Madeleine Winch: Come by Chance. In the Art Factory

December 17 2010 — March 20 2011

The much-loved children’s book Come by Chance, written and illustrated by Madeleine Winch, was originally published in 1988. It is a warm and gentle story of friendship, hospitality and care. For this exhibition, MRAG borrowed the original illustrations of Winch’s book from the Dubbo Regional Gallery collection, and paired them with a Hunter-based emerging illustrators Tallulah Cunningham, Morgan Laudine and Toni Walsh, who worked together to develop a child friendly installation inspired by Madeleine’s works for the project space.

The… exhibition in the education wing, until March 20, is of the original watercolour drawings by Madeleine Winch for her well-loved children’s story, Come By Chance. Like her [late] husband, John Winch, she believes that books for young people should explore the highest standards of illustration. The comfortable heroine of this Noah’s ark adventure is as sympathetic as the farmyard animals seeking refuge in her cottage. Their charm is recreated in a group of white calico-covered creatures specially fashioned to accompany the exhibition.

Jill Stowell, Newcastle Herald art review, January 22, 2011 (p11)