Roslyn Lockhart with her portrait of Helen Dalton, Independent for Murray.
More than 40 people from around the region attended the official opening of local artist Roslyn Lockhart’s exhibition Her Story held on Saturday, May 14.
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The exhibition shines a light on the inspiring local women, who are doing great things in their communities.
Ms Lockhart said the opening night was a great success and well received by those who attended.
“It was a lovely opening, and a good crowd,” Ms Lockhart said.
“People travelled from Jerilderie, Colleambally, Albury, Canberra, Narrandera and Urana, and that was just the people I was able to speak to.
“I was able to sell four of the portraits on the night, which I wasn’t expecting at all.
“When you’re painting people the aim is more about around celebrating the subject, women and the role we play in connecting to community.
“It’s more about the message, but I’m really happy people enjoyed them enough to buy them.”
Roslyn Lockhart and her daughter Damara.
Ms Lockhart said it was important for her exhibition to celebrate women who were doing big and little things to make our communities a better place and portray them in a way that is not just an object for the male gaze.
“Most portraits you see in galleries are either men or naked women,” she said.
“Without women there is no children, no families, no communities. No women, no us.
“When I talk to my 94-year-old Barkindji Grandmother and ask why is our tribe matrilineal, she said because without women, there is no future tribe.”
Ms Lockhart said she was working on Her Story for 12 months from concept to exhibition.
“It really depends on the portrait, one person might take me three times to get it how I want it, and another I might have it how I want it after one go; but every painting helps you build to the next.”
Michelle Cartwright.
She said finding the right subject for the portraits was a mixture of people reaching out and tapping on people’s shoulders.
“I put out an ad with the concept and that I was looking for people to paint, and I also tapped people on the shoulder,” Ms Lockhart said.
“Four of the paintings are the four living generations of women in my family; my mum, grandmother and daughters.
“We’re all Barkindji women, so it was important for me to paint them as they all have great influence in my life.”
Her Story will be showing at Leeton Museum and Gallery, 27-33 Chelmsford Pl, until June 11.
If you are unable to get to the gallery on time, Ms Lockhart is hoping to put the stories together and create a “women of our region” self-published book.
Roslyn Lockhart with her portrait of Murrumbidgee Council Mayor Ruth McRae.
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