Create, Ireland – leading the way in collaborative arts
The creative process has become more and more a vital element of both industry and society. Marnie McKee looks at Create, Ireland's national development agency for collaborative arts, and argues that the UK could learn a lot from what they have achieved.
24 Sep 2007 12:00
Marnie McKee
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Writing and Publishing
Art is a powerful medium when amalgamated with service and industry. Yet the public are often skeptical of artists and their usefulness. Few know this better than one of Britain’s most famous artists.
Upon returning to New York earlier this month following the Turner Prize Award Ceremony, Damien Hirst told airport security he was an artist. They then asked, “What kind of paint do you use?” When Damien replied, “House paint”, they strip-searched him.
Marnie McKee currently lives in London. In the mid-90’s she co-founded ToyBox Circus staging fire and light shows and art installations Australia-wide. Marnie co-produced two major Bodyweather-based works with dancer/director Leah Grycewicz. They toured Pre-Millenium Drinks across Australia (1998); and staged Stratus999, a 3-month site-specific multi-media dance project involving 8 international artists, in Cairns, Queensland. Marnie studied Bodyweather as part of Tess de Quincey’s Sydney-based dance company (1999-2001). In March 2004, Marnie settled in London and has since concentrated on establishing Bodyweather training in London, with dancer/teacher Rachel Sweeney. Together they have worked as AnonAnon, researching and creating interactive performance for site-based work (ranging from nightclub to national park) using immersive, inhabitational and durational tools. Congruently, Marnie has been training with and performing for Stuart Lynch (of Holberg School) in Oslo and London, and more recently, training with Frank van de Ven of Bodyweather Amsterdam in Holland and France.
