Painted Tree Gallery

05/03/2026

Hello and welcome to the Understory Community Café page! ☕🌿

We’re a small community café based at the Northcliffe Visitor Centre, serving coffee, connection, and a friendly place to pause.

After a summer of pop-ups around the region, we’re now open regularly in Northcliffe and would love to see you there.

Opening hours
Wednesday - Saturday
9am - 2pm
📍 Northcliffe Visitor Centre

From time to time, we’ll also pop up at markets, events, and seasonal spots, so keep an eye on this page for updates!

If you’re passing by and need a coffee break, come say hello! ☕

27/02/2026

If you're heading to the Southern Forest & Valleys this long weekend, don't forget to call in to the Painted Tree Gallery to see the touring exhibition 'Radical Futures: Fertile Ground'.

One of 13 WA Regional Arts Triennial exhibitions, Fertile Ground explores the ways rural communities’ might change their relationship with bushfire, prescribed burning and the land we live upon; now, and in the future.

Featuring works by Great Southern and South Western Australian artists:
- Freya Joy Parr (Denmark)
- Helen Seiver (Stirling Estate)
- Jo Wassell (Albany)
- Peter Hill (Northcliffe)
- Rachel Falls-Williams (Denmark)
- Ruth Maddren (Denmark)
- Samala Ghosh (Denmark)
- Ned Reilly (Margaret River)
- Sophie Brennan (Margaret River)
- Lydon Kidman (Margaret River)

Curated by Saira Ellen K. Spencer (Denmark)

The exhibition is open daily 9am-3pm and runs until Sunday March 29

The original version of this exhibition was developed by Denmark Arts and exhibited at the Albany Town Hall thanks to the support of the City of Albany. Additional artists included Carly Le Cerf and Jean-Michel Maujean

23/11/2025

A HUGE thanks to the artists and poets who journeyed to Northcliffe today through wild and wooly weather for our Wavelengths exhibition closing party.

What a joyous celebration of all-abilities creativity; our gallery was aglow with smiles and generosity of spirit.

Pictured are some of the artists and poets who joined hearts and voices to bring warm fuzzies and inspiration to the 70+ people in attendance.

Humungous thanks to:
- the 19 participating artists and their families and carers
- the 22 poets who created poems in response to artworks
- Curator, Angela Bignell, whose stewardship made the project possible
- the Manjimup Community Op Shop for covering the cost of our catering
- Spark and Soul Food Van for the delicious lunch
- staff and volunteers of Southern Forest Arts (for all that you graciously do)

Wavelengths provided an opportunity for artists with complex needs to feel seen, heard and celebrated. It was a chance for poets to share their insights with an attentive audience in an exchange of creativity that is resonant and sincere.

A final word of thanks to our funding partners - the State Government of WA, Regional Arts WA and the Shire of Manjimup - without whom SFA cannot operate and these deeply important experiences would be missed.

Regional Arts WA WA Government

17/10/2025

You're invited: Mystic Youth closing party -

The Southern Forests & Valleys region is full of young creatives. Our current exhibition 'Mystic Youth' celebrates their untethered imaginations.

10/07/2025

🌟 BIG/little is now on show at the Painted Tree Gallery!

Launched with a warm and lively community gathering last Friday, this annual photography exhibition — presented by the Northcliffe CRC in partnership with Southern Forest Arts — features 34 captivating images exploring playful contrasts in scale, perspective, and meaning.

Selected from over 80 entries by 24 talented locals, the exhibition reflects a rich mix of creativity across ages and experiences. From fungi close-ups to expansive landscapes, the photos invite us to see the world through both a wide lens and a finer focus.

Opening night also featured the folding of a giant paper crane (and many small ones), led by CRC trainee Brayden Daniele — a beautiful gesture of community making that will carry forward into the Mystic Youth exhibition later this year.

📍 Painted Tree Gallery, Northcliffe Visitor Centre
🕘 Open daily, 9am–3pm
🗓 On display until Sunday, 13 July
🗳 Don’t forget to cast your People’s Choice vote when you visit!

05/07/2025

Just two weeks to go until we start unpacking ART ON THE MOVE's touring crates containing the exhibition Jila Kujarra - Two Snakes Dreaming.

This will be our first EVER touring exhibition from ART ON THE MOVE so we're really looking forward to finally being able to bring one of their high quality traveling exhibitions to the Painted Tree Gallery. This opportunity has been made possible through a grant from the State Government's Regional Arts Venues program.

Jila Kujarra is a collaborative exhibition featuring Warnman artist Desmond Taylor and Boorloo-based textiles practitioner Mariaan Pugh. Some of Desmond's other works were shown in the gallery earlier this year, alongside Helen Seiver's textile pieces in their 'Another Way' exhibition. It will be great to rekindle our connection with Desmond's creative and cultural practice again.

Jila Kujarra will be open to the public from 17 July to 31 August.

[Images courtesy of the Cannery Arts Centre]

.Art
Cannery Arts Centre

18/04/2025

The vibrant world Tracy Leigh captures through her camera reminds us of the exquisite beauty in the every day. A walk in the garden becomes an adventure in delight when you open yourself to nature's colour, pattern and texture.

Tracy's solo exhibition 'art of the small' is open 9am-3pm every day this Easter long weekend. Tracy will be artist in residence in the gallery for a couple of hours tomorrow (Saturday) morning. Come chat to her about the marvels she sees and wants to share.

— at Painted Tree Gallery.

13/04/2025

If you're in the Southern Forests region this school holidays, swing by the Painted Tree Gallery in Northcliffe to see our current exhibition, 'art of the small' by Pemberton photographer, Tracy Leigh.

The gallery is open 9am-3pm daily and entry is free.

27/03/2025

Exhibition launch reminder - 'art of the small' by Pemberton photograher, Tracy Leigh -

At its core, this body of work is about contextual separation: the act of isolating small moments from the larger, chaotic tapestry of life, so that they may be appreciated for their own inherent value. The ordinary becomes extraordinary when placed under a microscope of intention. Tracy aims to cap...

23/03/2025

Today is the final day of the 'another way' exhibition - a poignant reflection on a journey of shared healing between Desmond Taylor and Helen Seiver. If you're in the area, pop in for some quiet reflection on the frailty and strength of our human condition. The courage on display is humbling and inspiring and the calibre of artwork is stunning.

The gallery is open 9am-3pm.

25/02/2025

You are invited to the launch of the 'another way' exhibition -

Desmond Taylor and Helen Seiver present a powerful exhibition, the Result of a five-year journey of forgiveness, healing, and reconciliation. This collaboration, stemming from a shared personal tragedy, is a testament to the strength, patience, and persistence required to choose to walk together on....