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Florid series, 2014

This body of work began in the Czech Republic while I was visiting my mother’s homeland. Immersed in such a long history full of beauty and dark passages I developed a further interest in the notion of self.  How an individual is constructed, threaded together by divergent strands of culture as well as the moments of time and place in which we exist. The echo of events and memory that reverberate throughout our lifetimes.  Gentle strands or crude stitches – the pattern of conditioning imposed by external and internal influences, by our simple yet almost all-consuming need to survive – biologically, socially, psychologically.  And our equally strong desire for comfort.

 

I became intrigued by seemingly mundane decorative objects and minutia such as lace hankies and crocheted doilies. I wondered how these inanimate objects dictated certain types of behaviours.  How, for me, these objects evoked a rush of memories from my childhood.  Sitting at the kitchen table on my Dad’s farm while Nanna pours the tea and I wait until biscuits are offered.  Trying not to swing my legs; thongs resting on my big toes and remembering to sit up straight.  These small delicate objects weaved with such care over extended amounts of time are so contrived in their simple, symmetrical patterning yet they dictate so much. –  Mel Dare

 

Exhibited in Florid at 45 Downstairs – Melbourne 25 February – 22 March 2014  and  Turner Galleries – Northbridge, WA  4 July – 2 August 2014.

 

Florid showcased recent works by eight Western Australian mid-career artists who reference histories of decoration in order to explore subjectivity, identity, colonialism and/or nationalism.  Florid is a group exhibition curated by Clare McFarlane and Andrew Nicholls. Participating artists: Olga Cironis, Thea Costantino, Mel Dare, Eva Fernandez, Susan Flavell, Ryan Nazzari, Clare McFarlane & Andrew Nicholls.  This exhibition included sculpture, photography, painting, ceramics and drawing.

 

Review Florid  2014 Artlink

Review Florid 2014 West Australian newspaper

CONTACT ME

Mobile: +61409937022
Email: mel@meldare.com
#blackouttuesday #blackouttuesday
"Today, artists from across Australia are taking p "Today, artists from across Australia are taking part in a one-day action to demand that the Australian Government #CreateAustraliasFuture. "Australia’s cultural and creative sector is a $111.7bn industry: six times the size of the aviation industry, employing substantially more people than mining, and with several interdependent industries whose success relies on ours, including hospitality and tourism," said Jessica Machin, Executive Director of West Australian Ballet.

The majority of Australia’s 50,000 practising professional artists and 600,000 creative industry workers will not be covered by stimulus measures announced to date, either because of their casual working arrangements, or because their employers’ complex cashflows render them ineligible to access workers’ support on their behalf... Australia’s artists and creative companies have lost all of their audiences and all of their self-generated income for the entire year.  While Australians in isolation crave the creative experiences and social engagement of the arts, without immediate, targeted and specialist stimulus, the creative industry will collapse... Parliament sits on Wednesday to debate the next stimulus legislation. Australia’s artists and artsworkers ask parliamentarians to listen to what industry leaders are saying, and act now to #CreateAustraliasFuture." (www.visualarts.net.au/news-opinion/2020/artists-unite-demand-government-act-now/) #createaustraliasfuture 
@scottmorrisonmp @josh.frydenberg.mp @nava_visualarts
Details of 10 of my 13 artworks exhibiting in Lust Details of 10 of my 13 artworks exhibiting in Lust for Lustre until this Friday, 28th Feburary. Showing at Ellenbrook Arts, 34 Main St, Ellenbrook. Open Wednesday to Friday: 10am - 5pm, Saturday: 10am - 5pm and Sunday 1pm - 5pm.

Curated by Gemma Ben-Ary and Rizzy. Featuring: Andrew Nicholls, Angela Stewart, Bethamy Linton, Carla Adams, Erin Coates, Eva Fernandez, Gemma Ben-Ary, Jody Quackenbush, Katrina Virgona, Lee Harrop, Mandy Harwood, Mel Dare, Natalie Williamson, Olga Cironis, Pam Jones, Paula Cristofanini, Rizzy, Robert Andrew, Ryck Rudd, Susan Flavell, Tane Andrews, Tania Visosevic.

Artwork mediums include graphite, calcium carbonate, ink and acrylic paint on wooden panels and black card (image 1 & 2).
#lustforlustre #ellenbrookartsgallery #perthartists #contemporyart #melaniedare
ION exhibition is closing this Sunday, 23rd of Feb ION exhibition is closing this Sunday, 23rd of February. Open Wed & Fri 10am - 2pm and Sat & Sun 10am - 4pm at Lost Eden Creative, 58 McLarty St, Dwellingup.

Artists - Stephanie Reisch, Tony Windberg, Peter Kovacsy, Pete Usher, Melanie Dare, Ron Nyisztor, Jo Darvall, Tony Davis, Gregory Pryor, Geoffrey Wake and Monique Tippett.  Image credit:  Melanie Dare.

#lostedencreative @lostedencreative #westernaustralianartists #melaniedare #dwellingup
Back from Dwellingup. Had an wonderful time talki Back from Dwellingup. 
Had an wonderful time talking with loads of visitors at Lost Eden Creative on Sunday (currently have some works in the group exhibition ION closing on the 28/02). Stayed at the gorgeous Lost Eden Airbnb. Hung out with Lost Eden Director and brilliant artist Monique Tippett and lovely hubbie Pete. Checked out their fabulous residency spaces at The Farm and at Lost Eden. Sketched and swum in the Murray River. Hung out in the trees and in  general relaxed. Brilliant!! Lost Eden Creative has been running for 10 months and is going strong. Well done Monique. Well impressed. 
https://losteden.com.au/

#lostedencreative #residency #dwellingup #melaniedare
#Repost @lostedencreative (@get_repost) ・・・ #Repost @lostedencreative (@get_repost)
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Come and say hi to gorgeous and talented artist @melaniedare today @ Lost Eden -  Mel is happy to chat about her work and show you around the current exhibition ION - In Our Nature , last week to see it before it disappears! #perthartist #perthartists #visitperth #visitpeel #perthartscene #contemporaryart #melaniedare #dwellingup
On my way to Lost Eden Creative n Dwellingup for v On my way to Lost Eden Creative n Dwellingup for v the next few days. If you feel like a country drive or are nearby drop in to the gallery. The group show In Our Nature is showing a painting and some of my sculpture as well as lots of wonderful work from other artists. I'll be there from 10am -4pm today (Sunday).
#Repost @lostedencreative (@get_repost) ・・・ #Repost @lostedencreative (@get_repost)
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In focus today is the sublime artworks of Mel Dare. “The Stories I Tell Myself”  2017 
Acrylic paint and ink on Belgian linen  198 cm x 157 cm....... Underlying the 20 years of Melanie Dare's art practice has been an interest in how meaning is constructed. How we are defined and confined by the physiology, psychology, culture, geography and time we are born into and live. Contexts which inform us and give us meaning. Meaning which is built, sustained and discarded moment by moment. Meaning we don’t always abide by, contexts we don’t always agreed with or even comprehend.
While visiting her mother’s homeland Czech Republic in 2013 she developed a further interest in the notion of self. An interest in how an individual is constructed, threaded together by divergent strands of culture as well as the moments of time and place we exist. Gentle strands or crude stitches forming the patterns of conditioning imposed by external and internal influences. Our need to survive and equally our desire for comfort. This was the starting point of my current body of work.  Do yourself a favour this weekend and take a drive down to Dwellingup to see this incredible exhibition ION -In Our Nature on till the 23rd Feb
Official opening of Lust of Lustre exhibition this Official opening of Lust of Lustre exhibition this Friday 31st January 6-8pm. Closes 16th February. At Ellenbrook Arts, 34 Main St, Ellenbrook. Image: Lustreware Vanitas, Andrew Nicholls, PVD on glazed superwhite porcelain. 
Curators: Gemma Ben-Ary and Rizzy.  Artists: Andrew Nicholls, Angela Stewart, Bethamy Linton, Carla Adams, Erin Coates, Eva Fernandez, Gemma Ben-Ary, Jody Quackenbush, Katrina Virgona, Lee Harrop, Mandy Harwood, Melanie Dare, Natalie Williamson, Olga Cironis, Pam Jones, Paula Cristofanini, Rizzy, Robert Andrew, Ryck Rudd, Susan Flavell, Tane Andrews, Tania Visosevic.

#lustforlustre #perthartists #ellenbrookartsgallery #melaniedare #andrewnicholls #gemmabenarycurator
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