Exhibitions & News

Since 2012, when Umbrella Studio first formed a relationship with the Aberystwyth Art Centre, four local artists, Alison McDonald, Jenny Mulcahy, Jill O'Sullivan and Gerald Soworka have each completed a three month residency at the Art Centre. By chance these residencies have coincided with the four seasons of the … [Read more...] about Godre’r Glais Umbrella Studio 25 September – 1 November 2015

A big thanks to sponsors Glencore and judge John Walsh, Gallery Manager at the Gold Coast City Gallery.  John Walsh commented, "Alison McDonald's work Shimmer is a simple concept that is realised with poetic elegance. It is an intervention on the site that adds a level of engagement and interaction that is constantly … [Read more...] about I am delighted to announce that Shimmer won 1st prize!

For the next 12 months 'Flow' is now cascading throughout the new atrium of Townsville's Civic Theatre on Queens Road. It was difficult to hang, but thanks to the sheer persistance of the team at Perc Tucker and Townsville City Council, we finally got there and it looks fantastic. … [Read more...] about Flow – Townsville Civic Theatre July 2015 to July 2016

27 July - 10 August 2015 This is my newest artwork for Strand Ephemera 2015, which is an outdoor sculpture event held in Townsville along the foreshore. 'Shimmer' wraps around the Surf Life Saver's Tower and is made of approximately 14,000 recycled power pole inspector ID disks. It's kinetic and moves with the wind … [Read more...] about Shimmer Strand Ephemera 2015

In November 2014 printmaker Jill O'Sullivan and I set off for another residency at Red Gate, Beigao, Beijing for a month. I worked on cut-out water patterns pertaining to my journey to Beijing on some left over Goethe advertising cards that I found from the previous resident. … [Read more...] about Red Gate Residency Beijing, China – November 14

In John Wyndham's 1951 science fiction book (and film) Day of the Triffids, his Triffids are described as a member of a race of predatory plants which are capable of frowing to a gigantic size and are possessed of locomotive ability and a poisonouse sting. Capturing this in essence, these Triffids too are … [Read more...] about Literary Notions: Triffids 5 March to 27 April 2014 Bundaberg Regional Gallery

24 October to 11 November 2013 Great news, my artwork made of 30,000 recycled plastic lids/caps titled 'Flow' is now gracing the sandstone cliffs of Bondi for Sculpture by the Sea Bondi (No.17) in Oct-Nov 2013! Please go and take a look If you go to Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi you will see the little yellow dot in … [Read more...] about Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2013

I recently won the North Queensland Visual Artist Award for continued contribution to the cultural life in NQ. Thank you very much to my family, friends (especially Vicki Salisbury of Umbrella Studio), Townsville City Council and sponsors Cox Rayner for their faith in my work. … [Read more...] about North Queensland Visual Artist Award 2013

A joint project between Studio2, Finlay Homes with local Townsville artists. A collection of artwork created from building industry waste. Finlay Homes gave the artists permission to scavenge in their skips for materials to use in art. Finlay Homes have selected this artwork (among others) from this exhibition to … [Read more...] about Innovations, Studio 2 Townsille, 22 Feb – 14 March 2013

I also currently have another small exhibition in Umbrella Studio's Vault Space. My plastic Triffids are fictional like the Triffids from John Wyndham's book. … [Read more...] about Triffids 17 Aug to 23 Sep 12

Explore the creative potential and expanded field of printmaking. In this two day workshop you will explore, experiment and produce a number of prints including relief and intaglio in alternative and innovative ways. … [Read more...] about Expanded Field of Printmaking 17 Aug to 23 Sep 12

Currently I have a very large solo exhibition at Pinnacles Gallery in Townsville.Urban Legacy is an exciting and engaging exhibition about what humans leave behind in the 21st century, in particular plastics. I take the viewer on a journey through differing artworks and situations that subjectively describe where our … [Read more...] about Urban Legacy 21 July – 26 August 2012

From 3 April - 3 June 2012 my work will be in an exhibition along with artist and biologist Vicky Stirling at Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery, as part of The Green Series. http://brag-brc.org.au/exhibitions These particular artworks have been inspired by a series of books titled ‘Phycologia Australica' on Australian … [Read more...] about Seaweed exhibition April 2012

From 1 March - 31 May 2012 I will be one of the resident artists at Aberystwyth Art Centre on the mid west coast of Wales. I have a current blog with images and comments about my experience here in Wales at: http://alisonmcdonaldinabers.blogspot.co.uk/ This project has received financial assistance from the … [Read more...] about Aberystwyth Art Centre, Wales residency March – May 2012

… [Read more...] about Flow Strand Ephemera 2011

Monterey Bay Aquarium, California has recently confirmed the inclusion of my artworks for a new permanent exhibition within the Ocean Travelers area. My artworks will continue the ‘Antagonism' series further into algae. This series of twelve artworks aim to create dialogue between the negative and positive effects … [Read more...] about Monterey Bay Aquarium, California – July 2011

The Flow Series began with Flow I wrapping the side of Umbrella wall in Jun 2011, then continued on to Flow II wrap the fountain on the strand for Strand Ephemera IV in September 2011 and next Flow III will be part of my exhibition titled 'Urban Legacy' at Pinnacles Gallery in July - August 2012 where it will look very … [Read more...] about The first Flow on Umbrella Studio – June 2011