Carmel McCrow Artist
Carmel was born in Sydney, attended Monte Sant' Angelo Mercy College and later the National Art School, whilst working as a Graphic Artist. Two years were spent travelling in the UK and Europe, working as Graphic Artist in U.K., then Flight crew with British Airways. On return to Australia, Carmel held positions in the Graphic field from Art Director to Print Production. In 1990 moved to the Snowy Mountains, which allowed her to paint full time. During those years, a 2 year Certificate art course was completed at TAFE, later teaching, also organising and administering exhibitions and galleries in the ski fields.
On moving to Canberra in 2001, attended Australian National University and completed a BA (Visual) in 2004, and became a Member of The Golden Key Honour Society. Since then, Carmel has held 11 solo exhibitions and participated in numerous group exhibitions. Five years were spent working from her studio at Australian National Capital Artists where artworks were produced in watercolour, pastel, acrylic, charcoal, and oils on canvas, and for t4 years, was working from her studio at M16 in Griffith, ACT, presently working from her studio at home.
Exploring themes of figuration, animal subjects and the environment, Carmel McCrow is a contemporary Australian artist with a studio at M16 Artspace. Last week, M16’s Unity and Frankie sat down with Carmel to discuss her art practice, influences and Canberra coffee. Keep on reading for the full interview!
What are you working on at the moment?
I am working on an exhibition that has everything to do with the sky. I have been focusing on Australian landscapes, moody storms, the sublime and at the moment the Aurora Borealis. I like landscapes because they have gravity in art history. People seem to understand them, and because of that they are more inclined to be challenged by them and appreciate them. I find myself fascinated by the abstract patterns in nature.
Who is your favourite artist?
I have quite a few. I like Judy Watson, Franz Marc, Anslem Kiefer and Gerhard Richter. I love Judy’s work because she really gets in to the painting; she throws soil on and gets involved. I have become quite attracted to really tactile works.
Why do you love M16?
That’s easy! It's warm, and it is your own space that you can settle in to. It is an all-round artists' environment. I used to have a studio at home, but I found it can be quite easy to disappear in to the woodwork. When you come to a studio you have the whole day to devote yourself to painting. You can immerse yourself in all the artists around you or you can stay in your studio. It is also very inspiring having an on-site commercial gallery filled with new works every three weeks!
Favourite gallery in the world?
I would say the Neue Gallery on 5th Ave in NYC. It was such an incredible surprise walking in to a room full of Gustav Klimts’ completely out of nowhere. I was tearing up! The next room was full of Kandinsky’s work. I was in awe.
Where is your favourite place to get a coffee in Canberra?
My husband makes the best coffee in Canberra! Especially on a Sunday with the morning papers. Rocksalt in Hawker is also fantastic, and of course Ona on the Lawn in Manuka.
Carmel McCrow’s oil painting’s will be featured in a visual presentation at a prestigious piano concert in Llewellyn Hall at the Australian National National University School of Music, featuring four pianists including the virtuosic pianist Michael Kieren Harvey on Saturday, October 1st at 5pm. A selection of Carmel’s paintings will also be on display in Rehearsal Room 1 during the evening. McCrow’s Art synergizes beautifully with the music of Larry Sitsky, long recognised as an icon of Australian progressive music composition for over 50 years.
The featured music of the evening, the highly virtuosic “The Way of the Seekers”, will be performed by Michael Kieran Harvey while McCrow’s paintings provide a visual representation of the music which is based on a mystical text and represents the spiritual journey towards enlightenment.
Other performers include local pianists Giselle Roberts and Aaron Chew and Muses Trio pianist Therese Milanovic. Larry Sitsky will be launching his “Centenary” Collection prior to the concert in the Larry Sitsky Rehearsal Room at 4.30pm and concert goers are most welcome to attend.