meggs artworks, ideas, projects + exhibitions

Postcards from Pentridge

2010-05-10T01:35:00.001-07:00

Once home to Australia's most famous and notorious crims .... Pentridge Prison is now 'New concept living' .... so many things wrong with this picture.

From top to bottom:
Derryn Hinch - 12 days for revealing (on radio) the name of a convicted child molesting priest
Eddie Leonitzi - The Brown out Strangler
Harry Power - Bushranger, - Craig Minogue Russell St Bomber
Jean Lee - last woman hanged
Julian Knight - Hoddle St Massacre, 7 people 1987
Keithy George - Melbourne Gangland Killings
Peter Norris Dupas - Serial Killer, signature was cutting off breasts

Kiez - Melbourne

2010-05-10T01:31:00.000-07:00

Brunswick Street Gallery, March 2010

kiez : Homely/ Unheimliche

2009-11-16T00:46:00.000-08:00

Horus & Deloris Contemporary Art Space

Exhibition Dates
19th November - 16th December, 2009

Kiez: Homely/unheimliche
Chris Erlbeck, Chloe Grove, Siouxzi Mernagh & Megan Yeo
‘Kiez’ is Berliner slang for ‘neighbourhood’: a sense of homeliness in staying ‘local’. The ‘unheimliche’ can be referred to within the art world via the concept of ‘Stendhal Syndrome’ – the uncanny feeling caused in the viewer through experiencing art. The ‘uncanny’ hints at a strange proximity between the known and the unknown, either as something familiar presenting itself in an unknown shape, or as something unfamiliar revealing an element of knowingness in its features. ‘Kiez’ focuses on the ambiguous role played by feelings of the homely/ ‘unheimliche’ at the intersection of printmaking, mixed media, photography and film. It can be
interpreted in the works as a way of understanding the interrelation between possible and impossible, norm and deviation.

The artists’ cultural and creative backgrounds are diverse, however they all coincided in the city of Berlin in early 2009. ‘Kiez’ expresses this global ‘homeliness’ found by working artistically within Berlin, and then bringing
these new creative directions to the artists’ respective home cities. The result is creative collision of an uncanny and unsettling 'je ne sais quoi'.

Collage Show at Blank Space

2009-07-31T20:14:00.000-07:00

Group show .... I'm in the one on the 9th .... yeehar!

Opening 4-6pm on Sunday the 9th. 374 Crown St, Surry Hills.

Le Fil

2009-07-12T00:54:00.000-07:00

Artists: Hannah Bertram, Kath Fries, Michelle Heldon, Chrissie Ianssen, Jade Pegler, Melinda Young, Sahar Hosseinabadi, Michele Morcos, Linden Braye, Megan Yeo, Shannon Johnson, Sophia Egarchos

30 July to 11 August 2009
Gaffa Gallery: 1/7 Randle St, Surry Hills, NSW 2010
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 12-6pm & Saturday 11am-6pm
www.gaffa.com.au

Le Fil (the thread) brings together twelve artists who deconstruct and re-address materials, processes and designs relating to the textile industry. A connecting conceptual thread runs between the artists’ works linking how we value fabrics from contemporary, traditional and ancient societies. Textiles can be warm and comforting; they can communicate glamour and wealth, they can also convey cultural, national or religious significance. Such an essential part of our contemporary daily lives, we all consume and discard vast quantities of mass-produced textiles that ultimately end up as landfill waste. In this group exhibition, Le Fil (the thread), each artist broaches a different conceptual angle ranging from metaphors of fabric as interwoven memories, to cycles of decay and renewal, yearning escapism and the ongoing struggles against assumptions of traditional feminine domesticism.

Queen & Country

2009-07-12T00:28:00.001-07:00

"Queen & Country" Gaffa Gallery, Surry Hills Sydney. 2nd - 14th July 09

Republic vs Monarchy?
Blokes in frocks?
A 70's rock band?
Drama in the palace?

So much inspiration. Where to begin?

Gather 7 artists from a wide variety of practice areas. Ply them with tea and cucumber sandwiches and see what happens. The result- a royal gala, a trooping of the colours, a military tattoo, an exhibition to rival any coronation.

http://4queenandcountry.blogspot.com

Top image thanks to Matchbox projects.

Street Art Projects - Berlin

2009-06-06T01:04:00.001-07:00

My Paste Up's - Berlin. The first 2 images are from a series called 'The pioneers of tomorrow' Hamas colouring in for kids, Drawings taken from existing Hamas Terrorist images, the paste up in the style of a school noticeboard. The second images of the drunken colonial man are from "The Experiment' series. The third lot are from the series "The banality of evil'.

G20 protest march -April in Mitte Berlin

2009-05-13T01:51:00.000-07:00

Belfast

2009-05-08T04:40:00.001-07:00

Belfast, April 09. Intense, amazing and very welcoming ..... everything I expected it to be plus more.

United Colours of Terrorism - England

2009-05-08T04:24:00.003-07:00

Wine, spontaneity, 2 actors and...... ta daaaa ....dress up's with tea cosies in the English countryside. Thanks Ian, Mandy + Jerry :-)

Sydney Dinner in Berlin

2009-05-08T03:54:00.003-07:00

This was a great evening made possible by friend + film maker Siouxzi Mernagh. Siouxzi recieved a fellowship to make a film 'The dangers' in Berlin. Through this, the catering company on set hosted a Sydney themed night at their restaurant. Siouxzi's previous work was on show and photographer Anne Bentley and I were given the opportunity to showcase our photos of a more underground, gritty Sydney. A band played, the company was hilarious and the food and wine was amazing! Cheers Siouxzi and congrats for making a film in a new city on the otherside of the world.

Curvy Exhibition - Sydney

2009-05-08T02:54:00.000-07:00

I wasn't able to be at this show ..... Berlin + Belfast were calling. But a huge thanks to Em + Stubes, Anna and Lexi for representing. The Show has now moved onto Melbourne.

Petersham Studio

2009-03-12T18:33:00.000-07:00

Huge Thanks to Anne + Andrea for stopping by the studio and hanging out, always a laugh ... I had so much coffee I was twitching n grinding my teeth all arvo. Anne .... cuz, really appreciate you taking the pics and documenting works .... cause who knows if the bikers will make a bigger bomb next time. ha :-) I'm always looking on the bright side of life. The top photo is after the Hells Angels headquarters got blown up, we're above the tile place next door.

Minx Art

2009-03-12T13:56:00.000-07:00

www.minxart.com

a site created by 2 awesome women to showcase creative chicks ..... tattooing, street art, knitting, photography, sewing .... anything really.

I've got an interview under 'featured artists' ..... big cheers to Anna + Ema Lou for doing more than talking about it and actually putting it out there.

so if you know any creative women, pass on their details :-)

Yen Magazines Curvy

2009-03-12T13:48:00.001-07:00

So excited! I've been selected for Curvy 09. 1600 applications globally, 100 female artists selected for a publication and travelling show. Sydney show at Mori Gallery early April. Yay!

http://www.yenmag.net/events/2/

The Others

2009-02-27T03:57:00.001-08:00

Well ....... Flat Gavin is Missing in action, but still working his magic one way or another. 'The Others' Mandy and Mel (way more entertaining than Nicole Kidman) are also awaiting his arrival home. We're sharing the Gav love, but in the meantime, the valentines flowers Gav sent to my work really did make me feel like the luckiest gal ever.

Sell Lazarus Sell

2009-02-12T01:38:00.000-08:00

this is what I call art ..... Nick and his mo rock, so does funny street art. The latest addition to the huge billboard poster in Marrickville is 'sell lazarus sell' ...... love it.

Exhibition at Kelbys Cafe

2009-02-12T01:00:00.003-08:00

Exhibition at Kelbys Cafe in Marrickville. 20 Works went up beginning of Jan and should be up until early March.
293 Marrickville Rd ...... lovely staff and the best brekky's ..... Plug Plug

Van Diemen's Land - The Experiment

2009-02-11T23:42:00.000-08:00

This project is one of a few that I'm working on at the moment. It's about what Australia has become. Established as a land of the dregs, the undesirables of society sent to the furthest part of the world. We seem to pride ourselves on the civil society we have developed into. My comment is one of 'the results'.

Included in this project is Ivan Milat, the devon sanga, the Kelly gang versus the melbourne underworld (underbelly style). Not to be forgotten ...... works coming will include Shapelle Corby, Warwick Capper, David Hicks and a few other characters.

Works will be mixed media, but mainly encaustic (beeswax + paint). Thanks Stuie for never saying no to dress up's.

Older works from Uni Assessments

2008-10-24T20:44:00.000-07:00

Nevermind the politics ..... Here's the essential collection

2008-10-18T04:13:00.001-07:00

Red Chair Series

2008-10-18T04:12:00.001-07:00

Goo Goo Love

2008-10-18T04:08:00.000-07:00

The love child of Lu Lu and Flat Gavin ....... and it scatts!

Copy Cats

2008-10-18T04:00:00.001-07:00

Copy Cats was a paste up project organised by an Artist run initiative called 'International Noise'. It took place in Barcom St, Darlinghurst, Sydney. The call out went to members of the group, friends and international artists. The works went up in the afternoon and we came back that night with our eskies for the opening. The show was a success, so we ran it again the following year.

Flat Gavin

2008-10-18T03:44:00.001-07:00

A very short article in the good weekend planted the idea of Flat Gavin.

In the USA, Flat daddies exist as life-size mounted photographs of deployed soldiers. They remain at home and seek the company of the family. Have them join you at the dinner table, attend the kids sports matches, cuddle them on the couch while watching telly on a cold night. They even arrive in a cardboard coffin like box.

Gav and I met at the Beginning of May 2007 and he’s off serving in The Solomons.

Flat Gavin is a comment on the soldier being disposable. It also raises questions about absent fathers/mothers, divorced parents? The Flat parent discussions on US forums seem to have stirred quite an angry response, with more comments about the war and Bush not the effect on families + children. Would the flat parent/partner concept cause such a reaction if they were just away on an office type business trip?

I intend to raise awareness that this is happening in the US and gage the Australian public’s response. Would the Australian Army or Government ever offer such a thing? Flat Dads in the USA aren’t just given to families, they request one. What happens if a limb is lost in combat? Or worse still . . . . they get killed?

Flat Gavin is also a social comment on choosing a partner, piecing him together like an identikit, making up his interests, his reactions and likely response. He’s like having an imaginary friend.

Gavin has a myspace www.myspace.com/flatgavin

Gavin has been to Melbourne with me, we flew Jetstar and staff were very accommodating and concerned for his welfare as we disembarked in gale force wind and rain. Friends were very accomodating of my new man. We went sight seeing in Melbourne, hung out at Fed Square, met some new and very friendly people. We took trams about the city and had a grand time really. He’s also been to the local pub and met some mates, he’s been down to the local beach for some beers + curry. He came to my Uni Graduation, the parents approve but he is yet to meet the whole family. So many places he’s yet to visit and so many people he’s yet to meet.

His journey is being photographed. Disposable (just like him) camera. The disposable rather than digital provides an element of surprise which I like. It makes the project less rehearsed and more candid, no re-shooting or touching up in Photoshop. I also plan to set up shots by placing him in Public spaces and document how people interact or react to him.

Paste up in Melbs

2008-10-18T03:31:00.000-07:00

may 2008 - paste up in Fitzroy melbs. Some dutch courage + mates to help glue + stick.

Irish Political Cross-stitches

2008-10-18T01:51:00.000-07:00

Here's a story ..... of a man named Brady, Blanket/Hunger protest, Gerry Adams at IRA funeral, Maggie Thatcher, Gerry Adams and the Blanket protest

The Old Threat

2008-10-17T21:56:00.000-07:00

This work I entered into the 2008 Blake Prize, but Better luck next year. This work is about the shift of the threat. No longer is the IRA and Catholicism of concern to the Britsish general public. In the past, any bomb threat or attack on British soil was assumed to be the work of the IRA. Peace treaties were put in to place and both parties have kept their promises. The focus is now on the threat from the Middle East and Muslim communities on their own turf.

This work is a cross stitch on linen, 2006

'Quick - Unpick' Exhibition at Albion St Gallery

2008-10-17T21:39:00.000-07:00

October 2008. Curated by Kath Fries 'Quick - Unpick' was a group exhibition involving 6 artists who use embroidery or stitching in a fine art context. My contribution was a series of Australian Icons who sport the beard or moustashe. I cringe and laugh, but was ultimately inspired by my childhood crush on Peter Russell Clarke, thanks to my family for reminding me of this.

Scrapbooking Terrorists

2008-10-17T21:16:00.000-07:00

What better way to express my fears of returning to suburbia than with the subject matter in the hearts of many - the terrorist threat. Straight from your living room telly .

Band Paintings

2008-10-17T20:52:00.000-07:00

This was a painting series on cardboard pallets. Completed in 2006 for a uni assessment. Acrylic on cardboard, worked from band photos I've taken. The works were displayed at 'the umbrella benefit' gig at Gallery 44 in Surry Hills and later used for a friends film shoot "Third eye open'

Zines Zines Zines

2008-10-17T20:18:00.000-07:00

Mini Magazines or also known as fanzines. DIY publishing where anything goes. A nerdy collecting and making cult in it's own right ....... I started to create my own when I was seeking out more arty and less wordy zines. I started with the help of an online Sydney distro, small indie music shops, uni book store, markets and zine fairs. Now my zines are sold mainly from Sticky in Melbourne, a shop in Brisbane, a book shop in Chicago, and by word of mouth.

Banality of Evil Drawing Series

2008-10-17T20:07:00.000-07:00

In response to he London bombings in July 2005 and other terrorist plots in the UK I created the series ‘The banality of evil’. While the British were in shock that terrorists, convicted and suspected, came from their communities and neighbourhoods I was taken by the public’s denial that these men and women are actually real or human. More recently, the Australian Government and public reaction to Haneef stirred further discussion of such undesirables living amongst us.

Comments include:

“I could’ve passed him in the street or bumped into him in the local shops”

“I used to speak to Shehzad in the street, just to say Good morning and Good afternoon”

“He seemed a nice enough lad, just nice and normal”

“He seemed like a well educated polite young man”

“I simply cannot believe he could have been involved in a plot like this. He is religious and seemed to love his family”

“I think it is a case of mistaken identity. The last thing she’d be interested in is terrorism. They are just simple day-to-day people going about their own business.”

“Sawar is still listed on a dating website where he claims to be honest. His 26 year old brother was also arrested, They were typical boys growing up outside London, playing soccer and cricket, but recently became deeply religious.”

Apparent is a denial that terrorists behave like ordinary people and go about certain daily business perhaps like thy typical neighbour. That they partake in mundane tasks, they work, study, shop, commute or reside amongst ‘normal’ members of society. My work is a comment on the assimilated Terrorist living in a western society. The use of the balaclava serves to be a global symbol of a Terrorist.

Of course certain belief systems, actions and behaviours of Terrorists are not that of the general population, but they like celebrities and criminals are human at the end of the day.

“It makes you think, did I see something I should have reported to the police? Could I have done a bit more?” Perhaps they could make it a tad easier by going about their daily activities in a balaclava.

Each work A4, 80 in series, watercolour in shades of grey to emphasize the banality.

Studio In Petersham

2008-10-17T19:59:00.000-07:00

I'm Finally painting again and couldn't be happier. I've found a gem in Sydney's Inner west. A studio space with a bunch of other artists .... a handful who I studied with at COFA.

The latest project is called "The Experiment" and is mixed media but mainly encaustic (beeswax)