Author: Carrie McCarthy

In the words of every teacher I ever had, "she's got potential, if only she'd use it."
Visual Arts WritingLeave a comment

John Aslanidis – the art of science

Carrie McCarthy

It’s very hard to separate all the facets that make up the area collectively known as The Arts. In fact I’d go so far as to say it’s impossible to. I don’t know anyone involved in any form of creative practice who operates within one area alone, devoid of inspiration and input from any other field. As a writer, I require art and theatre and music in order to remain engaged with my writing. I need my head full of historical references as much as I need it focused on the present. And I need to be around people with some … Continue reading John Aslanidis – the art of science

Visual Arts WritingLeave a comment

Pete Foley: The New Pantheon

Carrie McCarthy

Here’s something I never expected to find myself doing late on a Tuesday night – standing in a vacant, candlelit block high up on a hill in Brisbane’s West End, reading a book by torchlight with a bunch of strangers, while fruit bats circled above us and a cold breeze turned the trees in to scary dancing spirits. I quite sincerely thought I was going to die. But these are the things I am willing to do for my friends, particularly treasures like my mate Pete Foley. When Pete first told me about his concept for The New Pantheon, I reacted … Continue reading Pete Foley: The New Pantheon

Visual Arts WritingLeave a comment

Lindy Lee: The Dark of Absolute Freedom

Carrie McCarthy

No one gets through childhood unscathed. Even those of us lucky enough to have good, loving families and stable home lives drag the weight of something unresolved to adulthood. For me it’s memories of school and being intimately connected with a large group of people with whom I wasn’t comfortable. It’s years ago now, but those wounds still occasionally flare up. Putting all your teenage energy in to ‘fitting in’ leaves a scar or two. The weird thing is that I appear to be remembered for my individuality, so I guess there’s truth in the saying that the harder you try to … Continue reading Lindy Lee: The Dark of Absolute Freedom

Exhibition & Catalogue Essays, Visual Arts WritingLeave a comment

McLean Edwards’ Local Heroes

Carrie McCarthy

A while back I read Roman Payne’s novel Rooftop Soliloquy, a story that was a bit too florid and verbose for me to enjoy, but one that contained a quote I quite liked: “All forms of madness, bizarre habits, awkwardness in society, general clumsiness, are justified in the person who creates good art.” It’s a line that holds true for all creative types. It doesn’t matter how eccentric, loopy, slightly odd or downright insane you are, if you can parlay those quirks into something beautiful you can get away with anything. Now I’m in no position to judge anyone on … Continue reading McLean Edwards’ Local Heroes

Visual Arts Writing1 Comment

McLean Edwards, Delightfully Dishevelled

Carrie McCarthy

I like a freshly made bed as much as the next person, but nothing is as inviting as that same bed the next morning just after you’re out of it, all messed up and warm with your imprint. Some things are just better crumpled. Beds, like I said. Or wrapping paper. Your favourite big sloppy jumper, tablecloths, napkins, brown paper bags…things that have been used for pleasure and enjoyment, ones that show a good time was had and something wonderful occurred. To my list of delightfully dishevelled things I’m going to add artist McLean Edwards. I first met McLean at our mutual … Continue reading McLean Edwards, Delightfully Dishevelled

Visual Arts Writing2 Comments

Febe Zylstra’s Fight or Flight

Carrie McCarthy

My first introduction to Febe Zylstra was by accident, when a friend and I stumbled across the Mental Illness Fellowship Queensland (MIFQ) annual art exhibition just over a year ago. I was only recently recovered from my own encounter with depression, and was immediately drawn to see what this show was all about. Outsider Art is a peculiar thing. It’s not always visually appealing, but that’s not really the point. Art as therapy doesn’t create art that’s pretty, it creates art that’s necessary. And relief from mental illness is attractive in whatever form it takes. It requires a lot of … Continue reading Febe Zylstra’s Fight or Flight

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Linde Ivimey’s La Fiesta Brava

Carrie McCarthy

In Spain, the spectacle of the bullfight is known colloquially as la fiesta brava. It doesn’t take a highly skilled linguist to figure out that translates to something like the brave festival.  It’s a far better description of what happens in the arena than simply bullfighting. To focus solely on the fighting disregards the respectful relationship between matador and beast during battle, the recognition of the courage required on both sides to enter the ring, rather than one species’ domination over the other. It’s a term that has been playing over in my mind since the opening of Linde Ivimey’s new show Brave … Continue reading Linde Ivimey’s La Fiesta Brava

Performing Arts ReviewsLeave a comment

Happily Never After with QTC’s The Magic Hour

Carrie McCarthy

Once upon a time there was a play at Queensland Theatre Company called The Magic Hour about the darker side of fairy tales. I know that what comes next should be a story with good and bad, and a heroine smart enough to know the difference. And of course a happy ending. Always a happy ending. Except there’s nothing happy about the endings of any of the fairy tales retold in The Magic Hour. In fact, the only happy ending was the one when the performance finished and the lights came up. The Magic Hour is two and a half hours … Continue reading Happily Never After with QTC’s The Magic Hour

Visual Arts WritingLeave a comment

Swimming With Stu

Carrie McCarthy

Sometimes the hardest part about this blog is finding the words that do justice to the beautiful work I see. It’s a bit like that quote someone once said “painting says what words cannot.” Except in this case it’s photography that’s doing the talking. For a while now, years I guess, gorgeous flashes of flesh and water have been appearing on Instagram as I scroll through my feed. Taken by my friend Stu, they appear like surreal visions among the endless food photos and hashtags. A wrist, a calf, the curve of a woman’s belly or backside. Snapshots, brief glimpses of … Continue reading Swimming With Stu