Art sale: Pauline Denney and Roy Wilson at their Coalcliff gallery; right, a Tanya Stubbles artwork hangs in Pauline’s office.
Funds for Tanya
Tanya Stubbles is a Coledale artist famed for amazing works in wood and metal. Since she was injured in a fall, South Coast artists have rallied to help. You can too – by buying art. 2508 reports. On November 20 last year, a Clifton School of Arts exhibition ended in a tragic accident. Much-loved Coledale artist Tanya Stubbles fell down stairs, seriously injuring her head. She has been in hospital ever since. To help her friend and fellow artist, Pauline Denney has turned a corner of her Pd Gallery at Coalcliff into a fundraising site. About a dozen works, generously donated by South Coast artists, are for sale at discounted prices, ranging from $50 to $1250. Visitors can also buy $5 raffle tickets to win a Paul Ryan painting. Art on sale includes paintings, sculpture and photography, with works by John Bokor, Matt Bromhead and Richard Morecroft (the former ABC news reader). They are the unsold works from a December 22 pop-up gallery at the Coledale Christmas Twilight Market. “Everyone was interested,” Pauline says. “It raised $10,000. We still have a few works left.” All the money will go to helping Tanya, who is slowly improving in hospital. “Basically what the community wanted to do was raise some money to keep her going,” Pauline says. “Because she did actually live on her art, she was very self-sufficient. I always admired her for her strength … to be an artist bringing up a family on her income. “She is a mother of four children, the youngest being 12 and the oldest being 18. She has lots of
friends and family who have helped. “But now it’s about trying to keep bills going. “Tanya had bought a place in Coledale, it’s her little house and we want to make sure she keeps that. “We just said, OK, let’s get together, organise all the artists that want to donate work.” The response was tremendous – even artists who did not know Tanya personally donated work. Tanya is well known for her big works made of recycled wood and metal – including “old things she finds on her road trips”, says Pauline, who first met Tanya while studying fine arts at Wollongong TAFE 10 years ago. “Tanya is a good friend of ours, we’ve collected her work over the years. She was just about to get involved in some big shows, she was very excited about it. “It’s sad that this has happened at this point.” Pauline shares the Coalcliff house with her partner, award-winning jewellery designer Roy Wilson. Both work from home studios and visitors are welcome to drop into the gallery. n HOW TO HELP: Buy art works on sale at Pd Gallery Roy Jewellery in Coalcliff, open 9am-4pm most days. Or call Pauline Denney on 4294 2011. There is also a “Support Tanya” Facebook page or you can donate via the “Tanya Stubbles Love Recovery” page at mycause.com.au 2508
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