By Renee Wood
Two Yarra Valley artists are coming together for a flower powered exhibition in Healesville.
Painter Nicole Donegan and Florist Rebecca Noble are hosting a three day exhibition ‘Arohanui’ that hopes to uplift the community and celebrate a new chapter of creativity.
“We wanted to do something to give back to the community to get people to come and feel a little bit inspired and have a fresh beautiful energy of a new chapter,” Nicole said.
‘Arohanui’ originates from a Māori word meaning ‘much love and deep affection’ which the artists felt captures their work and ambition for the show.
“Our work is both very joyful, there’s a wildness to both of them, there’s a truth there which I love. I feel Bec’s work is very truthful, it’s not trying to be something, and it’s just coming from nature. It celebrates things being a little bit left of centre, which is absolutely my work as well.”
The exhibition will be held at Bec’s studio on Maroondah Highway in Healesville, with the flower installation to start outside the pink studio and then flow through inside to open up with more flowers and artworks on canvas, cushions and prints.
“The inside will be very welcoming, it’ll be interactive – full of flowers, full of Nicole’s beautiful artwork, and just a massive celebration of the two,” Rebecca said.
It’s the first time the two have partnered for an exhibition, although Nicole’s work has been inspired by Rebecca’s floristry creations.
“Particularly during the lockdowns, I was buying her flowers on a weekly basis, and I was painting them as well. So it felt like a natural collaboration, because I’ve been painting her work, I love her work and she loves mine,” Nicole said.
The Healesville florist has also been producing flower installations at the front of her studio throughout lockdowns to inspire those walking or driving by.
“I love to share my work with others and it’s something that I’m extremely passionate about. In a way, all of the installations that I’ve done over the Covid lockdown have maybe been leading to this.
“But it’s just another way of me being able to express myself and to show how much I love the community and to give back.”
The exhibition begins Friday 26 and runs until Sunday 28 November (10 – 4pm), 184 Maroondah Highway, Healesville.
