The Long Road Home – A journey of self-discovery

15-26 November 2024

By Elizabeth Conway

The Long Road Home is a solo exhibition featuring a captivating series of paintings by Elizabeth Conway (visual arts teacher, local farmer and painter) that chronicle a year-long journey around Australia – a journey of self-discovery.

Covering more than 25,000 kms in a four-wheel drive with a rooftop tent, Elizabeth and her husband embarked on the iconic ‘big lap’ of Australia in early 2023. The adventure – a bucket list experience for many Australians – was as transformative as it was insightful.

When their beloved vehicle caught fire outside of Kununurra, Western Australia, everything was lost except for Elizabeth’s paintings. The only things saved from the fire’s grip, the paintings represent resilience, perseverance and ability to keep going.

Through the lens of an artist on the move, this exhibition is a poignant reminder to all of us that our country – our home – is so very precious. Created using gouache on paper and oil on canvas, the artworks capture the magic of secluded beach vistas, diverse forests supporting a variety of wildlife, to sun scorched outback hills.

The exhibition is open daily from Friday 15 November to Tuesday 26 November between 11.30am and 5.00pm.

This Exhibition is supported by the City of Greater Bendigo, as part of the 2024 Artists on View program.

Photo of painting credit: Leon Schoots.

Above: Elizabeth Conway. Photo credit: Caroline Savage.