The Donnelly Verandah Residencies
May 23 – 4 July 2019
Donnelly River Village is on Pibelmen Noongar land.
As part of the Bridgetown in the Winter Festival held in June, July & August, well-known Western Australian artists will be in residence at Donnelly River Village from 13 May to 4 July… Linda Fardoe, Kirsty Sadler, James Giddy, Jeana Castelli and Mark Welsh will each stay in one of the cottages in the village and work in this unique Karri Forest setting. If you visit the village over this time you may have had the chance to see some of the art they’ve produced. At 5pm each Saturday afternoon between 23 May and 4 July 2019, the current artist in residence will give an informal talk about their time in the village and their art practice. Visitors are invited to stay on, by the fire, for the regular Donnelly River Village social hour. A Perth-based exhibition of selected works produced during the residencies is planned for 15-24 November 2019. Please check back for updates and more information.
Winter at Donnelly is wood-smoke misty mornings and star-filled winter nights. Serenity. You slow down, chop wood, make a fire and snuggle by it. Bake a pie in a Metters wood stove. Have an afternoon nap… or, from sheltered verandahs enveloped in forest, be inspired to capture the essence of the place.
The thirty-five workers cottages, boarding house and workers club all have verandahs that overlook the central stand of magnificent Karri trees. The original steam mill, school, butcher shop and general store offer 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 you’re looking for a change of outlook, head into the surrounding forest. A walk along any of the bush trails offers new aspects at every turn, or set up to paint the deep forest lake surrounded by majestic trees. Donnelly is the perfect place for a creative escape.
For accommodation bookings contact
Donnelly River Village PHONE: +61 (8) 9772 1244
or visit the website: donnellyriver.com.au
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." [...]
Kirsty Sadler, first artist to arrive at Donnelly
A glimpse into Donnelly Monday 5:11pm "Lit the fire on Friday and it hasn't gone out yet. Three 8 hour days painting so far, first time in [...]
2019 Donnelly Verandah Residencies artists announced
Kirsty Sadler James Giddy Linda Fardoe Jeana Castelli Mark Welsh As part of the Bridgetown [...]
Peter Barker’s paintings arrive for the 2018 Donnelly Verandah Residencies exhibition
This exhibition features the work of the 2018 Donnelly Verandah Residency artists who each spent a week living in one of the workers cottages [...]
The Donnelly Verandah Residencies exhibition 2018
Beginning with an official launch at 6:30pm on Friday 23 November 2018, the exhibition will be open from 10am – 4pm daily 24 November to 2 December, [...]
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 [...]
Andy Kent joins Ben Sherar as artist in residence at Donnelly
When their latest exhibition Small Works finished on Sunday 12 August, Ben Sherar and Peter Barker invited Andy Kent to join them at Donnelly River Village for [...]
Bronwen Newbury, misty winter forest
Bronwen Newbury's studies of the Donnelly karri forest in winter.
Peter Barker, painting and hailstorms
With a cold front bringing below zero temperatures to the village and a dusting of snow to Bluff Knoll, Peter Barker headed out to paint 'en plein [...]
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 [...]
Ben Crappsley – from the verandah
"Having a great time at Donnelly River! Managing to make some drawings from the verandah so all good." - Ben Crappsley, 5 August 2018 [...]
Robyn Varpins – 2018 Donnelly Verandah Residency works
Robyn Varpins sent through almost-finished works at the end of her 2018 residency at Donnelly River Village - with the following notes."None of them are finished [...]