen Art Award, Cowra Regional Art Gallery

2014    Artist in residence, Aspire Me Regional Arts Camp, Riverina

2013    Artist in residence, Aspire Me Regional Arts Camp, Riverina

2012    Artist in residence, Aspire Me Regional Arts Camp, Riverina

2011    Finalist, Calleen Art Award, Cowra Regional Art Gallery

2010    SW Arts “Terrain” Exhibition, Griffith Regional Art Gallery

2010    “Terrain” Exhibition, Cube 37 Gallery, Frankston

2010    Art in the Port, Echuca

2009    Finalist, Paddington Art Prize, Sydney

2009    Finalist, Country Energy Landscape Prize, Lismore Regional Art  Gallery

2009    Art Sydney, 2009

2009    South West Arts Showcase Exhibition

2009    Finalist, Calleen Art award, Cowra Regional Art Gallery

2009    Canterbury Art Exhibition

2008    Artist, SW Arts “Muster Moments” sculpture project

2008    Recipient, Regional Arts NSW professional development "Quicks" grant

2008    Finalist, National Print and Drawing Awards, Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery

 2008    FOUR travelling exhibition, Robinvale and Kerang

2008    FOUR group exhibition, Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery

2008    Finalist, Stanthorpe Art Prize, Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery

2008    Canterbury Art Exhibition

2008    Restdown Vintage Group Exhibition

2007    Canterbury Art Exhibition

2007    Restdown Vintage Group Exhibition

2007    Professional Development Scholarship, Murrumbidgee School of Creative Arts, Charles    

            Sturt University

2006    Artist, SW Arts Conagro Shire project

2006    Artist, SW Arts Long Paddock Tourism project

2005    Co- designer, “Transmute” mosaic ute Deniliquin community art project

 

Bibliography

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2018 “A Painted Landscape” by Amber Creswell Bell, pub Thames and Hudson

2016, Australian Country Style Magazine, March issue 

2013, Australian Country Style Magazine, April issue

2010, Home Beautiful Magazine, Nov. issue, page 1

2009, Paddington Art Prize Lecture, Joe Frost

 

Collections

Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery

 

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