The Paintings
2,000 Kilometers of back roads.
We left home in Lismore and headed to Canberra for the Pre-Rafaelite exhibition at the National Gallery. From there we travelled through country Victoria and New South Wales with loads of “Kodak moments” along the way.
I’ve always been fascinated with the lost and abandoned buildings and find a beauty and tranquillity in their decomposing facades.
The trip took us through Walcha, down to Millawa in Country Victoria and then on to Quirindi, Tarrango, Murringo, Condobolin, Fifield, Lightning Ridge, Dirranbandi, St, George. I spent a little time at Dirranbandi and St. George as a child visiting my Uncle who managed Orraine station at Dirranbandi and Berwah Station at St. George at separate times. I guess it was a little journey of nostalgia. My husband and I were looking out the whole time for interesting buildings and ruins. And then “Jackpot!” we discovered the fabulous Pikedale station and then Ballandean Station with their wealth of history and I knew I had to paint all I’d seen to preserve what’s left.
But the trip bought us much more. To drive through struggling small towns, the friendliness of people running small businesses in these towns and their kind and helpful “she’ll be right mate” attitudes. To see their empty shops and boarded up homes and drive past drought ravaged paddocks devoid of life or stock with dozens of whirling dust towers covering the distant horizons, while people make an exodus to the city. The vast empty spaces of country NSW seemed stripped bare and we couldn’t help but feel the tangible pain of the people who live there now. It made the abandoned places all the more relevant and we empathised with the people who are trying to keep their country and homes through this terrible time. They’re tough buggers out there! They don’t give up easily and I’m astonished and awed by their tenacity.
PRICE: $900
MEDIUM: Oils on Canvas
CODE: RA003