newy.com.au – A portrait capturing Betty and Max Wilson after 66 years of marriage will be the centrepiece of a new Lake Macquarie exhibition opening during this year’s Dobell Festival.
Lake Macquarie photographer Shannon Smith has spent several years photographing seniors for Golden Age Portraits, which will be shown at Toronto Library, tirrabiyangba, as part of the month-long festival inspired by the life and work of Sir William Dobell.
The exhibition reflects on the experiences of an older generation, including stories of resilience, hardship and long relationships. Among them is the image of Betty and Max, whose marriage began when Betty was 17 and Max was 20.
Betty told her parents she was pregnant to secure their blessing for the wedding, although it would be two years before the couple welcomed the first of their five children. Max died just months after Smith photographed the pair.
“The love they had for each other is quite remarkable, especially after 66 years,” Smith said.
“They were soulmates and possessed the kind of love that withstands time.”
Smith said the project was intended to highlight the lives and outlook of seniors whose experiences were often far removed from those of younger generations.
“I wanted to showcase how different life was for this generation compared to what we experience in our current lives,” she said.
“A lot of my participants have experienced war, low food supply, heartache and physical challenges and limitations, but have still continued on with their lives in such a positive and grateful manner.”
Alongside the exhibition, Smith will offer portrait sitting sessions for seniors at Toronto Library during the Dobell Festival, which runs from 1 to 30 June across Lake Macquarie.
Lake Macquarie City Council Coordinator Lifelong Learning and Engagement Roxana Olivares said the festival program included workshops, presentations and exhibitions throughout the city.
Other events include the Dobell Festival of Art and Craft presented by Wangi Lions Club, a tattoo design workshop on 4 June, and performances of Shakespeare’s Macbeth at Warners Bay Theatre, baramayiba, on 26 and 27 June.
The program also includes the Float Your Boat weekend on 19 and 20 June, when illuminated vessels will cruise around Lake Macquarie.
“This year’s festival is a fantastic mix of much-loved returning events and new, exciting arrivals aimed at broadening our audience,” Ms Olivares said.
More information about the Dobell Festival is available at arts.lakemac.com.au.
