CURRICULUM VITAE

MEGAN EVANS
VISUAL ARTIST

email Megan

BIOGRAPHY

Megan Evans started her career as an artist in 1983, initiating and coordinating the Northcote Koori Mural, which represented the start of many political public art pieces.
Her career involves a broad spectrum of art practices from major public artworks to exhibition work. She began her practice as a painter and her technique has developed to cover everything from lighting to sculpture, video and digital technologies. She has worked on large scale public art projects such as Confluence a light projection at Appleton Dock (collaboration with artist Glenn Romanis), as well as community based project work. Megan’s exhibition work examines the intricacies of perception and viewpoint. One constant theme in her work and life has been a commitment to reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

EDUCATION

2003 - Doctor of Philosophy, Victoria University
1999 - Advanced Diploma of Arts -Electronic Design and Interactive
Media, RMIT
1996 - Certificate in Small Business Management.
1991 - Masters in Fine Art, Victorian College of the Arts.
1980 - Bachelor of Education, Art and Craft, Melbourne College of Advanced Education.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

2004/05 Community Cultural Development Officer, ANTaR Vic (Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation Victoria)
2002/03 Victorian University of Technology, Bachelor of Arts in Computer
Mediated Arts, Lecturer in Video Art
2000 /01 - Victorian University of Technology, Bachelor of Arts in Computer
Mediated Arts, Lecturer in Electronic Media
1999 - Victorian University of Technology, Bachelor of Arts in Computer
Mediated Arts, Lecturer in Electronic Media
1998 - Victorian University of Technology, Bachelor of Arts in Computer
Mediated Arts, Lecturer in Painting and Drawing.
1993 - Victorian University of Technology, Community Development
Degree, Community Arts Elective.
1992 - Mordialloc/Cheltenham Community Health Centre, Painting and Drawing.
1987/89 Director Arts Workshop, Victorian Trades Hall Council.
1982/83 - Northcote Boys High School, Art - Years 7 to 11.
1981 - Derrinallum High School, Metalwork and Graphic Communication, Years 7 to 11.

EXHIBITIONS

INDIVIDUAL EXHIBITIONS

2003 ‘The Sublime Sleep’, Span Galleries, Melbourne.
2001 - ‘Sleepwalker’, Centre for Contemporary Photography, Melbourne.
2000 - ‘Virtual Kelly’, collaboration with Lisa Young, Bunker project,
Linden Gallery
2000 - ‘Velvet Blue’, collaboration with Lisa Young, First Floor Gallery.
1997 - ‘Im material’ , Westspace Gallery, Melbourne.
1996 - ‘Vanished Madonna - re viewing landscape’ - Westspace Gallery.
1994 - ‘Viewpoint’ - Steps Gallery, Melbourne.
1993 - ‘Inexternal’ - Linden Gallery, Melbourne.

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2005 - Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize, South Australian Museum,.
2004 Wyndham Contemporary Art Prize, Wyndham Cultural Centre.
2002 - ‘Synthetic Image, Monash University Gallery, Melbourne.
2002 - ‘Wyndham Contemporary Art Prize, Werribee
2001 - ‘Stellar’, Centre for Contemporary Photography, Melbourne.
1999 - ‘Exposed’ – Linden Gallery, Melbourne
- ‘Handle with Care – Steps Gallery, Melbourne
1998 - ‘The Heart of the Machine’ - Victoria University Gallery, Melbourne
1997 - ‘Transition Transcendence’ - Lyall Burton Gallery, Melbourne.
- ‘Work’ - Westspace, Melbourne.
- ‘30 Years on’ - Linden Gallery, Melbourne.
1996 - ‘Accessioned, Deaccessioned, Reaccessioned’ - Old Port Melbourne Police Station, Melbourne Fringe Festival.
- ‘Studio, past and present studio artists’ Linden Gallery, Melbourne.
- ‘Rubert Bunny Foundation 2’ - Linden Gallery, Melbourne.
- ‘The Art of Collecting #2’ - Linden Gallery, Melbourne.
- ‘Swan Street Spectacle, Everyone Goes to Dimmeys’ - Windows of Dimmeys, Swan Street Richmond.
1995 - ‘The Keith and Elizabeth Murdoch Travelling Fellowship’ - Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne.
- ‘Shifting Grounds’ - Linden Gallery, Melbourne.
1994 - ‘Domain of the Other’ - Access Gallery, National Gallery of Victoria.
- ‘Richmond City Council Art Award’ - Richmond Town Hall, Melbourne.
1992 - ‘Banners of the World’ – Kelvingrove Museum, Glasgow, UK
- ‘Public Sphere - Personal Vision - Public Space - Linden Gallery, Melbourne.
1991 - ‘Nineteen Artists’ - Ian Potter Gallery, Melbourne.
1990 - ‘Similar Differences’, Remand Centre Public Art Project - Museum of Modern Art, Heidi, Melbourne.

AWARDS AND GRANTS

2004 Wyndham Contemporary Art Prize (Open Category)
2002 - Wyndham Contemporary Art Prize (3 Dimensional Category).
2000/02 - Victoria University Post Graduate Scholarship
1999 - Australia Council, Visual Arts and Crafts Fund
1994 - Australia Council, Community Cultural Development Unit Fellowship.
- Australia Council, Community Cultural Development Unit
Project Grant.
- VTU Credit Union Art Award - Highly Commended
1993 - Joan Baird Tower Studio Art Award - Highly Commended.
1992 - Australia Council, Visual Arts Board Grant.
1991 - Sir Ian Potter Award.
1990 - Dorothy Francis Lawrence Award.
1988 - Labor Day Award.
1984-89 - Project Grants from - Victorian Ministry for the Arts, Australia Council, Myer Foundation, Reichstein Foundation.

PUBLICATIONS

Cross Currents in Contemporary Australian Art by Traudi Allen, Published by Craftsmen House, 2001.
The Age – Megan Backhouse 1/2/02
The Herald Sun – Alison Barclay 1/2/02
The Age – Robert Nelson 21/7/01
Geographies of Resistance, ed Steve Pike, Michael Keith, Resisting Reconciliation, essay by Jane Jacobs
Sightlines, Women’s Art from a Feminist perspective, by Sandy Kirby - Published by Gordon and Breach.
Art Studies, by Max Darby - Published by Jacaranda Press.
Art Connections, by Jenny Aland and Max Darby - Published by Heineman Education Australia.
Melbourne Our City Our Culture, City of Melbourne - Published by Hyland House.
Art and Australia, Autumn Ed. supplement - Melbourne a City for the Arts.
Feminising Art Practices, by Sandy Kirby - Art Monthly Sept Ed.
Reviews and articles between 1985 – 1990 in The Age, The Australian, The Herald Sun and The Leader newspapers.

PUBLISHED WRITING

Object, Considering fifteen objects in the Nillumbik Art Collection, essay written in collaboration with Helen Lucas, 2003
Negotiating Public Space, Dialogue Dec 1996, essay Public Art Private Decision by Megan Evans
Artists Talk – Issues Facing Australian Artists, edited by Richard
Holt and Brett Jones, Published by Westspace Inc. 1996
Opportunities and Challenges for Artists – Visions of Reality; Art in the Community and the Future – Published by City of Melbourne 1998.

PUBLIC LECTURES

2003 Illuminating the Exegesis – Ballarat University
2001 - Women in the Arts - Footscray Community Arts Centre
1998 - The Arts and Community – Exploring Links and Connections,
Footscray Community Arts Centre
1997 - Visions of Reality, Art in the Community and the Future,
City of Melbourne.
1996 - Art Critical Political - Ian Burn Memorial Lectures, RMIT.
1994 - ArtVictims - Next Wave Festival Public Forums,
National Gallery of Victoria.
- Cultural Barriers to Public Art, St Kilda Public Art Strategy.
- Celebrating Women Artists, Forums, Domain of the Other,
National Gallery of Victoria.
1993 - Community Arts Versus the ‘Real Thang’, Arts Access.
- Community Arts and Politics, Gippsland College of TAFE
1992 - Australian Trade Union Banners, Kelvingrove Museum, Glasgow, UK.
- Art and Hard Work - Hidden Imagination Forum, National Gallery of Victoria.
- Public Art, Who is it for? - Linden Gallery, St Kilda Arts Centre.
1991 - Art and Social Change, Our Place, Our Culture, Our Future, Fourth - Annual Conference, Arts Council of Australia National Conference, Canberra.
- New Directions for Public Art, Queensland Art Gallery.
1990 - Industrial Issues, Cultural Tools, National Art and Working Life Conference, Melbourne.
1987 - Women Art and Culture, Public Forum, Melbourne University.

CURATORIAL ACTIVITIES

2005 - Black on White, co-curated with Maree Clarke, Centre for Contemporary Photography, Melbourne.
- Operation Art, Exhibition of Art by Nurses or about Nursing, Meat Market Art House, Melbourne for Australian Nurses Federation.
1999 - ‘Handle with Care’, co-curated with Lisa Young project for Community and Public Sector Union.
- ‘Catch the Moment’, curated exhibition and coordinted project for the Australian Nursing Federation (Victorian Branch)
1998 - ‘Body Object’, curated exhibition and coordinated project for Community and Public Sector Union.
1997 - ‘Art Working Working Art’, Third Annual Visual Art Prize, Community and Public Sector Union.
1995 - ‘Swan Street Spectacle - Everyone goes to Dimmeys’ - Collaboration with artist Elizabeth Boustead, organised and curated exhibition in windows of Dimmeys and shops along Swan St. Richmond.
1994 - ‘The Art of Nursing’ - Steps Gallery, for the Australian Nurses Federation, Victorian Branch - organisation, curation.
1993 - ‘Joan Baird Tower Studio Art Award’ - Steps Gallery, for Artsupport/CFMEU
1988 - ‘White on Black, 200 Years in Question’ - coordinated committee, organisation, curation.

PUBLIC ART PROJECTS / COMMISSIONS

2005 - Produced Second Helping, a play Written and Directed by John Harding from collaboration ‘Sit Down at my Table’
2004 ‘Woven Histories’ – Collaboration with Gayle Maddigan for the Department of Victorian Communities for Eureka 150th – Ballarat Botanical Gardens.
2004 ‘Tracks’ – Commission by Wyndham City Council
2002 - ‘Venetian Houses’ – Collaboration with Shanrah Austin for Next
Wave Festival – Melbourne City Square.
2000/01 - Confluence – A Meeting of Waters - Australian Bulk Alliance Silo’s Urban Art Project, collaboration with Glenn Romanis
- Appleton Dock, Melbourne Docklands
1999 - Aboriginal Cultural Signage Project, Stage 1, Research and Consultation
1998 - St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne, Stone Pavement Inlay, collaboration with artist Glen Romanis for the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry within the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne.
1997 - ‘Simulacra Mural’, Gilles St Fairfield, collaboration with artist Sal Cooper.
1995/94 - ‘Another View Walking Trail, Pathway of the Rainbow Serpent. - collaborative project with artist Ray Thomas and writer
Robert Mate Mate - Melbourne City Council.
1994 - Queen Victoria Hospital/Women’s Centre, Artists collaboration on conceptual proposal for Art content as addendum to Architectural brief.
- ‘The Invisible Ribbon’, mural in the Grand Central Gardens - Melbourne City Council, Cultural Development Unit.
1993 - Tramway box, Swanston St Walk - Melbourne City Council, Cultural Development Unit.
1989 - Paintings Drawing and Prints for the public access areas of the Melbourne Remand Centre - Office of Corrections.
1988 - Australian Bank Employees Union Banner - ABEU.
1987 - Operative Painters and Decorators Union Banner - OPDU.

ARTIST IN THE COMMUNITY

2005 - ‘Romulus and Remus’ – 15 min stop frame animation -Artist in schools, Arthurs Creek Primary School
2004 - ‘Sit Down at my Table’ – collaboration with John Harding, a series of dinner party conversations about reconciliation as research for a play.
2003 - ‘Triage’ – Artist in Schools project with Galvin Park Secondary College – 15min video
2003 - ‘Public Faces Public Spaces’ – Collaboration with the young people of Werribee to create a window installation in the Werribee Cultural Centre
1995/96 - ‘Swan Street Spectacle’, including ‘Everyone Goes to Dimmeys’ - initiated and curated exhibition of installations by artists in shop windows, in collaboration with artist Elizabeth Boustead.
1993 - ‘Celebrating Women Banners, National Gallery of Victoria - researched and painted with women from Flemington, Kensington and North Melbourne.
1992 - ‘Eltham Environmental Mural’, Shire of Eltham - designed and painted with local youth for Eltham Council.
- ‘From the Mountains to the Sea’, K Division Mural, Pentridge - designed and painted with inmates.
- ‘We all wind up green in the end’, Connies and Drivers painted tram - designed and painted with employees from six depots for the Public Transport Corporation.
- ‘St Kilda Health Centre Bus’ - designed and painted with local homeless youth.
1991 - ‘Inside / Outside’, Gill Memorial homeless men’s hostel - designed and painted mural with day residents.
1989 - Designed and painted float for the Wurundjeri Tribal Elders.
1988 - ‘For a World without Borders’, Pathfinder Press International Mural Project, New York City, USA - represented Australia.
1987 - ‘Northcote Youth Mural’, Northcote City Council - researched and designed with local youth, painted in collaboration with artists Les Griggs and Marina Baker.
1987 / 89 - Artist/Director of the Victorian Trades Hall Council Arts Workshop.
1986 - ‘Peace Tram’, Transporting Art, Victorian Ministry for the Arts - painted with artist Eve Glenn.
1985/86 - ‘From Bonbonniere to Barbed Wire’, Women’s Mural, Smiths Street Fitzroy - researched, designed and painted in collaboration with artist Eve Glenn and the women of Northcote.
1984/85 - ‘Northcote Koori Mural’ - Researched and designed mural in collaboration with members of the Victorian Aboriginal Community - Built wall and painted mural with trainee artists Les Griggs, Ray Thomas, Millie Yarran and Ian Johnson, administered by the Aborigines Advancement League.

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