My History of Bargara and the Evolution of a Garden by Mary van Dijk-Argall

Mary van Dijk-Argall is a name synonymous with the rich arts tapestry of our Bundaberg region. Now based in Bargara, Mary was born in Holland as the eldest of nine children.  Her love of painting and drawing was innate, but rubbished by her father and regarded as a total waste of time. 

"I always had this feeling in my fingers, like I needed something in my hand, and it wasn't until later on that I realised it was a paint brush I was missing." 

At the age of 12, she arrived by boat in Australia, and her love for her adopted country started from that moment.   

This latest exhibition My History of Bargara and the Evolution of a Garden was painted plein air, and is a testament to her skill as a traditional watercolour artist.  Capturing the lushness of her tropical garden, nestled in the heart of Bargara, this exhibition also reflects on the history of Mary's adopted home, and her personal journey that accompanied her development as an artist.   

Image: Mary van Dijk-Argall, Garden Joy, 2020, watercolour, 35.5 x 25.5 cm.