Julie Rooney exhibition benefits caring cause

AN exhibition at Dudley House this weekend will remember the late local artist Julie Rooney, who died in October last year.

About 30 unframed works and 64 framed works devised by the Henri Matisse, Georges Rouault and Marc Chagall-inspired painter will be on display and for sale for a special price over the two days.

Friend and fellow artist Ann Mansfield, who is helping organise the tribute, said the two met as part of the Bendigo Academy of Art’s Thursday art group.

“We began under the tuition of Joy Tatt – there were about six of us,” she remembered.

“We became very close at our classes, the whole group of us, because what we all had in common was striving to better our artistic skills, some of whom succeeded, some didn’t.”

Mansfield described her dearly departed friend as a colourful, vibrant artist who worked quickly, often completing a piece while the rest of the group were “just puddling along”.

“She was prolific and would have completed more than 150 works,” she said.

“Julie was humble about her work, but her work is not humble – it’s contemporary, joyful and happy.

“She was energetic, a presence in every room, a passionate, compassionate person and a very difficult act to follow.

“She was a very special person and her passing was a great loss, it was a shock.

“We miss her greatly.”

Colour of Life – Celebrating the unique artworks of Julie Rooney (1952 – 2025) takes place tomorrow, Saturday 16 May and Sunday 17 May at Dudley House in View Street.

All proceeds from the exhibition will be donated to Bendigo Health Palliative Care.