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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20 x 20 cm Oil on Board $950
30.5 x 30.5 cm Oil on Board $1200
30.5 x 30.5 cm Oil on Board $1200
20 x 20cm Oil on Board $950
40 x 33 cm Framed Acrylic on Linen $1450
33 x 40 cm Framed Acrylic on Linen $1450
80 x 90cm Framed Acrylic on Linen $3300
90 x 80cm Framed Acrylic on Linen $3300
"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
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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