Each year women of the South Coast, Emerald Coast and Southern Highlands enter a diverse and unique array of artworks inspired by Meroogal, the four generations of women who lived there, its rich collection and a changing theme. The theme for 2008 is:
Celebrating the everyday things women do.
Exhibited artworks range from mixed media installations, embroidery, collage, paintings, drawings and prints, exploring traditional crafting practices in a contemporary context.
A series of free exhibition related events will be held on Sundays 2, 16 & 20 September at 12pm. More information available soon.
Exhibition open 30 August – 24 September 2008
Shoalhaven City Arts Centre, 12 Berry Street, Nowra | Open Tuesday to Friday 10am – 4pm & Saturdays 11am – 3pm | Free entry
Selected works from the exhibition will travel to:
Spiral Gallery, Bega, 3–22 October 2008 HHT Members Lounge, Sydney, 29 October 2008 – 26 January 2009 Goulburn Regional Art Gallery, 30 January – 1 March 2009 Tuggeranong Arts Centre, Canberra, 6–29 March 2009
MEROOGAL
Cnr Worrigee & West Streets, Nowra Open by guided tour on the hour, Saturdays 1pm – 5pm & Sundays 10am – 5pm (last tour 4pm) T 02 4421 8150 | Entry fee applies
ABOUT THE PRIZE
The Meroogal women’s arts prize is a regional, non-acquisitive competition and exhibition across the fields of visual arts, crafts and design. It is open to a work using any media made by a woman 18 years or over whose principal residence is in the local government areas of Shoalhaven, Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, Eurobodalla, Bega Valley, Wingecarribee or Wollondilly. Diverse and original uses of media are a signature of this annual exhibition, which encourages the practise of traditional women's arts and crafts in a contemporary context.The theme of the prize, which varies each year, establishes a direct connection to Meroogal and the women who lived there as well as acting as a springboard for artistic imagination.
The theme for 2008 is Celebrating the everyday things women do.
THEME
Works submitted in 2008 shall respond creatively to the theme: Celebrating the everyday things women do. Managed by the Historic Houses Trust (HHT), Meroogal is a house in Nowra with a rich collection of artefacts that offers a unique insight into the everyday life of four generations of women whose forebears emigrated from Scotland and settled in the Shoalhaven in the early 19th century. This year’s theme focuses attention on the everyday activities of the Meroogal women, activities to which they gave time and energy and which in return gave meaning and purpose to their lives.
The theme has been developed in collaboration with the Australasian Occupational Science Centre (AOSC), University of Wollongong. AOSC will sponsor a special prize of $500 for the art work that is considered to best represent an occupational perspective.
Women artists are invited to explore Meroogal* and its history and then creatively respond to the theme. Diverse and original uses of media have become a signature of this annual exhibition, which encourages the practice of traditional women’s arts and crafts in a contemporary context.*Complimentary admittance to MWAP entrants
Theme developed by HHT in collaboration with the Australasian Occupational Science Centre, University of Wollongong.
PRIZES*
First prize $2000
Second prize $1000
Third prize $500
AOSC prize $500**
People’s Choice Award $250
The Bundanon Trust Regional Artist in Residence Scholarship (Two weeks in residency)
Meroogal Packers prize ***
HHT Members prize*****
*At least one of the first three prize categories will be awarded to a work in the crafts and design fields.
** Awarded to the art work that is considered to best represent an occupational perspective
*** Total of donations collected at the door during the Nowra exhibition.
**** 2 years household membership of the HHT
ENTRIES HAVE NOW CLOSED
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