Margaret Dawson (Elsternwick MLC 1962)
Renowned artist Margaret Dawson (Elsternwick MLC 1962) started teaching art in 1967, giving lessons from the art studio she had set up at home in Chirnside Park.
In those days, she sold her art at 'The Art Bank' open-air arts and crafts stalls on the Upper Esplanade in St Kilda on Sunday mornings. It was also a source of pocket money to supplement the income of a then young married couple.
While raising her family, Margaret was commissioned to create artworks for the Australian government in Canberra and entered art competitions, creating more success by winning and enhancing her reputation.
Margaret bought her first art studio in East Ringwood in 1979 and soon entered into business for herself, having proved her worth as a commercial creative artist and designer.
Dealing with Myer Melbourne led to Margaret receiving a major contract to design and manufacture the animated icons displayed in the Myer Christmas windows. This contract was to continue for 12 years. More large contracts followed with other shopping centres nationally from 1986 to 2003.
Having already achieved a diploma majoring in sculpture, Margaret continued to study, majoring in fine art at Monash University and spending a year studying in Prato, Italy.
In 2001, Margaret began visiting Nepal, trekking high up into the Himalayan mountains where drawing and sketching in her art diaries formed the basis for further creative works back home. Margaret was invited to attend an exhibition in China, known for its Lingnan painting, which is often done on rice paper. A principal Chinese exponent of Lingnan painting, upon seeing Margaret’s work in this coveted art form, commented that her work ‘put his to shame.’
Margaret also assisted the Aboriginal clans around Mt Mulligan - known to the local peoples as the legendary birthplace of the ‘Rainbow Serpent’ - with the creation of a seal for the purposes of joining all the clans in their protest against a mining authority’s proposal to prospect and frack their sacred land.
Elder Judulu was greatly impressed with the concept of the Rainbow Serpent petition and said that his people would be keen to add their names and totems to it. Subsequently, the application for an 'Authority to Prospect' was withdrawn.
Margaret has now entered the Archibald Art Exhibition, Australia's foremost portraiture prize, four years running. Her 2020 entry was of her husband, Keith Kelly. 'He was my first boyfriend and I his first girlfriend… before parting for 54 years. We met again for my 70th birthday and married in 2018.'
Margaret’s 2021 entry was of former Liberal politician, Heidi Victoria (pictured at top), who is now a professional photographer. 'Heidi and I met when I opened my gallery in Bayswater and have remained close friends,' said Margaret.
In her 2022 entry, Margaret captures former television star Bert Newton's adoration for wife Patti. The stunning portrait sees Patti donning a glamorous ensemble as she poses by a window, while Bert smiles down at her from the moon. Margaret gifted Patti a special watercolour of ‘Moon’ which so wonderfully represents Bert’s spirit and adoration.
Margaret has yet another entry in this year’s Archibald Prize, her subject – transgender woman and former AFL footballer and coach, Danielle Laidley.
Channel 9 have been documenting the progress of her artwork and process with the big reveal airing this year. In her artist statement, Margaret noted, ‘Amid our nation’s struggle for identity, hate, bigotry, human rights abuses and injustices still need to be addressed. Danielle’s emotional desire to identify as a woman stems from her belief that she has been trapped in a male body from childhood.
Society sometimes tries to crush those who identify outside the ‘norm’, not least the transgender individual who suffers ridicule unfairly. Danielle spoke of her pride after her gender transition and her ability to walk a red carpet unashamed and unmasked. Wearing a dress generally represents a feminine gender, and this artwork of Danielle in her white gown is a conduit that amplifies her message of identity.’
‘She is so brave bringing gender identity into the spotlight to open a pathway to general acceptance in our society,’ she says. ‘I am hopeful that my entry will strengthen her position.’
There is no doubt that Margaret has found herself an artistic lifetime of free expression, painting in oils, watercolours and acrylics, engaging in china painting, ceramics, clay, sandstone and styrene sculpture. Needless to say, painting, production of art, design, print making and sculpture have never ceased since Margaret first picked up a brush, drew a conceptual sketch or slapped down a pug of clay.
