It’s funny, I’ve been to most of The Model’s previous exhibitions but I had never seen ‘Mountain Window’ by Jack B. Yeats. I had seen it in a lovely, little catalogue that the Niland produced and I really loved it. I used to come in, this was going on for several years, hoping that I would see the real painting but it was never seemed be on display. Then on Heritage Week, I went to a story telling session in Grange and there was a little shop where Imelda was reading a story. At the end of her storytelling she mentioned some other events that would be happening for Heritage week and she mentioned that ‘Painted Universe’ was on. I asked her if ‘Mountain Window’ would be on part of that exhibition. She said it should be so that day I came and Heike was the guide.

I told her that I’d only ever seen ‘Mountain Window’ in a book and when I finally got to see it, it was almost like an emotional connection with the painting. I don’t know why, I just wanted to see the painting so much. I had talked to Mick about it (Irene’s husband) and he said, “Well, if you like it so much, I will paint it for you.“ So, from the image of Mountain Window in the catalogue he painted me a copy of ‘Mountain Window’. For two or three years it’s been up on the wall in our house, so I really wanted to see the original.

I think I love the painting because of the mountain subject matter. When you see it, it feels like you are in the room looking out the window and it feels very warm and secure. You can sense other people in the room, too. Whatever about it, it had that domestic feeling to it. It just felt familiar but it wasn’t one of those tourist-type paintings either. You can see this was Jack’s feeling about this mountain; he really captured the emotion of it. To see the real one was great. You think, is it going to be as wonderful in reality? The first time I saw it I was very pleased. There’s something lovely about it and it’s not too complicated. I just feel that I have an emotional connection with ‘Mountain Window.’