Art review: Interconnected at Form Studio and Gallery, Queanbeyan

"Meagan Jacobs is from the South Coast of NSW. Her earlier work is notable for its colourful decorative and graphic element. In this exhibition Jacob's paintings of the Australian landscape also demonstrate her skill with colour, texture and line with an intuitive feeling for the gestural mark that is beautifully orchestrated - emotive but controlled. The interweaving of the flowing forms hint at many interpretations – rivers and twisted tree trunks and also perhaps the presence of the Rainbow Serpent from the Dreamtime. What however is also reflected is a more direct connection to a sense of place and it is this verisimilitude that gives these works a new grittiness and assurance that impresses." 

- February 26 2016

• Kerry-Anne Cousins - Canberra Times

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dust and dogs inspire artist Meagan Jacobs

Nov. 23, 2015, 1:31 p.m - Milton Ulladulla Times

Since returning from central Australia where Meagan has spent the last couple of months working at the Warlukurlangu Art Centre, the Mollymook artist says “it feels like I haven't had a paint brush out of my hand since August”.  

From Monday to Friday Meagan managed the studio side of operations at Warlukurlangu Artists, one of the longest running and most successful Aboriginal-owned art centres in Central Australia.  

Famous for its gloriously colourful acrylic paintings, the art centre has a national and international profile and its art has been featured in hundreds of exhibitions and publications in Australia and around the world.  

“Being my third visit to Yuendumu, I feel a real privilege at being accepted by the Walpirri artists and feel fortunate to have been able to experience living and working in an aboriginal community,” Megan said.

“Every weekend I loaded up my backpack with oil paint, a few scruffy brushes, plenty of water  and headed for the surrounds of Yuendumu. 

“Early mornings would be spent walking and just soaking up the landscape, then in the afternoon I would record the experience, either by painting or drawing.”

Working in the outback was a lot different to Meagan’s coastal lifestyle.

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“Painting in the desert can be tricky,” she said.

“The ants crawl all over the wet paint, intense heat causes everything to dry too quickly or melt and thousands of flies will send you mad if you let them.

“And, just when you think you have a painting worth keeping, a Willy Willy will blow through covering everything in its path with a fine film of red dust,” she added.

On the other hand, Meagan said painting in the desert could be a powerful experience.

“The evocative rock formations, brilliant colour, extraordinary light and of course the unexplainable energy,” she explained.

“Capturing the feel or sense of a place has always been a priority for me as an artist.

“Immersing myself in the desert landscape over the last couple of months has really produced some interesting results.

“Naturally these completed paintings and drawings – dust and all - will be included in my upcoming exhibition.

“At the end of my stay I carefully packaged up my paintings, drawings, a kilo of red dust, seeds, tin, rust, sticks, bones and a bit of wire and paid the equivalent of a ticket to Bali in extra baggage fees.”

Meagan’s Desert, Dogs & Dust exhibition includes paintings and drawings inspired by her time spent in Central Australia.

The exhibition opens at Cupitt’s at midday on November 29 where Megan will give a talk about her trip. 

 

 

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Meagan unearths art

April 1, 2014, 4:17 p.m - Milton Ulladulla Times

MOLLYMOOK artist Meagan Jacobs is showcasing her exhibition Unearthed 111 at the Shoalhaven City Arts Centre this month and her work has everyone talking. 

Jacobs has been painting for more than twenty five years but has recently started experimenting with installation art.

 “Unearthed is what I have named some other exhibits I have had and its interesting because I ended up unearthing much of the material used in this show.

“All of the items used have been found, given or bartered to me all but the spray paint that was used.

“At the moment I am enjoying installation art because of I am making something out of nothing.” 

This exhibit showcases five artworks that each tells a deeply moving story.

Wool Road features 70 delicately crafted sheep mounted on a wall and represents the 70 convicts that were sent to cut the track between Braidwood to Jervis Bay when wool prices. 

“Wool prices had soared in 1840s and Wool Road meant there was great optimism about the future for the region and the settlement of Huskisson with wool shipments made from the coastal village to Sydney and London.” 

One of the most striking images of the exhibit is a giant grey blanket painted with pigment from Narrawallee to create a giant union jack. 

Meagan says the humble grey blanket was the catalyst for the entire exhibit. 

“I was given this grey blanket that was given to me by a friend and it has sat in my shed for a very long time,” Ms Jacobs said. 

“It has this beautiful label that has fascinated me and I’ve used that image in the work that now tells the story of the blanket list of Aboriginal people on the south coast.

“For centuries every Aboriginal baby born in south eastern Australia was wrapped in a possum skin this cloak grew with the child and eventually became a burial shroud when they died. 

“1814 Governor Macquarie initiated the official distribution of blankets to Aboriginal blankets and it marks this time when the Aboriginal people became depend on those blankets and eventually lost some of their tradition culture. 

“The Government also kept very meticulous records of the blankets issues and although those records marked the westernization of Indigenous culture they now provide some of the most valuable and reliable bases for family and community history research.” 

Jacobs 

Unearthered III is open now at Shoalhaven City Arts Centre, 12 Berry Street Nowra.