A wide variety of pastel portraits of people and animals, and cartoon portraits, decorated the walls of the gallery, following the invitation of the proprietors, Alison and Robert ("Rob") Hickey.
As "Dr Jay" explained, Rob invited her to exhibit her work in the café gallery, but it would have to be within the next three weeks! Dr Jay had never held an exhibition but always loves a challenge! She put the finishing touches to several of her works of art and produced some new canvases as well.
A former Officer with The Salvation Army, Dr Jay knew of the work being carried out by the Harmers so decided to use the Exhibition to raise funds for them to use to clothe the needy.
The Art Exhibition was held from 3.00pm until 6.00pm , when a rose vase containing the entrance fees and extra donations was presented to the Harmers.
The paintings will remain on the walls of the café until the end of September. During that time, new works will replace the items sold.
Amongst the estimated 200 guests on the day, was the local Member for Goulburn, Ms Pru Goward MP who intimated her involvement with the Anglican Church from her school days and her interest in the ministry in discussion with Major Hilton Harmer OAM.
The registered name for Doctor Jay's Cartoon Portraits is McDonald Harley & Associates Pty Ltd. Incorporated in 1987, the Company was established by Salvationists Glenda Milne (NIDA graduate) and Jay Harley.
In the early years of the Company, it had a two-fold focus. The professional theatre productions highlighted inspirational and controversial theological and social topics. It attracted wide media coverage and debate within both the church and the secular communities. The Art aspect of the company provided artwork, logos, advertising designs, both for their own enterprises and for other organisations.
Jay's husband Peter McDonald joined the Company in 2002 as a Director. He quips that although he is creative in an ideas sense, he doesn't have an artistic bone in his body. Peter has had an extensive senior management career within the New South Wales Department of Corrective Services, and this has enabled him to influence the management of, and assistance to, both perpetrators and victims of crime. Jay, who operated the company part-time, also served within Corrective Services in senior administrative roles for fifteen years, before deciding to devote her commitment to artwork on a fulltime basis.
For the past few years, the Company has focused solely upon artwork, particularly the ever popular Cartoon Portraits. Jay and Peter often use the medium of art to assist fund raising for charities, most recently participating in Convoy for Kids Sydney.
Operating from an idyllic 100 acre property in rural Marulan, midway between Sydney and Canberra , Jay and Peter's clientele are both local and overseas. Based on a photo sent by email, Jay takes about two days to produce a totally hand-drawn personalized Cartoon Portrait, featuring all aspects of the person's lifestyle and interests.
In the Art Exhibition a sample of Dr Jay's cartoon portraits was a large framed picture of the Harmers, more than a metre high. As Major Hilton commented, "Well, she has certainly captured the faces expertly – they're so life-like. As for the rest of the bodies, obviously she has used her imagination and creative flair!"
Dr Jay Harley (PhD in criminology, Masters degrees in Counselling and Comparative Religion, among others) jokes that she has "given away academia, just to draw pictures". In reality, the driving force and passion she has always had for people, particularly the disenfranchised, is often evident in her work. She "draws from life", both in the sense of experiencing and learning about life, as well as putting that emotional energy into her art.
One outstanding portrait pastel was labelled "Reconciled". Peter explained the background to the art work: "Recently we were in Goulburn, when Jay stopped a man in the street and told him he was beautiful, and asked if she could draw him. He was happy to oblige. She has produced a striking picture of 'Chris' … a stunning Aboriginal man with a Bob Marley hairstyle!"
Jay's compassion for people was realized when she worked at The Salvation Army's Foster Street Men's Home in 1970. Her spiritual connection to the homeless and drug or alcohol addicted people, has remained constant with her through the ensuing years. Prior to her marriage, Jay was a Salvation Army Officer which gave her a vehicle to express practical Christianity. Peter, a Catholic, says: "That vehicle is now our company, through which we can put structure around Jay's artwork, and use the medium to support others".
Peter and "Doctor Jay" (as she is affectionately known around Goulburn and in the wider web community) can be contacted on +61-2-4829 8370. Their website is www.McDonaldHarley.com and the e-mail address is Peter@McDonaldHarley.com