An afternoon with the artists
Join us to celebrate the official opening of Come Stay a While – where trees do the talking, a dual exhibition by Louise Corke and Petra Daecke. Enjoy an afternoon of art and insight with guest speaker Bruce Griffiths, a poetry reading by Daecke, and a live pastel demonstration by Corke.
Come Stay a While invites visitors to reflect on their personal connection with nature through soft pastel works that honour the quiet strength and beauty of trees. Guest speaker Bruce Griffiths is a practicing artist and respected tutor based in Kleinton, QLD, renowned for his expressive watercolours and sought-after workshops across Australia. Enjoy this inspiring afternoon with light refreshments provided.
Saturday 31 May, 1.00pm
(official proceedings from 1:30pm)
This event is FREE and all ages are welcome. For catering purposes, please RSVP by completing the form below.
RSVP | Come Stay a While Opening
About the exhibition:
Come Stay a While – where trees do the talking is a reflective exhibition by artists Louise Corke and Petra Daecke that invites visitors to reconnect with the natural world. Through soft pastel paintings and poetic reflections, the exhibition explores the healing, peace, and sense of wholeness that trees can offer.
At the heart of the exhibition are the personal relationships each artist has formed with specific trees, relationships that unfold as visual stories within the gallery space. Visitors are encouraged to slow down, explore the works at their own pace, and experience moments of quiet contemplation inspired by the natural landscape.
Grounded in the belief that our connection to trees is a shared human experience, the exhibition encourages reflection on nature as a source of strength. Corke and Daecke have also invited community members to contribute their own tree stories—through poetry, prose, or pictures—adding personal voices to this collective celebration of the natural world.
Image: Petra Daecke, Leaving the Forest, pastel
