Darcy
McGrath
Creator and curator of curious artworks
Level Up youth art program is an initiative developed and supported by Gold Coast Arts and Culture to help young emerging artists through professional development opportunities and programs to 'grow and support a sustainable arts practice and create industry connections.' I was lucky enough to be a part of their 2023 group of artists along with four other artists. Through this experience, I was able to gain insight into the standards and expectations that come with being an artist in our current society this included; how to photograph our artwork professionally, how to do our taxes as sole traders and how to write grants, applications and artist bios, along with a variety of other things.
The program ran for 3 months and required us to be in the studio space mandatory 3 days a week 9-4:30 pm and we could go in for extended hours during the weeks if we pleased. During my residency, the program was conducted out of a studio in The 4217 in Surfers Paradise, which was accompanied by two other art groups 3 by 3 and an artist-run initiative (ARI) called NextDoor. Along with teaching us lessons and providing networking opportunities, we also had to produce work for an exhibition at the end of the program to show what we had been developing during the 3 months.
Throughout the program, I decided to focus on a specific subject matter that I would explore through a variety of different mediums, and I would then showcase all the different works as my artwork for the exhibition. The theme I discovered was the connection and juxtaposition between Australian insects and stereotypical hyper-feminine iconography. The iconography I clung to most was; rhinestones, lace, pink, glitter and cake decorating.
I came upon this topic by my recent obsession with learning, finding and collecting information about insects. I believe that, although insects are negatively stigmatised as being repulsive, they are extremely important and have an element of allure in their distinct way and deserve to be celebrated. I chose to celebrate insects by feminising them making them more palatable to the viewer.
Due to my interest in oddities and curiosities, I ended up displaying my collective works in the style of Wunderkammer (cabinet of curiosity). Also known as wonder rooms were comprehensive assortments of items often relating to 'natural history (sometimes faked), geology, ethnography, archaeology, religious or historical relics, works of art (including cabinet paintings), and antiquities.' (Wikipedia)
For more information on the program click the link below