2024 Donnelly Verandah Residencies – Floeur Alder, Rob Gear, Sue Leeming, Holly O’Meehan, Jill Paynter-O’Meehan, Cim Sears2024-10-12T08:01:25+08:00
  • Photograph of Donnelly River Verandah and Plein Air paintbox and parrot
  • Donnelly River Village plein air nocturne painting - Michel Camus & Ken Wadrop
  • Photograph of Donnelly River Village plein air nocturne painting at the General Store - Ken Wadrop

The Donnelly Verandah Residencies

June – August 2024

Donnelly River Village is on Pibelmen Noongar Boodjar.

The Donnelly Verandah Residencies provide an opportunity for artists to immerse themselves in the unique Karri Forest at Donnelly River where imposing old-growth Karri-stands dominate a 1950s mill town. Artists undertake a residency for just over a week allowing them time to develop ideas, grow their art practice or create new work. They stay in one of the 35 cottages in the village with the intention that the forest surroundings will provide a ground for creativity and artistic development.

Well-known Western Australian artists Floeur Alder, Robert Gear, Sue Leeming, Holly O’Meehan, Jill Paynter-O’Meehan and Cim Sears will take part in the eighth annual verandah residencies in June-August 2024.

Performance and exhibition: Floeur Alder will present a ‘work-in-progress’ performance of her residency outcomes at the Donnelly River Village Worker’s Club. This is scheduled for 5pm, Sunday 1 September. Please check back for more information.

Workshops: Floeur Alder, Contemporary and creative dance workshop 10-11:30am, 27 July 2024 at the Donnelly River Village Workers Club. Wood and wire workshop – Korin Gath.

Perth-based exhibition: works produced by this year’s artists in residence will be held at Earlywork in South Fremantle from 18-27 October, 2024.

Please check back for updates and more information.

Winter at Donnelly is wood-smoke misty mornings and star-filled winter nights. On ancient land, home to the Pibelmen and Wardandi people for tens of thousands of years, surrounded by state forest, the 1950s mill town’s thirty-five workers cottages, boarding house and workers club each have verandahs that overlook a central stand of magnificent Karri trees. If wintery conditions keep artists to their cottages, these verandahs offer a sheltered outlook to the natural environment. The original steam mill, school, butcher shop and general store add unique architectural notes. Tame kangaroos, emus, possums, kookaburras, magpies, parrots, blue wren and other wildlife wander through the village and visit cottages. If the weather is fine and artists are looking for a change of scene, heading into the surrounding forest along any of the many bush trails offers new aspects at every turn, including a deep forest lake surrounded by majestic trees. We hope the Donnelly environment will provide a place of contemplation and inspiration for the artists-in-residence.

We acknowledge that the Pibelmen people were dispossessed by the arrival of European colonists in the 1800s and that this dispossession led to trauma and loss. We support the many strong Aboriginal people who are leading the journey towards justice and recovery. We at Donnelly hope that we can play a small part in that by, at least, contributing to greater understanding about the rich culture and history of our place. In 2012, Koodah Cornwall of the Noongar nation engaged our community in cultural activities and (with permission from the Manjimup Aboriginal Corporation) welcomed us to this country.

For accommodation bookings contact
Donnelly River Village PHONE: +61 (8) 9772 1244
or visit the website: donnellyriver.com.au

Floeur Alder, Work in Progress, 2024.

2024 Donnelly Verandah Residencies.
Exhibition opens: Friday 18 October 2024, 6-8pm.
Continues 19-27 September 2024, daily 10am – 4pm.

Each year the community @donnellyrivervillage invites artists to visit and respond to this iconic 1950s timber milling village on Bibelmen boodjar in WA’s south west. This exhibition showcases a selection of work by the six artists who took part in @thedonnellyverandahresidencies 2024; Cim Sears, Sue Leeming, Robert Gear, Floeur Alder, Holly O’Meehan and Jill Paynter-O’Meehan.
Holly O'Meehan, Work in Progress, 2024.

2024 Donnelly Verandah Residencies.
Exhibition opens: Friday 18 October 2024, 6-8pm.
Continues 19-27 September 2024, daily 10am – 4pm.

Each year the community @donnellyrivervillage invites artists to visit and respond to this iconic 1950s timber milling village on Bibelmen boodjar in WA’s south west. This exhibition showcases a selection of work by the six artists who took part in @thedonnellyverandahresidencies 2024; Cim Sears, Sue Leeming, Robert Gear, Floeur Alder, Holly O’Meehan and Jill Paynter-O’Meehan.
Cim Sears, Donnelly River II (2024), digital print on Tesuki-Washi EchiZen smooth handmade Japanese paper, 98cm x 66cm.

2024 Donnelly Verandah Residencies.
Exhibition opens: Friday 18 October 2024, 6-8pm.
Continues 19-27 September 2024, daily 10am – 4pm.

Each year the community @donnellyrivervillage invites artists to visit and respond to this iconic 1950s timber milling village on Bibelmen boodjar in WA’s south west. This exhibition showcases a selection of work by the six artists who took part in @thedonnellyverandahresidencies 2024; Cim Sears, Sue Leeming, Robert Gear, Floeur Alder, Holly O’Meehan and Jill Paynter-O’Meehan.
Jill Paynter-O'Meehan, Crochet lichen in the wild, Donnelly River Village, 2024.

2024 Donnelly Verandah Residencies, Opening: Friday 18 October 2024, 6-8pm.

Exhibition continues – 19-27 September 2024, open daily 10am – 4pm.

Each year the community @donnellyrivervillage invites artists to visit and respond to this iconic 1950s timber milling village on Bibelmen boodjar in WA’s south west. This exhibition showcases a selection of work by the six artists who took part in @thedonnellyverandahresidencies 2024; Cim Sears, Sue Leeming, Robert Gear, Floeur Alder, Holly O’Meehan and Jill Paynter-O’Meehan.

#bibbulmunboodja #donnellyrivervillage #artresidencyprogram #textiles #crochet #sitespecific #karriforest #funghi
Jill Painter-O'Meehan, Installation of crochet organic growth and fungi, lichen, 2024.

2024 Donnelly Verandah Residencies.
Exhibition opens: Friday 18 October 2024, 6-8pm.
Continues 19-27 September 2024, daily 10am – 4pm.

Each year the Donnelly River Village invites artists to
visit the village and respond to the iconic 1950s timber
milling village in WA’s south west. This exhibition
showcases a selection of work by six of artists who
took part in the 2024 Donnelly Verandah residencies;
Cim Sears, Sue Leeming, Robert Gear, Floeur Alder,
Holly O’Meehan and Jill Paynter-O’Meehan.
Robert Gear, Primeval Land, 9 x 9 cms, oil on board.

2024 Donnelly Verandah Residencies, Opening: Friday 18 October 2024, 6-8pm.

Exhibition continues – 19-27 September 2024, open daily 10am – 4pm.

Each year the community @donnellyrivervillage invites artists to visit and respond to this iconic 1950s timber milling village on Bibelmen boodjar in WA’s south west. This exhibition showcases a selection of work by the six artists who took part in @thedonnellyverandahresidencies 2024; Cim Sears, Sue Leeming, Robert Gear, Floeur Alder, Holly O’Meehan and Jill Paynter-O’Meehan.

#bibbulmunboodja #donnellyrivervillage #artresidencyprogram #landscape #landscapepainting #oilonboardpainting #karriforest
Robert Gear, Repossesion, 2024, oil on board, 30x40cms.

2024 Donnelly Verandah Residencies.
Exhibition opens: Friday 18 October 2024, 6-8pm.
Continues 19-27 September 2024, daily 10am – 4pm.

Each year the Donnelly River Village invites artists to
visit the village and respond to the iconic 1950s timber
milling village in WA’s south west. This exhibition
showcases a selection of work by six of artists who
took part in the 2024 Donnelly Verandah residencies;
Cim Sears, Sue Leeming, Robert Gear, Floeur Alder,
Holly O’Meehan and Jill Paynter-O’Meehan.
Flashback: Donnelly Verandah Residencies exhibition, 2023. Sarah Elson and Ric Spencer, 'Finding our micellular connection'. 

Sarah Elson and Ric Spencer are giving a talk about their work together @artcollectivewa this Saturday, 12 October at 2pm. 
@sarahjelson, @12b_or_not_12b

Part of the current exhibition: Sarah Elson + Ric Spencer, 'I can't help but pull the earth around me to make my bed' @artcollectivewa 
21 September - 26 October 2024

Images: 
Sarah Elson: Mushroom pins. Made from unwanted jewellery, recycled electrical wires and redundant currency (silver and copper)
Ric Spencer: Mushroom studies I-IV, Pencil on paper, 215 x 250mm
Sue Leeming, Echoes, Untitled, ink and oil on canvas, work in progress. 
Exhibition opens: Friday 18 October 2024, 6-8pm. 
Continues 19-27 September 2024, daily 10am – 4pm.

The 2024 Donnelly Verandah Residencies.
Each year the Donnelly River Village invites artists to visit the village and respond to the iconic 1950s timber milling village in WA’s south west. This exhibition showcases a selection of work by six of artists who took part in the 2024 Donnelly Verandah residencies; Cim Sears, Sue Leeming, Robert Gear, Floeur Alder, Holly O’Meehan and Jill Paynter-O’Meehan.

@donnellyrivervillage @earlywork.gallery
The 2024 Donnelly Verandah Residencies.
Opening: Friday 18 October 2024, 6-8pm
Exhibition continues 19-27 September 2024, daily 10am - 4pm. 

Each year the Donnelly River Village invites artists to visit the village and respond to the iconic 1950s timber milling village in WA’s south west. This exhibition showcases a selection of work by six of artists who took part in the 2024 Donnelly Verandah residencies; Cim Sears, Sue Leeming, Robert Gear, Floeur Alder, Holly O'Meehan and Jill Paynter O'Meehan.

@cimsears, @sueleemingartist, @robertgear1, @pollygeorgebyholly, @jill_paynter_omeehan_

#donnellyrivervillage #artresidencyprogram #southwestaustralia

Latest News

Artists talks, workshops, paintings and exhibitions

A glimpse into Donnelly

Tuesday  4:30pm "Rules for residency: respond to surroundings on impulse. Follow impulse. Start two new works each day. No rethinking. Complete all works later." [...]

Ben Sherar, managing the weather

Ben Sherar's emails from Donnelly continue the wintery theme, "It's been pretty cold…". As well as working on the verandah, in the village and in nearby Bridgetown [...]

Referencing Great Uncle Hal

A few more sketches from Donnelly. I'm trying to reference some of my great uncle Hal Missingham's 'Bush images' re style and medium as a loose "conceptual [...]

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The Donnelly Verandah Residencies

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