Donna Gordge is an artist and educator working on unceded Kaurna land, Adelaide, South Australia.
Donna’s art takes a range of forms based on artist books, sculpture and installation. The themes at the very heart of her practice are memory, place and collective acts of grieving. She is a storyteller – much of her art is built around narrative snippets, recalled experiences and recollections. Artefacts, animals and found objects which have deep personal meaning often become part of Donna’s work.
Donna is one of three founding members of the Duck n Weave Artist Collective – they inspire and learn from each other, go on art excursions, exhibit together several times a year, and run the Creative Exchange mentorship program.
Donna also runs workshops from her own little studio and other sites around Adelaide, and enjoys very much sharing the knowledge she has gained through her many different creative experiences. Donna has taught adults and children in all kinds of settings – TAFE, primary and secondary school, outreach and community arts programs.
And a bit more…
EDUCATION
1994 University of Melbourne – Bachelor of Education (Visual Arts) – Textiles Major
2000 Onkaparinga Institute of TAFE – Selected Studies – Textiles, Clothing & Footwear
2001 TAFESA – Certificate IV in Art Practice (Textiles)
2019-2021 University of South Australia – Selected Studies – Bachelor of Contemporary Art
EXHIBITIONS
CROSS-DISCIPLINARY COLLABORATIONS:
2023
‘Solace’ – with poet Caroline Reid – Mrs Harris’ Shop, Torrensville
SOLO:
2022
‘Light from Dark Places’ – Mrs Harris’ Shop, Torrensville
2020
‘My story always starts with you’ – online through Mrs Harris’ Shop, Torrensville
GROUP:
2023
‘Paths Crossed’ – with Creative Exchange participants, 6 Manton Gallery, Hindmarsh
2022
‘Parts Within’ – Pure Earth Café, Adelaide
‘Inside Story – Histories of Home’ – Gallery 1855, Tea Tree Gully
‘Retelling’ – Fabrik Arts + Heritage, Lobethal
‘Westside Stories: Little Galleries’ – Mrs Harris’ Shop & The City of West Torrens, Hilton
‘Westside Stories’ – Mrs Harris’ Shop, Torrensville
‘Unravelled; Paths Crossed, Stories Told’ – with Duck n Weave Artist Collective + Friends, Ginger’s Coffee Studio, Goodwood
2021
‘I See You/You See Me’ – Gallery 1855, Tea Tree Gully
2020
‘Safe Travels’ – with Duck n Weave Artist Collective + Friends, Ginger’s Coffee Studio, Goodwood
‘A Quarter Turn Around the Sun’ – Bachelor of Contemporary Art Students, South Australian School of Art Gallery
‘SALA Stobie Pole Art’ along Jervois Street – Mrs Harris’ Shop, Torrensville
‘Balance’ – with Duck n Weave Artist Collective, Cru Tapas Bar and Kitchen, Goodwood
2019
‘3 X Three’ – with Duck n Weave Artist Collective, Cru Tapas Bar and Kitchen, Goodwood
‘3D Contemporary Art Practice’ – Kaurna Building, University of South Australia, Adelaide
‘All the Small Things’ – with Duck n Weave Artist Collective, Cru Tapas Bar and Kitchen, Goodwood
2018
‘Places Found’ – with Duck n Weave Artist Collective, Cru Tapas Bar and Kitchen, Goodwood
‘Finding Spaces/Holding Places’ – with Duck n Weave Artist Collective, Cru Tapas Bar and Kitchen, Goodwood
2017
‘Looking Beyond’ – with Duck n Weave Artist Collective, Chateau Yaldara, Lyndoch
‘Made by You, For You, With You’ – with Duck n Weave Artist Collective, Ginger’s Vintage Lounge Bar, Goodwood
‘Bouquet’ – with Port Adelaide Artist’s Forum, Gallery Yampu
2016
‘Under The Desk’ – with Duck n Weave Artist Collective, Australian Education Union, Adelaide
2001
‘Pickled Pink Teeth’ – Onkaparinga Institute of TAFE Graduate Show, Bruce Wilson Gallery, Adelaide
1999
‘Teaches Art’ – The Meat Market Gallery, Melbourne
1994
‘Textiles Graduate Exhibition’ – Bachelor of Education: Visual Arts, The Meat Market Gallery, Melbourne