General News
28 July, 2022
Special exhibition headed to Avoca’s Gallery 127 next week
Avoca’s Gallery 127 will host a special exhibition next month, showcasing the works of well-known Moonambel local, the late Jacqueline Drever. Jacqueline sadly passed away late last year but has left a legacy of a deep love for the landscape and...
Avoca’s Gallery 127 will host a special exhibition next month, showcasing the works of well-known Moonambel local, the late Jacqueline Drever.
Jacqueline sadly passed away late last year but has left a legacy of a deep love for the landscape and natural environment in her art, some of which will be on display as part of the gallery’s upcoming exhibition.
The Jacqueline Drever Paintings exhibition is a tribute to its namesake and will showcase 28 of her landscape and still life paintings in what will be a touching exhibition.
Jacqueline and her husband Russell made the move to Moonambel 22 years ago and both painters, found inspiration in the landscape surrounding their rural property and the relaxed lifestyle.
While Russell has been an artist all his life, painting had remained a dream of Jacqueline’s until she was around 40 and Russell said she became hooked.
“Jacqueline had no formal art training and I’d been an art teacher all my life,” he said.
“She was around 40 when she picked it up, it was something she’d always wanted to do but started quite late because of balancing everything life threw at us.
“With everything going on with our four kids, when Jacqueline had some spare time she’d set up at the kitchen table and start sketching and drawing which is how it all really started.
“I introduced her to the materials and she started, she just loved it and painted for about 35 years.”
Russell said it was inevitable Jacqueline painted the landscape as it’s something she had always loved.
“Jacqueline particularly painted landscapes and still life,” he said.
“Her big passion was the landscape, she came to Australia from Nottingham when she was six and went straight into the country with her family, she grew up in the landscape and always loved it.
“She absolutely adored the countryside and loved the bush and when you see her exhibition, it’s pretty clear the thing she loved most was the landscape.”
Russell said the exhibition, while a tribute to the life and work of his wife, would also be bittersweet.
“It’s a bit of an irony that we’re exhibiting Jacqueline’s work without her, I suppose it is bittersweet because I’d much rather be doing this with her,” he said.
“We’ve got four kids and they’re very enthusiastic about this, it will be a tribute to her more than anything.”
The exhibition will open next Friday, August 5 and will run through to August 30, with an official opening taking place on Saturday, August 6 with light refreshments from 2 pm.
Avoca’s Gallery 127 can be found at 13-15 York Avenue, Avoca.