Meroogal Women’s Art Prize

Meroogal House in Nowra was built in 1885, inhabited by the Thorburn and MacGregor families, and then passed down through four generations of women. In 1998, in acknowledgement of this strong feminine history, Sydney Living Museums established the Meroogal Women’s Art Prize, encouraging female artists in the Shoalhaven area to submit works influenced by the house and its history.

Now open to female artists living anywhere in NSW, the competition has grown in size, prestige and the total prize pool, with the winner receiving $6000 cash.

This year there were 170 entries representing a “huge range of media… painting, print making, video, sound, paper craft, textiles, assemblage, photography…”, according to Sydney Living Museums curator, Joanna Nicholas.

With the same thematic brief being applied each year since the incipience of the competition, you might expect works to become repetitive or predictable, but Nicholas says no:

“Some of the works connect to the story quite literally and some are more gentle and referential.”

She cites one artist who submitted a hand embroidered sampler, who has “drawn inspiration from the linoleum and the floor coverings in the house, particularly the kitchen.”

Artists are strongly encouraged to visit the house and research the archives, either in person or online. Last year a decision was made to hold the exhibition inside the house, and it looks like that will become the tradition. As a result, many of the artists design their works with a specific interior location in mind.

“It provides you with a different way of looking at the house,” remarked Nicholas. For instance, this year a cupboard which is normally empty and dark will be illuminated by candles in jars.

The prize and exhibition have increased awareness and visits to Meroogal House and the hope is that it will continue to grow. (RB)

Until Jan 28. Meroogal House, Cnr West and Worrigee streets, Nowra. $8-$12. Info: www.sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/meroogal

BY RITA BRATOVICH