Gympie artist Shellie Johns sees the connections between people, fauna and flora in the Mary Valley, and that’s what she brings to her artwork.
She is one of 20 artists invited to paint a plinth each for display at the Mary Valley Art Festival in July at Imbil.
They will feature in the Mary Valley Alive exhibition, celebrating the festival’s 20th anniversary, which tells the story of the Mary Valley through its flora, fauna and people. The plinths will reflect the themes, and they will be displayed with artworks from the original Mary Valley Alive exhibit, which is comprised of art from the place, time and events of the Traveston Crossing Dam campaign.
Ms Johns loves the opportunities that abound in the Mary Valley.
“It’s a great place to raise a family. And I have so many wonderful memories of my time living on Yabba Creek Road,” she said.
“It’s picturesque – a photographer’s dream – with an amazing amount of wildlife. We loved watching the platypus and lungfish in Yabba Creek.”
The valley’s residents were a friendly bunch as well, Ms Johns said. Many people volunteer to help make events happen, and she said her time in the local community helped to shape her as a person.
Ms Johns grew up on a farm in country Victoria and loved art from an early age. She remembers being inspired by her mother’s charcoal drawings, and art and building graphics were her favourite school subjects.
She completed an Advanced Certificate of Art and Design, pursuing architect qualifications in Adelaide. Moving to Queensland in 2002, Ms Johns started a family and discovered the art community in the Mary Valley.
She has been a regular entrant in the Mary Valley Art Festival, where her distinctive word art style won her first prize in the drawing category. The style is a popular gift that depicts someone’s life in a unique way.
You can see the Mary Valley Alive exhibition at the Mary Valley Art Festival on July 22-25 where over $8000 is up for grabs. If you are an artist, there is still time to enter your artwork in the festival – entries close on July 1. The rich prize pool draws quality entries from South-East Queensland, with the Bendigo Bank Open Award of $2500, nine categories for adults, and a Youth Award for 12-17-year-olds.
You can find entry forms in local galleries and shops or online at www.maryvalleyartslink.com.au Inquiries to Heinke Butt on 0419 024291 or email info@maryvalleyartfestival.com.au
Festival viewing starts on July 22 at the Imbil Public Hall, Edward Street, Imbil, with the opening night and award presentations on Friday July 23.
