Elizabeth Blair Barber’s Donnelly River mill paintings among never-before-seen works at Perth exhibition

Oil and watercolour paintings of life at the old Donnelly River mill are among some never-before-seen works in a new exhibition held in Perth. Two hundred works of artist Elizabeth Blair Barber (1909-2001) are being exhibited at the Holmes à Court Gallery in West Perth with the opening of the collection earlier this month attracting more than 250 people, including friends and family. Curator Connie Petrillo said she first came across Barber’s paintings while working at Edith Cowan University and worked with Barber’s family to curate the exhibition which showcases life at the Manjimup mill and town between the 1960s and 1980s. “As the curator, I really grew to understand Elizabeth Blair Barber the artist,” she said. “I selected the works I wanted to get conserved because even though they were well maintained and looked after, they needed a bit of conservation work to be displayed. “She was recording the world around her at the time, so, what I would equate to us using our mobile phones today, where we take snapshots of where we’ve been or what we’ve done.” Barber dedicated much of her life accompanying her husband Charles Bunning — a prominent timber merchant — in his business endeavours. During a time when Bunning was regularly travelling south on business, Barber would join him with their young children. Taking her paint supplies with her everywhere she went, she spent time in the bush sketching, painting, drawing — and recording life at the Donnelly River Mill through her art. The West Perth gallery features paintings of the forest and mill, and many portraits of politicians, actors, dancers, family and friends. Mrs Petrillo said Barber had the courage to sit and paint people while they were working at the mill. “I’m a painter and I wouldn’t do it, but she was game and would do anything,” she said. “She was a very strong woman in personality and strength of character, whereas I’d be embarrassed.” Mrs Petrillo said it was a “feeling” Barber was trying to portray, rather than a replica of what was in front of her. Preparing for the exhibition over the past few years, Mrs Petrillo said she was amazed by the amount of works the family had put aside — which are now on display for the public to enjoy. Mrs Petrillo said Barber “fiercely challenged societal norms” and tried to forge the path for other aspiring artists of her time. “It was a hard journey for her and for women during that period. Women were trying to find a voice at the time,” she said. “I really respect her for the things that she did. She could have just been a socialite wife of a very respected businessman, but no, she longed to be this bohemian artist and she went ahead with it and kept going.” Elizabeth Blair Barber: A Life Amongst Artists is on display until August 10 at the Holmes à Court Gallery in West Perth.