WESTERN DOWNS ARTS

Sarah Davis

The big sister

As a storm rolled in, Mum would gather the clothes off the line. Gum leaves swept up in gusts of wind would hurl around us as we ran in circles. Throwing ourselves to the ground pretending ‘Mum’s tree’ had fallen on us. ‘It’s us vs the world.’ I grew up under a gum tree in Miles, a ‘townie’. I grew up making homes for lady beetles with my sister in the yard while our parents argued inside. I grew up throwing house paint at furniture while my sister flipped and kicked on the trampoline. The reality of my rural upbringing is that I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. I was a big sister. 

Patricia Hinz

As nature intended

I feel very privileged that at this moment in time my Rural Reality is fairly untouched and as nature intended. I can still find parts of the property that have not been changed or modified by human activities. This is changing quickly as I watch the solar panels and gas wells approaching from the east and the huge wind towers marching towards us from the west. How long will this tranquility last? 

Machelle Flanigan

Summer reality

Every summer we are threatened by bushfires. This is a reality that cannot be ignored. We must be prepared and vigilant every year. 

Machelle Flanigan

Family show time

Family and friends at the rural agricultural show relaxing and making lifelong memories. 

Tiarna Lowe

Indigenous learning

Tiarna Lowe chose to create an artwork because she is learning about her culture and how her culture tells stories through art, using symbols as different aspects of the stories. Lowe’s father is Indigenous, and she loves to learn about his history, story and background. This story is Lowe’s learning about the communities and creation of representative symbolism. 

Mel Andrews

Golden Wattle (Acacia Pycnantha)

My definition of Rural Reality is living in a wonderfully old and character filled Queensland farmhouse, surrounded by stunningly beautiful Australian Native Flora, through every season, flood or drought or in between. Each flower and leaf are so superbly different and so unique in their colour, texture, size and brightness. Being able to capture the absolute vibrancy and individuality of these blooms gives me great joy. Each new bloom is a promise of things to come. 

Machelle Flanigan

Aerial drought muster

Even in drought conditions, cattle must be moved. It’s a teamwork effort from land to sky.

Lisa Jayne Stiller

Wheat

I married a farmer 25 years ago & rural life became my reality. Rural life is a juxtaposition of challenge & blessing. The demands of contemporary society have seen an influx of resource industry in our rural areas & has added a new, challenging dimension to our lives, as we struggle to find a sustainable balance between farming & energy production. However, at the end of the day, the production of food must be our priority. Nothing matters more & this is why I chose to paint Wheat – our nation’s most beloved crop. What a beautiful sight – a field of ripe wheat, gently blowing in the breeze. 

Melody Walker

Cloud watcher

We’re all cloud watchers out here. On the land, these fluffy little wonders dictate most of our daily activities. If they haven’t been around in a while it’s feeding cattle, if there have been too many it’s staying in because the creek’s up and we won’t be getting anywhere anytime soon. It’s when to plough, when to plant, when to harvest, rake the hay, turn the hay, bale, move cattle, sell cattle, buy. It’s what are the ants doing over your way? How much did you get? Is the creek up? The reality is they unite us these skies, without them we’d have a whole lot less to talk about. 

Carly Walker

The long-distance relationship

Once a year you buy the whole family new swimmers, dig your beach toys out from the back of the shed, ask the neighbour to feed the chooks, and do the long drive to your favourite beach holiday spot. The starkly different environment provides a brief reprieve from your rural reality, but just as your farmer‘s socks have started to fade it’s time to take your new shell collection home and add them to the jar on the shelf where they will remind you of that distant paradise… until next year. 

Cindy Grimes

Mother daughter other

Family and rural succession is a long-term conversation and sometimes a controversy in rural Australia. This portrait of my daughter and I is both an opportunity for reflection and a conversation starter about my personal rural reality. Bailey and I share an address and so much more. Together we work, plan, bicker, cry, laugh, gossip, empathise, paint, create. It is a story of privilege, gratitude and love. 

Machelle Flanigan

Exhausted volunteer

All volunteers take time out of their lives to provide a free service in our community. They are the backbones of our towns. This firefighter courageously puts his life at risk to protect the town and its surrounding properties. He never asks for anything …then he does it all again the next day. 

Machelle Flanigan

Waterplay

Our property has given my family and now grandchildren, ‘free play‘ with its natural gifts. They are never bored as the list of things to explore here is endless. Each time, more beautiful memories are made. 

Mel Andrews

Bottlebrush (Callistemom)

My definition of Rural Reality is living in a wonderfully old and character filled Queensland farmhouse, surrounded by stunningly beautiful Australian Native Flora, through every season, flood or drought or in between. Each flower and leaf are so superbly different and so unique in their colour, texture, size and brightness. Being able to capture the absolute vibrancy and individuality of these blooms gives me great joy. Each new bloom is a promise of things to come. 

Angelique Delport

The rural face

Acronym for rural: Rustic, undisturbed, real all-inclusive life. It has a face and a character of its own with a heartbeat so strong it reverberates across the country. The rural reality is the slow peaceful pulse that keeps the urban brain alive. 

Machelle Flanigan

Seat of knowledge

From early morning onwards these local seniors sit on a chair daily that they call ‘the seat of knowledge‘ outside the newsagency. I watched them debate, argue, laugh and comfort one another. I had always wanted to stop and listen to their stories, and I often regret not doing so. Inside I felt quietly protective of them and unfortunately today they are no more. 

Maree Easton

Division

Thinking about the theme Rural Realities brought memories of our trip to WA when we visited the Myalls Bore. The bore was built in the early 1900’s and would provide much needed water for up to 1000 head. It is said to be one of the longest troughs in the southern hemisphere, being 120 metres long. Living on the land our one concern is water – either to make grass grow or fill up tanks. To me Rural Realities is the struggle on the land relying on rainfall. I decided to make the Myalls Bore the centre piece, being the all-important water supply and have one side dry and other side lush. 

Alyce Mullen

Harrowing hills

Harrowing Hills unveils a landscape of deceptive peace. A vast sky stretches above weathered structures, their worn facades whispering tales of relentless sun and relentless toil. Though a quiet stillness hangs in the air, the wind carries echoes of hardship – a testament to the unseen battles fought by those who call this land home. Here, beneath the beauty, lies a fierce resilience, a tribute to the unsung heroes who coax life from this unforgiving soil. Their hands, gnarled and strong, speak volumes of the unwavering spirit that continues to carve a living from this harsh embrace. 

Mel Andrews

Red flowering gum (Corymbia Ficifolia)

My definition of Rural Reality is living in a wonderfully old and character filled Queensland farmhouse, surrounded by stunningly beautiful Australian Native Flora, through every season, flood or drought or in between. Each flower and leaf are so superbly different and so unique in their colour, texture, size and brightness. Being able to capture the absolute vibrancy and individuality of these blooms gives me great joy. Each new bloom is a promise of things to come. 

Lucy Herd

A waiting glory

“The rain will come eventually – just wait,” Mum says. To which Dad replies, “You’re only saying that because it always has.”  

In the waiting, we yearn for life to return, wondering if it ever will. We watch the slow decay of green livingness with an anxious grief. Yet, there is something strangely captivating in a withering leaf. It is here, in the crisping edges and goldening hue of death that we see the exquisite yearning for life that all things hold.  

A groaning sort of glory, awaiting new life. 

Machelle Flanigan

Connection

This corrugated road is our family’s connection to friends, specialists, shops and much more. It connects us to the life outside of property isolation. 

Emily Brett

Hailey

Hailey is representative of the beauty of rural realities. The piece is unexpected, bold and bright. 

Jeannie Bowtell

Freedom: Running the horses in for a day's mustering

The horse has been associated with numerous roles throughout the ages. A Rural Reality is that horses are being replaced by motorbikes and helicopters for mustering stock. The benefits of the horse for mustering include connection with nature, physical exercise, emotional bond, low environmental impact, lowering stress levels, stock versatility and horses support you on your journey, reminding you that you have strength and the ability to succeed. The wind in the mane of the galloping horse is a call to take the reins of your life, to move with courage and determination to heal and feel free. 

Machelle Flanigan

Lil future farmers

My grandchildren love the freedom of walking the paddocks while doing farm maintenance. They want to be farmers one day. 

Angelique Delport

Iron Bark

Bark is the outer layer of a tree and without it the tree will die. Unlike other eucalyptus trees, the ironbark does not shed its outer layer of bark, creating deep crevices and interesting ‘landscapes‘ on the tree trunk and branches. Bark is both within and encircling a tree, and thus symbolically provides balance and strength. The rural reality is that without the ‘bark‘ of rural people, this land will be stripped of its protective layer, it’s balance and strength.