June 2008 A Dog's Happy Life

Voice News - Arts
June 7, 2008

Anyone who's owned a golden retriever has a story of how their plaintive pooch could spend hours motionless, puppydog eyes gazing at an object of their desire.

My old retriever Sally (now blissfully rolling around in a smelly doggy heaven) had a look that said 'Yes, I don't have a voice box, but I'm looking right at what you're eating and you know what I want.'

Archibald Prize finalists and arty couple Marc and Gillie Schattner's new exhibition Wishful Thinking fuses these eternal gazes of domestic pets with thoroughly human notions of a happy life. They also explore domestic objects and routine to push pop art and figurative expressionism into a witty niche.

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June 2008 Partners in Paint

Western Suburbs Weekly
June 17, 2008

Out of the tragedy of the 2001 terrorist attacks in New York came a return to more simplistic, positive art styles which rubbed off on Australian painters Marc and Gillie Schattner.

Several years in the US also cemented the pop art movement as a strong influence on their work, mainly interpretative images representing feelings rather than specific individuals.

But the biggest changes were wrought by their return to Sydney.

Despite sharing the same studio and exhibitions for more than a decade, the Archibald Prize finalists started competing for top bidding as the household's most successful artist. Healthy rivalry soon transformed into a frustrating cycle of elation and disappointment, until after three years of bittersweet congratulations over the latest artistic win they had had enough.

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MAY 2008 Two-UP

Sunday Times Perth W.A.
May 31, 2008

ACCORDING to Sydney art duo Gillie and Marc Schattner, happiness can be found only by accepting what you have in the present.

This is perhaps why, when the pair grew jealous of each other’s individual successes, they accepted they could never be happily married with separate careers.

Saying goodbye to the unattainable ideal, they joined forces to share their successes as a team.

Fifteen years later, they are preparing for their exhibition It Takes Two, a summary of the Wishful Thinking series, at Linton and Kay Fine Art Gallery this month.

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JANUARY 2008 Double Take


The Weekend Australian Magazine
January 5, 2008

Painters Marc Schattner, 46, and his wife Gillie, 42, were being torn apart by rivalry - until they decided to share the same canvas. They talk to Helen O'Neill.

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NOVEMBER 2007 'The Perfect Gift' Published

The Perfect Gift, a new childrens book by Gillie and Marc Schattner,
published by Random House.

BOOK REVIEWS
‘How is it in life that such simple messages are lost ? My children need to understand the messages in your book, and they will. But more importantly wouldn’t it be amazing if our business leaders, politicians, even world leaders took a few minutes to consume, digest, understand and appreciate the simplicity of the story and how happiness can be so close and so easy to achieve. If I had a red hat, I’d take it off to you. Congratulations..’
Larry Emdur, TV personality/host

‘I did love the book! I really did! I read the story to my little five year old in bed. We read it again. We then had to read it again! And again! And even again! That night, we read ‘The Perfect Gift’, five times! It was funny, thoughtful, beautifully illustrated and slightly queer. All the things that children love. It is on the top of our reading book pile and I believe my little boy is taking it to Show and Tell on Friday! Congratulations and thanks so much for sending your great story to us!.’ Alannah Hill, designer

SEPTEMBER 2007 Domestic Delights

The Brisbane Sunday Mail September 16, 2007

THE pop art canvases painted by Gillie and husband Marc Schattner bring a cheerful image of domestic life – not too sweet but bordering on whimsical.

A little girl eyeing an ice cream, an older girl drooling at a flash Mini Cooper, another reflecting Paris Hilton with her penchant for small dogs, and a larger weimaraner dog by an armchair are indicative of how their artwork reflects what we find comfortable about our home lives and what amuses us.

Marc, an advertising creative director and Gillie, a graphic artist, have been working together for 15 years, often brainstorming at night and on weekends in the garage they converted into a studio in their Sydney home.

Ronnie Girdham                                                                  

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SEPTEMBER 2007 Opinion Polls

The Daily Telegraph September 5, 2007

John Howard and Kevin Rudd are used to being nailed to power poles in the name of politics, but last week they were being hung high in the name of art.

As a breeze ruffled through the trees of Bellevue Hill, married artists Gillie and Marc Schattner hammered their latest collaborative art works on to the pole outside their home. One was a poster of Howard with a puppy, the other was Rudd with a baby.

Each poster carried the none too subtle message: VOTE ME.

In coming weeks, up to 1000 of the posters will appear as the Schattners and helpers paste them up.

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AUGUST 2007 Pop Goes the Artworld

Australian Art is going through an exciting state of flux. Experts will tell you that the creative scene has been driven for the past ten years by male artists - in particular, angry male artists - expressing themselves through violent and painful images designed to agitate, disturb and upset the viewer. Tastes, however, are now changing. In reaction to these testosterone fuelled, aggressive images, a gentler, more refined creative expression is gaining popularity. Art is taking on a “romantic” sensibility, with a focus on portraiture and the celebration of every day objects. Images are softer, and execution techniques more restrained. More female artists are coming into prominence too. But Art is not a single entity, a tamed beast that behaves predictably and consistently. The Contemporary Art scene is the sum of all prominent artists’ output and there are those who don’t fit the mold. Gillie and Marc Schattner are a prime example. Finalists for the Archibald portraiture prize in 2006, Gillie and Marc’s work forms a bridge between the aggressive male dominated Art of the past decade and the current gentler, female-driven movement. Their subjects are a celebration of the commonplace - pets, furniture, portraits - reminiscent of the Pop movement which characterized the art scene of the 1960’s. At that time, reaction to the Vietnam War and its far reaching socio-economic and political effects played a significant factor in shaping the creative climate, with artists wanting to remind us that every day life should be appreciated. Arguably, similar forces are at play today.

Unlike Andy Warhol’s highly-refined images, however, Gillie and Marc’s work takes a raw approach in expressing images, incongruous with current trends. Working (and living) together with cohesive, symbiotic energy, Gillie and Marc are most well known for their diptyches - two images placed side-by-side to create an emotional reaction which is greater than the sum of its two separate parts. As Gillie puts it, “There is no image that hasn’t been seen - but by juxtaposing different icons together, an interesting, dynamic narrative is created in the viewers mind”. Gillie and Marc’s current work of drawings paintings and sculptures, using imagery of domestic dogs next to chairs and sofas, exemplifies the philosophy eloquently. Marc explains, “A domestic dog is a symbol of loyalty, comfort and companionship. The sofa is symbolic of modern comfort and domestic bliss. So placing iconic images of the two side by side creates an even greater sense of ease and contentment. And keeping the treatment raw stops the composite from being saccharine. We’re all disturbed by the violence in the world today. Of course, it was bound to impact on Art, but people don’t want it there anymore. They want to feel safe, content, validated. Gillie and I strive to capture the essence of those positive feelings through figurative imagery”.

For more information on Gillie and Marc Schattner, and examples of their work, visit www.gillieandmarc.com or www.libbyedwardsgalleries.com

Boaz Stark

JUNE 2007 'Modern Addiction' Art Exhibition

The Age June 13, 2007

A team in more ways than one, partners Gillie and Marc Schattner make a collaborative comment on Modern Addictions, while remaining positive and
fun-loving.

Libby Edwards Galleries
1046 High Street
Armadale

June 14 - 28

JUNE 2007 John Konrads on Canvas

One of the finalists for the 2006 Archibald Prize, Australia's oldest and best known art award, is a painting of Olympian swimmer John Konrads, entitled 'John and his Black Dog'. The outstanding work was a joint effort by artists Gillie and Marc Schattner (pictured right). The couple have kindly donated the painting to the Black Dog Institute in recognition of John Konrads' leading role, both as a board member of the Institute and as a community leader in breaking down the barriers around mental illness - in particular, mood disorders.

The large painting will be placed on display at the Black Dog Institute facility on the grounds of the Prince of Wales Hosptial.

NOVEMBER 2006 'The Happiest Day of My Life' Published

The Happiest Day of my Life a new childrens book by Gillie and Marc Schattner, published by Random House.

A gentle reminder to us all that life is not forever, so enjoy every moment!

Articles
BAYSIDE BULLETIN,
Make the most of each moment, 14 November 2006

THIS IS A WAR.COM November 2006

DAILY MERCURY, Sit back, relax and check out these two books, 4 September 2006

AUSTRALIAN BOOKSELLER & PUBLISHER,
The Happiest Day of My Life, October 2006

BALLARAT COURIER The Happiest Day of My Life,
19 October 2006

JUNE 2006 'Creature Comforts' Art Exhibition

The Sunday Telegraph June 25, 2006

Marc and Gillie Schattner shared an opening on Tuesday night at Woollahra's Libby Edwards Gallery - a space fast becoming a focal point for interesting art. The Schattners have exhibited in New York, Hong Kong, Singapore and Belgium.

Faces - Katie Edwards, John Konrads, who officially opened the exhibition, Elise and Michelle Chanesman, Dee O'Loughlin, Jo Gregory

Charmed - Seriously good crowd

Alarmed - Marc Schattner's shirt was very East Village

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MARCH 2006 Archibald Prize Finalists

For Gillie and Marc's painting of John Konrads with the
Black Dog of Depression by his side.

http://www.thearchibaldprize.com.au/06/finalists/archibald

FEBRUARY 2005 Life Can't Wait for Organ Donors, and Nor Can Art.

The Sydney Morning Herald
May 11, 2005

An art exhibition by Gillie and Marc of 12 lives urgently waiting for an organ donation during Organ Donation week, sponsored by the Red Cross Blood Service.

Thursday 24th Feb 2005, 6-8pm
Darling Park, 201 Sussex Street, Sydney

Click here for press release


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