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Holding Kwoorabup brings together eight artists from the Butter Factory Studios collective in Denmark, on Western Australia’s biodiverse south coast. In Noongar culture, this country—its river and inlet—is known as Kwoorabup, the place of the Western Brush-wallaby. Engaging with both the beauty and fragility of this landscape, the exhibition offers an immersive experience of wall-based and sculptural works.Robyn responds to the genius loci of Kwoorabup through ceramic and plein-air sculptural forms. Ruth’s intimate woven tapestries speak of time—slow as granite, fleeting as a cloud. Alison paints her gratitude for being held in the embrace of river, inlet, sea, granite, and forest, using a luminous watercolour–wax medium. In an interactive textile space, Janine asks: How does Kwoorabup hold us?
Barb’s paintings embody a practice of listening and responding rather than imposing, while Helmie’s expansive dreamscapes evolve organically in the silence of Karri forest. From her studio overlooking restored paperbark wetlands, Melissa captures energy and wonder through abstract paintings and drawings. Nikki’s layered portholes pay homage to her late friend and mentor Gabi, creating a “homeward bridge to being light.”
This exhibition also honours the memory of Gabriele Gehlhaar—our much-loved Butter Factory Studios artist and friend—who passed away earlier this year. A selection of her remarkable found-and-foraged installations is presented in tribute.
Together, these works invite audiences to reflect on connection, memory, and care for the living spirit of Kwoorabup.
Artists:
Barb Thayne, Alison Kershaw, Janine McCrum, Helmie van Melle, Nikki Green, Robyn Lees, Melissa Boughey, Ruth Halbert
Featured image: Ruth Halbert In Shelter 2025 wool linen tapestry 19 x 21cm
All info here: https://wfac.org.au/whats-on/post/moores-building-art-space-holding-kwoorabup/
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Moores Building, 46 Henry Street,Fremantle,WA,Australia
