Chicks and their Machines was an art exhibition held at Wynyard Quarter on Sunday 14 April 2024. This exhibition was in the form of a car boot sale.
Chicks and their Machines came about through my frustration around obstacles in the market and gender biases in the majority of commercial galleries and venues. It promised to deliver a celebration of female talent, vision, creativity and community engagement whilst creating an alternative to the traditional context of a gallery space.
Artworks were priced between $50 and $500 and included paintings, ceramics, textiles, sculptural pieces and jewellery. Something for everyone! The open air relaxed space and vibe invited art fans of all ages and backgrounds to explore and acquire pieces that resonated with them. And to have a chat with emerging and established makers.
Creating Chicks and their Machines allows for a more relaxed art experience. My main aim was to have people interacting with local artists and to consider walking away with an original artwork that they may not have thought they could access or afford. A coffee van and live music created a fun atmosphere with a car boot sale vibe for the whole community to enjoy.
In today’s art world, the path to presenting your work to an audience can be a daunting challenge for artists. And visiting traditional gallery spaces can also feel confronting for new art collectors. Through Chicks and their Machines we aimed to present a space to bring these two groups together. Offering a casual experience to peruse artworks. A win, win all round!
Participating artists included: Rachel Brebner, formantics (Susan Christie), Jo Harris, Amy MacKinnon, Ashlee O’Hagan, Screaming Jewellery (Jess Dew), Sophie Prendergast, Kathy Ready, Katie Robinson and Debbie Tubb
