FBi's Canvas

Tara Marynowsky could almost be defined as a folk artist, with delicate watercolours that would not seem out of place in a picture book. What reduces the picture-book quality, though, is the undercurrent of the unsettling - be it a ghostly figure in the background or an icon that you know is there, but don’t quite recognise...

Known for her signature use of synthetic fur and felt, Kathy Temin joined Nell Greco on the line to discuss her works.

Unlike the generation before, young artists today are often identifying as more than ‘just’ a painter or sculptor. As ideas of creativity and what can be ‘art’ become more fluid, it’s not uncommon to find video artists who are also potters, who work with breakdancers, or classical composers who rock out with punk bands. Joining this world of ‘slashies’ is young Sydney artist Anna John, who is a sculptor/musician/label manager and all-round cool girl.

Would you agree that fashion can be intimidating? For most the art of clothes seems to conjure up a world of overtly posh accents, rake-thin models and devils in Prada. But it seems that this stuffy and exclusive stereotype is slowly being broken down by today’s bright young things, two of whom spoke with Nell Greco on Canvas: Chiara Bianchino and Jacquelyn Wellington.

What do you think of when you hear the words ‘Global Financial Crisis’? Something in America? Something to do with housing that resulted in K-Rudd handing out $900 cheques? The performance group Post might have you think otherwise.

Given the constant battle between science and creativity through the ages, would you agree that the two are mutually exclusive? A woman who’s made her career out of melding the two seemingly different disciplines is crushing that misconception. Director of XDesign (experimental design) Environmental Health Clinic, Natalie Jeremijenko joined Nell Greco in the studio along with collaborator, environmental engineer and artist, Tega Brain.

Emerging artist Marilyn Schneider is taking a look at the dark side of advertising and producing her own fantasy world in the process, in her very first solo show, Evil Paradise.

On Canvas we love supporting local up and coming creative talent. Nell Greco was joined by a lady who dedicates a great deal of her time doing exactly that on DesignFederation.net, a hub for all the best and most exciting Aussie design happenings - Estelle Pigott.

My next guest on Canvas, Alice Gage was wondering through the streets of Paris when she uncovered a shop trading unusual magazines which inspired her to create that kind of publication back home. Ampersand, the journal, was born. She spoke with Nell Greco about this unique publication.

Internationally renowned UK sound artist, Chris Watson is taking in an art show on a train - Rolling Stock , along with Australian counterpart Shannon O’Neill. Both artists joined Nell Greco in the studio to talk about the event, which is the culmination of a series of artist residencies in Junee run by Wired Labs.

Spotting them in their raw state is fun, but what does it mean to visit an entire gallery of street art inspired works? One man creating that ideal is Joseph Allen Shea, curator of Monster Children Gallery, and the multi-artist show Disorder Disorder.

Good things come in pairs. Visual artist Sui Zhen and writer Tessa Lunney are a newly paired pair. They have taken part in Double Glazed, the first exhibition co ordinated by Even Books, and they joined Nell Greco in the studio to talk about this new and exciting project.

Think about how many modes of grief we have when something comes to an end. Post- travel, Post-childhood, Post-employment, Post-natal... Even a sadness that we’ll all start feeling as today goes on - Post-weekend, and that happens to us every week! Mark Gerada is exploring this human disappointment that follows the finale of a major experience in anyone’s life, including the weekend, in his latest exhibition, Post Exhibition Blues.

In the depths of the inner city, artists are exploring a mysterious building and feeling the textures, histories and layers; creating video works that only come alive at night to tell these tales. Angelica Mesiti was one of these artists, invited to explore this temporal change between day and night as part of Carriageworks’ new site-specific media arts installation - Nightshifters.

Have you ever in-genuinely smiled out of sympathy to a cleaner? You might think you’re doing a nice thing, brightening up their day. But when flipped to the other side of the cleaning cart, after viewing Branch Nebula’s latest show, you may be forced to consider it as just irritating and condescending. A darkly humourous show that takes you into the world of those who do the dirty work, Sweat is the most recent performance from the multi-disciplinary crew, and Nell Greco was joined by co-creators, Claudia Escobar and Lee Wilson.

Politically incorrect is a contemporary label you could give Brian - the father of the endearingly named, Joe Egg, from the Peter Nichols 1967 play, A Day in the Death of Joe Egg. Brian is childish, insulting, irreverent and terribly funny at times. Actor, Jonathan Gavin is none of those things we can assure you, that is, except for when he’s playing Brian.

Have you ever been a bit intimidated by the cutting edge? By interpretative dance? Nell Greco spoke with a man determined to break down those barriers. He is bringing internationally acclaimed choreography to our shores, and in an approachable way. He is Sydney Dance Company Artistic Director, Rafael Bonachela.

You’re probably familiar with the mythological figures Zeus, Aphrodite or Hercules right? Well, how much do you know about Sir John Mandeville? Jesse Cox is a visual artist who’s spent some time exploring the adventures of one of the few mythological figures of Anglo-Saxon history. He joined Nell Greco in the studio to talk about his works and this mysterious man.

Big Ted, Humpty Dumpty, The Rocket Clock, Noni, Monica and John. Ring any bells? It’s not quite Playschool but rather, it’s Child’s Play, the new exhibition of multimedia artist (and fan of children’s books and TV), Madeleine Preston.

Do you read the comic strips in newspapers? It has possibly been a while since you've read a graphic novel, however Matt Huynh is transforming illustration in a way that has yet been unexplored. He joined Nell Greco in the studio to discuss his latest experiment.