Our Newest Painting

There are some places in the world where romance is intoxicating and this was one of them. Acrylic on Canvas 152cm x 198cm By Gillie and Marc Schattner

 

Our Dog and Cat

We have a beautiful Golden Retriever called Moby who is now 12 years old but still acts like a really silly puppy! We take him for a walk once a day and without fail our cat Izzy always comes along and follows close behind for the stroll. It is quite a gorgeous site. 

 

I have also decided to post this picture of when Moby was a puppy because every time I look at it, it just makes my heart melt. 

Title:

She didn't believe in fairy tales but he seemed like prince charming and she wondered if this would end happily ever after. By Gillie and Marc Schattner

This is another one of our paintings that is going in our exhibition 'Wild at Heart' which will be exhibiting at Richard Martin art Gallery. 

 

Just finished this one

Title: She was just out of school and her told her 'no' but her heart said 'yes'. By Gillie and Marc Schattner

Title:

He took the first train leaving the station, destination completely unknown, and he had never been happier.

 

Title:

All he had was a suitcase and a song in his head, but he knew this was enough to change his world. By Gillie and Marc Schattner

Title:

He travelled half way around the world to meet her even though she couldn’t promise him anything. by Gillie and Marc Schattner

Title:

He travelled half way around the world to meet her even though she couldn’t promise him anything. By Gillie and Marc Schattner

Title of Sculpture

He thought it was going to be totally out of character but there is a first time for everything. By Gillie and Marc Schattner

Media Release: 5 November 2010

“If we can’t clean up our own shit then what hope is there to achieve anything else?” Anonymous

We know that picking up dog poo is no fun. Bagging your hand, grabbing the poo, then inverting the bag and finally finding a place to dump the bag and contents together is displeasing, smelly and inconvenient. But just because this task isn’t pleasurable doesn’t make it any less necessary. It is necessary for so many reasons: to keep our environment cleaner, to prevent our dogs from eating it, and of course to prevent us stepping in it! We step in it, our children step in it, and then there is the innocent bystander who has looked forward all week to a stroll in the park who steps in it!

Globally we tackle environmental issues and wrestle with corporations and countries to adopt better ideals to save our planet. Yet we can’t even pick up our own dog poo!

Either way it says that the big issues can never be solved while the little issues are left on the lawn! So it may be your first time, but please pick up the poo! It could be the start of something wonderful.

Gillie and Marc believe in power of art to change opinions, attitudes and finally actions. As contemporary artists they maintain it’s the duty of the artist to push boundaries, to challenge the status quo and finally cause change.

In 2005 they believed that art could save lives with their exhibition ‘Life Cant Wait.’ They used their art to change the lives of 12 Australians who urgently needed an organ donation. The exhibition saved lives. It toured around Australia raising awareness which finally resulted in a change to legislation.

Their controversial art and sculptures address many taboo subjects, all in the belief that art has the power to shift opinion and action.

Their 3 metre nude sculpture of ‘Good Boy’ was censored by many, but now enjoys mainstream acceptance touring the country with the Contemporanea art exhibition.

And their giant 3 metre tall sculpture of a dog picking up it’s own poo symbolises the small actions we can all take to change our environment. The couple hope that through humour people will see how we must all take responsibility for our own actions. They say; “It is a small message that can have a profound symbolic effect for the entire world”.

They do not want to point fingers at humans but rather show a dog picking up his own poo, taking responsibility for his actions and doing it with a smile. The reaction has been enormous already with emails from all over world asking to have to have the sculpture shipped to both New York and London for public display. However Gillie and Marc would prefer to have the sculpture stay in Australia and are looking for a future public space now. So if you have an ideal location please contact them.

Every aspect of Gillie and Marc Schattner’s art has both their minds and hands on it; they paint together on the same canvas to reflect their passions and influences in life. Inspired by their Golden Retriever Moby, Gillie and Marc have been painting together for the past 15 years and have exhibited their art all over the world. Together they are international award winning artists and Archibald Prize Finalists.

TO BE EXHIBITED OUTSIDE AT

ART SYDNEY 2010

ROYAL HALL OF INDUSTRIES, MOORE PARK

11-14 NOVEMBER

GILLIE AND MARC SCHATTNER - WWW.GILLIEANDMARC.COM - EMAIL: STUDIO@GILLIEANDMARC.COM - PH:0413011865

Congratulations to 'Luna'

Congratulations to 'Luna' (Mike Thornton's dog) for winning the Top Dog in the World ONLINE Competition!

It was such a difficult decision as ALL the dogs were so beautiful!! But I think it was Luna's eyes that just got to us, simply beautiful!

The runners up will be contacted separately. Thanks again to everyone for sending in so many ...wonderful images, it was a fabulous success all round !

Great skate videos

any lovers of skate, subscribe to this link.... many more videos coming by ben schattner films http://www.youtube.com/user/benschattnerfilms

Dog Entries!!

Look at all these gorgeous dog for our competition to win one of our dog paintings, details are on Facebook, link below

How will we ever choose, they dogs are all amazing !!

Top Dog in the World ONLINE Competition! POST PHOTOS TO FB PAGE TO ENTER.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=129499970435894&ref=ts

Final charcoal drawing

charcoal drawing step 2

Here is step 2 of our drawing ..

Top Dog in the World Competition!

Top Dog in the World Competition!

Gillie and Marc are always in need of dog head references for their paintings so they are looking for the best head shots of your dog. The winning dog will receive this painting, title: He does my head in but he's an artist. 122 x122 cm, Acrylic on Canvas. This is the link to the painting

http://bit.ly/bJb7xP

There will also be 3 consolation prizes where Gillie and Marc will offer you a commissioned painting of your dog for 50% of the original price.

Post your image here on our Facebook page for everyone to see and enjoy http://www.facebook.com/pages/Contemporary-Artists-Gillie-and-Marc-Schattner/380465349571?ref=ts

before October 15th 2010. Winners will be notified by 17 October 2010.

(Delivery of painting will need to be organised by you and cost of delivery not included).

charcoal drawing step 1

We bought 2 doors from Bunnings on the weekend, joined them together and then pinned our beautiful watercolour paper onto them, the perfect hard base for drawing.

First step is to wash the paper with a very light watercolour before we start the drawing process. The paper will need one night to dry and then we can start ! This just gives it a bit of colour and an extra dimension.

What our we painting?? Well, you can watch it come to life!

Finalists!

 Gillie and Marc Schattner selected as finalists for the 2010 BSG $10,000 Art Prize

September 2010

Gillie and Marc have been selected as national finalists in the inaugural Brunswick Street Gallery General Art Prize 2010.

Their sculpture They weren't in love but that didn't really matter, was selected as one of 50 finalists.

The finalist exhibition can be viewed at http://www.bsgart.com.au/ from the 10 September 2010 at Brunswick Street Gallery, 322 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne.

The end of expression?

Interview with Gillie Schattner

While Paddington-based artists Gillie and Marc Schattner tend to focus on the mixture of animal and man, children became another focus when a sculpture made by the pair, titled Good Boy, was claimed to be offensive by parents who walked their children to school past the sculpture. Displayed at Richard Martin Art,the sculpture was placed on a ledge outside the gallery due to space restrictions. The sculpture, a nude man on all fours with the head of a dog, carries a 41cm penis.

“[The meaning behind the work] is all about going back to the simple things in life and being materialistic and just enjoying what’s right in front of you,” Gillie told NINETOFIVE.

“We think that dog’s bring out our humanity and make us humans.”

Gillie said the sculpture, which has traveled around Australia, found the most controversy in Sydney.

“Nude art has been around for centuries, there’s nothing wrong with a nude body. If you started censoring art it would hurt the arts. All artists need to be able to freely express themselves.

“So we say keep art accessible to the public, don’t censor it, and let them judge for themselves whether they like it or not.”

While the debate over artistic freedom and consorship continues, it’s clear that even the art world have differing opinions.

http://nine-to-five.whereilive.com.au/lifestyle/story/the-end-of-expressionr/

Quirky Town!!

 

Let the high protein, dairy free, lemon detox diet begin ... tomorrow

Media Release

Returning to the Animal Within:
A new solo exhibition by Gillie and Marc Schattner

Ever wanted to live a dog’s life? Husband and wife artist duo Gillie and Marc Schattner hope to bring out the animal in all of us at their new solo exhibition Returning to the Animal Within, on show from 7 – 21st October at the Nexus Modern Art Gallery in Melbourne.

This new exhibition presents over 20 paintings and fibreglass sculptures encouraging audiences to rediscover the simple things in life through the humanised perspective of a dog. Gillie and Marc suggest we start thinking like a dog, switch off our Twitter feed, have a roll in the grass, or have sex with someone we like, and honour the spirit of the dog to show us a better way of being human.

The couple are well known for their striking paintings of dogs including, He’ll never be famous but he doesn’t give a damn, he’s a musician, which won the 2009 Biennale of Chianciano Tuscany. They have evolved their style to include stunning large fibreglass sculptures and photographic prints as well as their paintings in the exhibition.

“We have incorporated dog heads with human bodies to reflect the strong bond between humans and dogs; the sculptures represent man and dog as one. We can all learn a lot about love, friendship and happiness from dogs,” said Gillie Schattner.

“The next time you are waiting for the latest interest rate announcement, or walking around Ikea looking at bookshelves, or sitting in traffic, or working late again, maybe its time to start thinking like a dog and appreciate the simpler things in life.”

Gillie and Marc use bold, simple shapes and rich colours and textures in their paintings, and their occasionally controversial sculptures, to illustrate the exuberant character of dogs. The personalities of the dogs shine in the creative and humourous titles of the works – a dog playing the drums is titled He does my head in, but he’s an artist, while a lone cat in the exhibition is called, He was a cat amongst many dogs but he was strong enough to stand alone.

Every aspect of Gillie and Marc Schattner’s art has both their minds and hands on it; they paint together on the same canvas to reflect their passions and influences in life. Inspired by their Golden Retreiver Moby, Gillie and Marc have been painting together for the past 15 years and have exhibited their art all over the world. Together they are international award winning artists and Archibald Prize Finalists.

Lovers of their work will have the bonus of being able to see the infamous Good Boy sculpture on show in Melbourne at the very same time, only a couple of blocks away from their solo exhibition. It is a feature in Contemporanea, a group exhibition of the Florence Biennale Artists of Australia, being held from 7 -19 October at Smart artZ Gallery in South Melbourne and 23 October – 6 November at Aarwun Gallery in Canberra.



Good Boy is a fibreglass sculpture of a giant kneeling man with a dogs head and a 41cm penis, drinking a cup of coffee. When exhibited in Sydney last year, the sculpture created a stir with some viewers who complained to authorities about its overt display.



“If you look historically through art, nudes have been accepted and admired for hundreds of years. Good Boy is about man and dog becoming one, and I hope people will enjoy and admire him in this new setting,” Gillie said.

Returning to the Animal Within
Gillie and Marc Schattner
Nexus Modern Art Gallery, 7 – 21 October 2010.
123 Cecil St, South Melbourne.
www.gillieandmarc.com <http://www.gillieandmarc.com>

 

Good Boy (right) will be shown at:
Contemporanea: Group Exhibition of the
Florence Biennale Artists of Australia

Smart ArtZ Gallery, 7 -19 October
2 Alfred Place South Melbourne

Aarwun Gallery, 23 Oct – 6 November
11 Federation Square, O’Hanlon Place, Nicholls ACT

 

*Interviews with Gillie and Marc and high res images are available*

Media Contact:
Avviso PR Ph. 02 9368 7277
Rebecca George Rebeccag@avviso.com.au /0421 988 035
Nicole Tiedgen Nicolet@aviso.com.au /0401 281 153

Our Opening

It’s only 6 weeks away now until the opening of our solo show in Melbourne, ‘Returning to the Animal Within’
Opening at Nexus Modern Art gallery  in Melbourne, we are still finishing a few pieces so it is all steam ahead but very exciting and should be a great fun show.
So we really do hope that you all will come and meet us, we would really love that !!

 OPENS 7TH OCTOBER 5.30 - 8PM
 UNTIL 21ST OCTOBER

Nexus Modern Art
123 Cecil Street, South Melbourne, Victoria 3205
 info@nexusmodernart.com.au
 Phone: 1300 780 003

Dogs don’t wear Rolexes. They don’t drive Jags. They don’t accumulate frequent flyer miles or have share portfolios, and they never read the real estate pages on Saturday morning. Dogs love to go for walks and smell and taste the things they find. They love the way it feels when they stick their head out the car window, or catch a dirty tennis ball for the millionth time. They love it when you rub their tummy. Dogs don’t ask what something cost. They don’t ask where you got it from, or whether it’s the latest or the one that everyone’s talking about or whether you can only get it on special import or whether you can really afford it. They just ask how it feels. So next time you’re waiting for the latest interest rate announcement, or walking around Ikea looking at bookshelves, or sitting in traffic, or working late again, maybe it’s time to start thinking like a dog. Put down that iPad. Switch off your Twitter feed. And have a scratch. Or a sleep. Roll on your back in the grass. Stick your nose in something good. Have sex with someone you like. Stop living in the material world and rediscover the physical world. Return to the animal within.

Gillie and Marc have learnt a lot from their Golden Retriever, Moby. He is a watchdog, a playmate for their children, and a companion at home and in the studio. Moby only ever does what he feels like doing, and is happiest spending his time with the people he loves.  Gillie and Marc feel the same way, which is why they paint together on the same canvas. Their art is an expression of their marriage, or if you include Moby, their pack. In this exhibition Gillie and Marc honour the spirit of the dog, and the way their love can show us a better way of being human.
 

Title :  At the moment he realised that happiness was right in front of him

Sculpture!

Title of our sculpture: The Unforgettable Tiger, 'Taz'

Dedicated to Benjamin the last Tasmanian Tiger; died 7 September, 1936 at the age of 12 years and 7 months.

Dogman gives paws for thought!

Good Boy will be on his way to Melbourne next month by train for our upcoming shows.  He has caused a bit of interest here in Sydney and on his travels to Perth!!  We are curious to see how he is greeted in Melbourne on his arrival !

They weren't in love but that didn't really matter

 We went down to Centennial Park today with our sculpture to capture in it in the perfect setting! 

We got a few funny looks from people walking past!!! But that is what our art is all about - standing out and making a difference!!

Bondi Beach Shoot August 2010

We had a wonderful morning down at Bondi Beach, a clear day and not too windy, just perfect for photography. Our male model Noel posed brilliantly on the beach, naked but for his underpants and our 2 Weimeraners, Caeser and Goose couldn't have been more co-operative! We did have plenty of treats on hand for them !! Jessie was our producer and Ben filmed and edited the entire shoot. Here it is on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coZcyC4pL0M