Weddings go true bush style

Exhibition is a light-hearted look at a wedding in the bush, where things always go wrong.

LOVE IT: Local artist Sandra Allen and her painting The Bride Waited and Waited . Her exhibition opens tonight at the Roma on Bungil Gallery. Picture: Ellen Ransley

INSPIRED by the eventful, often dramatic, wedding ceremonies characteristic of the bush, local artist Sandra Allen has spent two years working on her latest exhibition.

Set to open tonight, Through a Glass Lightly: The Near Fatal Wedding at Deenine Downs is a culmination of about 30pieces that show the events of a fictional wedding.

Having been to her fair share of bush weddings, MsAllen said it wasn't uncommon for things to go wrong.

"This exhibition is a light-hearted look at a wedding in the bush, where things always go wrong.

"Sometimes the priest gets lost, or it rains and washes the whole show out, whirly winds come.

"All sorts of things go wrong.”

Having studied at art school in Sydney, Ms Allen said she couldn't help but be drawn back to her home region.

"I couldn't stay away from the bush.

"It's in my blood,” she said.

Working from her home studio at her property outside of Roma, Ms Allen said she was looking forward to sharing her pieces with the community.

Having worked to help set up the Bungil on Roma gallery, Ms Allen said she loves exhibiting here.

"There were three of us initially who were very proactive and tried to set it up to run professionally. It's a great gallery.”

The collection came about after talking to friends about their own experiences at bush weddings and finding a way to see the humour in those situations.

"I just think anything to do with humour makes everything bearable.

"We have droughts and we have floods, so you have to look on the bright side.”

Ms Allen said this exhibition was about getting people to come together for a good time.

"It's about having some fun. Everyone is welcome to come, have a glass of bubbly and a laugh.

"I decided to have fun myself putting this together, and I want to share that.”

Ms Allen shared a story of a wedding she attended in Brisbane where guests waited more than two hours for the priest to arrive.

"He had imbibed quite a lot of alcohol and he was totally comatose,” she said. "Funny things happen at weddings.”

The exhibition will run until December 21.