Portraits of Community

At Abound Communities, creativity is not just welcomed, it is nurtured. Across our villages, residents bring their skills, stories and passions to life in inspiring ways. Wendy Donald is one of those residents, a gifted artist living at Rushall Park, whose recent portrait collection is now on display at the Neighbourhood Justice Centre in Collingwood.

Wendy’s exhibition features portraits created over athree-year period, each one capturing the personality and strength of fellow residents. The project began at the tail-end of the COVID-19 lockdowns, as the community began to reconnect.

“These portraits are part of a collection I made over a period of three years. They are people I live with at Abound Communities in Fitzroy North,” Wendy says. “It was at the tail end of COVID and we were trying to re-establish links with one another.”

Although art had once been central to Wendy’s life, it had been many years since she’d had the chance to focus on her creative practice. She trained at the National Gallery Art School (now the Victorian College of the Arts) in the early 1960s, learning under acclaimed artists including John Brack and Ian Armstrong. However, life soon took her in a different direction.

“An early marriage meant putting art aside while I supported a family,” Wendy explains. “For a woman at that time, it was just too hard.”

Wendy later returned to study, completing a Master of Art and focusing her research on the role of Australian artists in England during the 1960s. After moving into Rushall Park, Wendy was able to continue to focus on her own creative voice. There, she has found a small group of residents who meet weekly to draw portraits together, creating space for shared expression and ongoing artistic growth.

The weekly sessions have become a source of motivation and meaning. Eventually, the group was offered a cottage within the village, in need of some repair, but full of potential. It has since became their shared studio.

“It has been years since I had applied myself to myartwork,” Wendy says. “But with a space to work, I was able to pick it up again.”

Since completing her portrait series, Wendy has turned her focus to monotypes. Her work continues to explore themes of identity, ageing and connection.

Wendy’s story is a powerful reminder of the talents and passions that continue to thrive in our communities. It is also a reflection of what happens when people are supported to engage with the things that bring them joy and purpose.

We are proud to celebrate residents like Wendy, whose creativity adds colour, connection and inspiration to life at Abound.

Wendy’s portraits are currently on display at the Neighbourhood Justice Centre, Collingwood.

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