Merri-bek Summer Show: Love in Crisis

The Merri-bek Summer Show is our much anticipated annual celebration of local artists. 

This year's exhibition theme explores love in all its forms as a powerful way to make a difference in our divided world. From small, individual acts of care to collective activism and standing together, the theme considers how love, kindness and compassion can help us resist, heal, and imagine a more caring future. 

You can download the exhibition roomsheets below.

Merri-bek Summer Show artists

Aldona Kmieć, Alessia Catalano, Alister Karl, Amaya Iturri, Amelia Dowling, Amelie Vorchheimer, Andrea Draper, Ange Stock, Ange Foster, Angela Rossitto, Angela Dionysopoulos, Ardhitra Hanifah, Arie Glorie, Ashton Wastney, Batoul Ahmad, Benjamin Sheppard, Betty Musgrove, Bronwyn Calcutt, Caroline Fry, Chello O'Mahoney, Christine Tammer, Claire Sadler Jones, Dani Andree, David McCall, Deb K Williams, Deepika Rao, Duncan Young & Alex Hirst, Duncan Freedman, Eduard Ingles, Elain Della Rocca, Elaine Pierini, Elisabeth Bodey, Elizabeth Cleland, Ella Pininta, Emilion Clark, Erin Cox, Fleur Summers, Flora Georgiou, Florence Wang, Frances Tapueluelu, Frank Servello, Frankie Cini, Freya Alexander, George Duckett, Hana Othen, Heinz Boeck, Helen Anderson, Hyun-joo Kim, Iaki Vallejo, India Grant, Ingmar Apinis, Ismihan Sen, Jamie Mumford, Jane Farnan, Jarmila Hava, Jean Taylor, Jeff Andersen Jnr, Jess Hall, Jessie DiBlasi, Joeli Eastell, Johanna Picton, Josh Wilson, Joy Barrett and Jennifer Williams Barrett, Julian Di Martino, Kareen Adam, Karen Standke, Kate Kelly-Johnson, Kate Archdeacon, Katerina Stevens, Kelly Flanagan, Lesley & Patrick Francis, Lewis Spiteri, Lilah Summers Dixon, Lily Santamaria, Lily Razuki, Linda Loh, LIs de Vries, Lois Basham, Luigi Marzola, Maggie Chiara Cowling, Maheen Hashmi, Margaret Bishop, Mark Wingrave, Mark McCarthy, Matt Bottos, Matthew Carey, Mei Wah Williams, Melanie Hoult, Melanie Lazarow, Michael Crowhurst, Motoko Katsuta Kitano, Mwaffaq Al Hajjar, Natasha Manners, Nazanin Moghadam, Nicky Guerin, Nicola Vance, Nicole Irwood, Nina Killham, Paul Batt, Raymond Carter, Richard McCoy, Rie Delange, Rita Sciacca, Robert Waghorn, Robert Mihajlovski, Robyn Shrives, Roshan Dhillon, Ruby Simpkin, Ruth Groves, Sandra Tobias, Setareh Hosseini, Stephanie Karavasilis, Tace Kelly, Tallulah Ainsworth, Thomas C Chung, Tiffany An, Tom Richards.

Merri-bek Summer Show awards

Voting for the People's Choice Award is now open. Vote for your favourite artist using the People's Choice Award voting form. The artist with the most votes will receive a cash prize of $1000, generously sponsored by the Sydney Road Brunswick Association. 

This year, the Counihan Gallery is pleased to present the 9th Noel Counihan Commemorative Art Award. The Award celebrates an artist whose work explores the exhibition theme and engages with social, political, or environmental ideas. All exhibitors in the Merri-bek Summer Show are eligible for the Award. The Award recipient will receive $4000. This prize is generously sponsored by Merri-bek City Council.

Congratulations to Batoul Ahmad, who is the recipient of this year's Noel Counihan Commemorative Art Award with her work ‘The day I thought of death, I saw a dead bird, and my friend wrote her will’.

 The judges noted that: 'Batoul’s work offers a powerful dual reading of the exhibition theme, reflecting on both love itself in a state of crisis and the necessity of empathy and care in times of upheaval. Created after returning to Damascus for the first time in ten years, after the fall of the Assad refgime, the work resonated deeply with us, particularly the artist's reflection that "love and empathy remain a question, not concepts, in the Syrian context"'.

The ‘Climate for Change Award’, celebrates an artist who champions environmental justice and activates for a greener future. The ‘Climate for Change Award’ recipient receives a $500 CERES voucher. 

Congratulations to Maggie Chiara Cowling, who is the recipient of this year's Climate for Change Art Award with her Portrait of climate activist John Englart.

Judge Donna Luckman from Zero Carbon Merri-bek noted that: 'this year’s theme Love in Crisis is personified in the dedication and passion of local climate activist John Englart and the beautiful portrait by Maggie Cowling. The portrait began before John’s sudden passing earlier this year and was finished afterwards. The painting embodies what Maggie describes as “the community’s love for John, his vision and commitment"'.

Accessibility information

This exhibition features video and sound content. Due to the varied sensory experience on display, this exhibition may be a difficult environment for visitors with sensory sensitivities.

Contact

Counihan Gallery
Phone: 03 9389 8622
Email: CounihanGallery@merri-bek.vic.gov.au

Further information

For exhibition updates you can follow the Counihan Gallery Instagram page. You can also go to the Counihan Gallery Facebook page.

Zero Carbon Merri-bek is a community and council movement to achieve a safe climate for all of Merri-bek. To find out more, visit the Zero Carbon Merri-bek website.