By Mikayla van Loon
Mont De Lancey has embarked on a new and exciting venture with a local watercolour artist to activate and enliven its gallery space.
Mount Evelyn’s Donna Legg has joined the historic homestead as the first artist in residence, welcomed officially into the fold in early March.
The idea sprang from Donna’s involvement and help in coordinating an exhibition for the Mount Evelyn Art Collective in October last year.
“People came from everywhere. We had tour groups too that came in. People were happy just popping in and staying a bit longer than they probably thought they would,” Mont De Lancey president Jill Sebire said.
“It’s good for the community and for Mont De Lancey. Then we realised this was probably a good idea to have an artist in residence and now that is what Donna is. She’s our artist in residence, she’s excited, we’re doubly excited.”
Slightly apprehensive about undertaking the role and the commitment, it took Donna a while to agree but has been so pleased with the amount of encouragement since she took the leap.
“I was not sure I could handle anything else, because I was obviously so busy at home and with everything else I juggle but I thought about it, and the girls of Mont De Lancey and my family, my friends, everyone have been very encouraging and said I can do it,” Donna said.
“I like to put my whole heart into whatever I do. So I wanted to make sure I could do it before I said yes.
“Everything’s just been falling into place. It just feels like it’s meant to be. The group here at Mont De Lancy, everyone’s fantastic from Jill and the team to the blacksmiths and the woodturners. They’re just so welcoming. It’s just such a great community. It’s so good to be a part of and it actually feels like I’ve been here forever.”
In just the few weeks that Donna has been showcasing her art and taking up residence in the Ray Oliver Gallery space, she said the engagement has been wonderful.
“The amount of people that walk past, and they just come in, and they just love looking around. The conversations that it creates. It’s just been fun. It’s been enjoyable,” she said.
An added bonus for Donna is the forced time to create and paint in her in-house studio.
“I’ve got this little studio set up here, which I can come at any time and paint from there. So that’s been good for me, because it makes me paint and that’s something I don’t always do.
“Coming on a regular basis and sitting and painting has been great for me, means that I can try and paint more than I would usually do at home.”
For a space that often had the doors closed, Jill said it has been like a breath of fresh air having a permanent exhibition, especially because “art is such a nice, happy thing that makes you feel good”.
Mont De Lancey is located at 71 Wellington Road, Wandin North and is open Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm.
