Preparations are well underway for the next showing of ‘A Sense of Wonder’ at the Gympie Art Gallery. Opening from the 23rd of November 2016 to the 21st of January 2017 with the official opening on Saturday 26th November at 1.30pm. This exhibition is suitable for all ages and a great family outing for your holidays. Gallery hours are from Tuesday- Saturday 10.00am till 4.00pm and is situated at 39 Nash St Gympie. Phone (07) 54810733

At the recent South Burnett Regional Council Art Competition, Robyn gained two highly commended awards. The first was for “Slight Adjustment” and the other for “Drifting”. She also took home the peoples choice for the second time with a portrait titled “Reflective”

“Reflective”  – Peoples Choice  – by Robyn Dower

“Slight Adjustment”      – Highly Commended – By Robyn Dower

“Drifting” –   Highly Commended  – by Robyn Dower

Sense of Wonder Art Exhibition seems to evoke the same reaction regardless of where it goes. It is now settled into the Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery. It is located upstairs in gallery two and will remain on display until September 18th. So many Mice!!

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 While most people who see the white mice at the ‘Sense of Wonder’ exhibition are in love with with them, There is one member of Robyn’s family who frankly doesn’t see what all the fuss is about. He seemed to struggle with the concept altogether and felt that it was appalling that he should have to share his space with them.

Billy is Robyn’s Studio cat. He does what he likes when he wants and can be quite destructive when not given the attention he demands. The pair do argue from time to time, but generally it is peaceful as long as Billy stays where he is supposed to and behaves himself.

“These days he generally just lays around as he is getting that bit older but don’t be fooled he has a split personality at times and can be quite destructive. I do like having him around though. That way when something goes wrong, I tend to blame him while he remains blissfully unaware”.

‘Sense of Wonder’ Biloela is the first in the five venue tour of regional Qld for this Art Installation. Its has been partly funded by Regional Arts Development Fund. Biloela is the biggest of the galleries it will be visiting, and is on display until the 27th of May 2016. Robyn and her sister Kay were very pleased with how it all went up and are now concentrating their efforts on adapting it for Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery. It will be in Gallery Two, which will be one of the smallest places it travels to. The challenge will be to adapt it to make sure it still creates maximum impact for visitors to the gallery.

“Every place is different and bringing an exhibition like this to different places has its own set of challenges for us to overcome. We have left time between venues so that we can make sure that it all works well in its new surroundings and doesn’t lose any of it’s magic or ability to tell it’s story” said Robyn. The Bundaberg Exhibition will be from July 19th to Sept. 18th 2016.

Preparations are well underway for the art exhibition ‘Sense of Wonder’ to be taken to Biloela in early April. After spending nearly four months in Customs house residence in Maryborough Qld, it is now in boxes and in every nook and cranny of the artist Robyn Dower’s home. Biloela will be the largest space that will need to be filled as ‘Sense of Wonder makes it way around Qld on a partly funded tour to 5 venues in 5 regions. This funding has been made available through an RADF Grant. The Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Local Councils to support local arts and culture. The trailer will have to be repacked in order to fit all the extra that will need to be taken to Biloela. There will be absolutley no spare room for anything.                                                           

“THE CATTLE”

The South Burnett Regional Council held it’s annual 2015 October Acquisitive art prize on Friday the 2nd of October. The winning entry was ” The Cattle” by Robyn Dower. This was a depiction of their own cattle from the farm in Tingoora. Qld. The Judge said it was ‘ a clean fresh painting in a contemporary format’.  Robyn also won peoples choice on the night with her painting of a Campdrafter titled ” The Chase “

“THE CHASE”

The Customs House Residence in Wharf street Maryborough has become home for the Sense of Wonder Art Exhibition until January 2016. After a successful opening of its first showing at the Wondai Regional Art Gallery, the adaptability of this special exhibition  has been tested. Because of its pure size, traveling it has been a challenge but one that is paying off due to it’s success. It opened on the 26th of September as part of Maryborough’s Open House Weekend and it is intended to be open from 10.00am to 2.00pm weekdays and 9.30 to 12.00 weekends. It is a unique exhibition using the visual arts and writing as the basis to bring a story to life. A relatable story with clues scattered throughout to help piece together the past. This will not be its last place on show. More Info as to where it will be going will be announced soon.

Robyn’s painting ‘The Left Flank’ won first prize in the South Burnett Regional Art Competition at the Kingaroy Regional Art Gallery. The winners were announced on Saturday the 11th of April 2015. The theme was the Australian Light Horse Regiment.

The ‘Sense of Wonder’ Art Exhibition is up and running at the Wondai Regional Art Gallery. After a successful opening, the gallery is expecting many visitors over the 2014/2015 Christmas holiday period. Artist Robyn Dower along with her sister, Writer/ Poet Kay Gorring, have finally seen their efforts for the past three years finally come to life.”For something we really could only imagine for a long time it is nice to see it up and to be exactly as we intended.” Robyn said. Bringing the story to life was a major challenge. The goal was to have the two art forms capable of standing alone, but be extra special together. The Story and the art exhibition have been deliberately designed to be adaptable and adjustable.