TIM MCKEW‘sperformance art extravaganza ‘Come Down With Us’, at William Mora Gallery in Richmond, reprises shows held at Tolarno Galleries in St Kilda, 1979.
On Friday night, Mckew proved that three-and-a-half decades and a dose of laryngitis could not tarnish the sparkle of numbers like ‘Sailor Boys, Sailor Toys’, ‘Tuna – Full Sirena’ and the spooky ‘Night Porter’; his mellow tones and clever, cowardesque lyrics were a delight.
Long time friends and collaborators Tim Mckew and photographer Peter Haffenden.
Mckew wore a smart white naval uniform, set off by a series of striking hats by Graeme Hare and Carol Murphy. He lamented a fit of born-again Christianity that saw him throw out the mermaid tail to go with his stunning mermaid hat.
The tail, however, and other pieces of costume history are preserved in photographs by the likes of Rennie Ellis, collages by Vanessa Bianca Harrow and light-boxes by Peter Haffenden. These are exhibited in the gallery floyer.
Friday night’s full house was thoroughly entertained with a tantalizing slice of late 1970s underground theatre. Long may it play.
Tim McKew as ‘Tuna – Full Sirena’.Sue Thompson with Carol Green from Australian Ballet SchoolMusicans, painters and poets in Ash Wednesday, Emily Humphries and Marian Webb.
Carol Green again on closing night with Peter Jago on closing night.
Come and relive some of the magic of ‘Those legendary Art Happenings’ those Dada Cabarets first staged at Galleries, Street St Kilda; with accompanying Exhibition including artwork by Peter Vanessa Troy Davies from 1979.
There will be four different shows / satires: Egypt Versus Berlin , The Harold Holt Show , House Hunting and The 1982 Stilleto Heel take it off [ a satire on Catholicism ] Starring Tim Mckew, original songs and parodies by Tim Mckew and David Evans with Peter De RyK on piano. Photographic light boxes by Peter Haffenden, photo collages and original cigarette girl by Vanessa Bianca Harrow, original usherette -Deborah Thomas, additional photos by Henry Talbot and Julie Higginbotham, original costumes were by Jenny Bannister, original hats were by Graeme Hare, original poster/ flyer art work and painting by Paul Cater, new hats by Carol Murphy, original shows documented by Henry Talbot and Rennie Ellis, website – www.timmckew.com
I had no idea what to expect from the premier screening of Ecco Homo at ACMI as part of the 2015 Melbourne International Film Festival.
Strongly feeling the six degrees of separation that bind us all, I was hooked from the very beginning of this touching, revealing, voyeuristic and transforming film.
Unlike many other viewers in that packed cinema, to my knowledge I had not personally encountered Peter Vanessa Troy Davies during his life, nor was I aware of being familiar with his work or influence. Yet, within minutes his direct influence on my life became clear, beaming into me from the screen.
Archival photographs of Peter Vanessa Troy Davies
Ecco Homo is a beautifully crafted collaborative work of cinematic art, lovingly pieced together and co-edited by filmmakers’ Lynn-Maree Milburn, Andrew de Groot and Richard Lowenstein from Ghost Pictures.
The film is a collage of interconnected stories and haunting myths reflecting the life and times of Peter Vanessa Troy Davies (1960 – 2007).
Through intimate interviews from family, friends and artists including Bono from U2, Nick Cave, Tim Mckew and Anne Harding to name a few. And through a collection of still photographs spanning over 30 years, along with biographical and auto biographical film footage shot by a variety of cameras and people over a period of ten years; Peter Vanessa Troy Davies came to life, piercing through time and space and permeating the theatre with a high voltage electric charge.
For a man who fell victim to a melting pot of addictions, in life as in death, Peter Vanessa Troy Davies, artist and provocateur has bequeathed to us a powerful message of love, art and transformation. An expansive creative mojo that continues to circle the globe.
Andrew de Groot, Lynn-Maree Milburn and Richard Lowenstein from Ghost Pictures.Tim Mckew and Richard Lowenstein at the opening of Ecco Homo.
I first met withTim Mckew for a one on one, in his locale at the Abbotsford Convent the other day.
I had heard about his forth coming Dadaist performance art show, “Come Down With Us” running over three nights in August 2015 on Friday 28, Saturday 29 and Sunday 30, between 6 – 8pm at the William Mora Galleries, and after doing my research the night before, I was very interested to meet the man.
Tim Mckew performing at St Kilda’s Tolarno Galleries in 1979 image by Henry Talbot.
I discovered that Tim Mckew is a vibrant singer, songwriter, playwright and producer, whose successful career has spanned over five decades in show business and the arts, encompassing TV, theatre, radio and cabaret.
Throughout his extensive career he has performed on stage with the likes of Nick Cave, Paul Kellyand Germany’s Nina Hagen to name a few.
He describes “Come Down With Us”as a Homage to his Dadaist shows that were held at St Kilda’s Tolarno Galleries back in 1979.
This ignited my interest as I discovered that Tim had great success here and in London and Europe, particularly Berlin because the original shows were so cutting edge and ahead of the times. They were a collaboration of Melbourne’s brightest talents of the day including works by Peter Vanessa “Troy” Davies, costumes by Jenny Bannister and photography by Henry Talbot and Rennie Ellis.
To give you a bit of background,Tim Mckewcousin of Australian journalist and politician Maxine McKew was the youngest of five children born to working class, Irish / Italian parents who lived in Port Melbourne’s Garden City. Although Tim’s father Pat McKew was a die hard wharfie both parent’s supported their family by working as independent local SP bookmakers. Tim describes his childhood as colourful. His Italian mother also came from a long line of beautiful singers and musicians. After discovering Tim’s gift for singing she set about transporting him into the land of show business with his first gig on national TV with Brian and the Juniorsduring the 1960’s.
Another interesting and significant chapter to Tim Mckew’s story is that for the last 10 years he has been performing and is considered one of the bestNoël Coward tribute artist around the globe, with celebrated performances across Australia’s major cities, New York and London. Producing his own shows as well as writing and performing his own original material, to the delight of his audiences, Tim succeeds to recreate the magic of that very poignant time in history during Noel Coward’s life and times.
Tim Mckew performing as Noel Coward image ABC still from the Collectors’
It is not surprising as both artists share parallel experiences throughout their lives, albeit from different times, yet both remained and still remain profoundly true to his own originality and artistic expressions.
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