Hervey Bay Regional Gallery in Queensland is closing out 2025 with three new exhibitions by local artists, opening November 28. The shows include a solo exhibition by Alywarr artist Dion Beasley, titled "Six Dogs," featuring his playful drawings of camp dogs inspired by his hometown of Tennant Creek and his children's books. Also on view are Brisbane-based Tyza Hart's "Appearing," a decade-spanning installation of ceramics and self-portraits, and the collaborative project "Weeds to Paper" led by papermaker Zela Bissett, which transforms invasive plants into handmade paper artworks in partnership with Butchulla Traditional Custodians.
These exhibitions matter because they highlight the diversity and resilience of Queensland's regional arts scene, centering Indigenous voices, disability representation, and environmental sustainability. Dion Beasley's work is particularly significant: an artist who has achieved acclaim while living with muscular dystrophy and being profoundly deaf, he brings visibility to Aboriginal camp-dog culture and community life. The shows also demonstrate how regional galleries can foster meaningful collaborations between artists, traditional custodians, and volunteers, turning ecological challenges into creative opportunities.