Ep 1. Dangerously Modern: Margaret Preston

Dangerously Modern is a podcast from the Art Gallery of South Australia about the unprecedented wave of women artists who left a conservative Australia to pursue modern art in the early 20th century. Margaret Preston is a household name in Australian art, best known for her bold paintings and woodcuts of native wildflowers. But to achieve this level of visibility she had to inhabit a bullet-proof confidence and find a sense of freedom, away from the strictures of a Victorian society. In this episode, hear how she found freedom in an unlikely Irish rural setting, discovered modernism and, it’s speculated, pursued queer relationships. · Works and artists mentioned in this episode: Still life with teapot and daisies (1915) by Margaret Preston A view of the shore (1915) by Margaret Preston Girl sitting on a bed (1917-1918) by Edith Collier Bessie Davidson Gladys Reynell · This podcast is inspired by the exhibition Dangerously Modern: Australian Women Artists in Europe 1890–1940 · Dangerously Modern is also a book featuring 50 trailblazing artists, co-published by AGSA and AGNSW. Credits Special thanks to Elle Freak, Tracey Lock, Wayne Tunnicliffe, Denise Mimmocchi and Sally Smart. This episode was produced and presented by Rosa Ellen with sound engineering by Melissa May, original music by Margie Jean Lewis and other music from Blue Dot Sessions. Thanks to kangaroovindaloo; llupo2 and Klankbeeld for their recorded sounds used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International from freesound.org Image detail: Margaret Preston, Still life, c.1915–16, London, oil on canvas, 48.9 × 48.9 cm; AGSA