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Pioneer / Bush
Series
by Norma Shelley
(nee Sullivan)
An historical
and emotional exhibition of paintings, drawings, stories and photographs
depicting memories of an artist's life on her father's Warialda
sheep station "Wondilla,' from 1935 to 1943.
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Shire
Mayor John Coulton
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Charles
and
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Norma
Shelley
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Officially
opened by
Gwydir Shire Mayor
John Coulton
Also featuring
the work of South African born bronze sculptor, Ben Nicholson.
Ben Nicholson
and Family
Kerry Cannon
in background
Exhibition continues
through September.
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Norma Joan Shelley (nee Sullivan) says: “I was born in Warialda,
NSW in 1938 on the verandah of the old hospital. This is an exhibition of
paintings, drawings, stories, and photographs which have been produced as a
result of memories of my life on “Wondilla”, the sheep-station which my father,
Reg Sullivan, managed from 1936 to approximately 1943. They also stem from the stories which my
mother related to me over the many years of her life.”
Norma began her artwork and
stories for the exhibition during March 2003 following the death of her dearly
loved mother, Ruby. When Ruby was in her seventies, Norma tried to record her
Mum’s stories on audio tape.
Unfortunately, she was embarrassed by speaking into a “contraption”, so
the stories went unrecorded, but Norma did write down all she remembered about
her Mum’s stories of the old times.
In addition to the artworks
that are accompanied by stories, Norma is exhibiting other works from her bush
memories. “Those things…the landforms,
flora and fauna of our beautiful country, which have become part of who I am…I
have a great respect for our “pioneers”, the people who founded our nation
through sweat, tears, and sheer determination.
Many were the hard times; lonely and wearying were many of the days;
strong and persevering were the characters of the ancestors who toiled to “make
a go of it.” I am proud to be Australian.”
In addition to Norma
Shelley, Ceramic Break Sculpture Park has the pleasure to introduce South
African born bronze sculptor Ben Nicholson. Ben has settled with his wife and
two children in Goondiwindi. Ben says: “By doing my sculptures in a setting where
more than one figure interacts with another, I try to set a mood and emotion
that I can relate with. Realism is typical of my style. My love for the African
bush draws me to bring wild life into my work.”
“Pioneer/Bush
Series” was officially opened by the Gwydir Shire Mayor John Coulton.
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