Artist and Art Teacher Willemina Foeken of Southern River. Photo: David Baylis
Camera IconArtist and Art Teacher Willemina Foeken of Southern River. Photo: David Baylis Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Southern River artist revisits Dwellingup for first time in over 50 years for new exhibition

Ben SmithCockburn Gazette

A SOUTHERN River artist’s latest exhibition saw her revisit an area of Perth she had not ventured to for over half a century.

Willemina Foeken will be displaying her Dwellingup Revisited exhibition at the Forest Discovery Centre Gallery in Dwellingup from March 3-April 3.

The exhibition is not the first time the art teacher has set foot in the area.

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In 1962, she did her practical teaching assessment at Pinjarra High School and stayed in nearby Dwellingup.

“I saw something about the Forrest Centre looking for artists and I thought ‘I haven’t been there for ages’,” Foeken said.

“I’d forgotten how nice it was and how much there is there, it’s really quite a lovely place.

“It’s only 81km (away) and I haven’t been there all those years.”

The exhibition features oils, watercolours, pastels and relief prints of bush scenes, kangaroo paws and banksias, which includes three new pieces she painted during a recent trip to Dwellingup.

Foeken said Dwellingup’s natural hills made it feel unique among West Australian landscapes.

“It’s remarkably hilly and all those Jarrah trees are just magnificent,” she said.

“There’s a lot of undergrowth, which is wonderful for painting. I could spend every day there all year.”

The gallery will be open from 10am-3pm on weekdays and 10am-4pm on weekends, with the exception of March 4, when it is closed.