After a busy and successful exhibition period in Toowoomba, Michael Armstrong has moved to Canberra, Australia, and taken up residence in the Australian National Capital Artists studio complex in Mitchell. With no exhibition plans currently, Michael is instead focused on finishing off his Masters of Creative Arts and exploring his art practice in his new environment. 

Michael Armstrong conducted an interview with the Chronicle News in Toowoomba leading up his exhibition in December 2016. It provides an insight into his thought processes at the time and some footage from the show, for those unable to get to it Check it out here:

Michael's Armstrong's work, Traits of the Living (Dying), 2016, was awarded this years Marie Ellis OAM Prize for Drawing. The finalists exhibition is currently on at the Jugglers Art Space Brisbane, and contains a fantastic array of contemporary drawing from across Australia. The 25 finalists were selected for the exhibition came from over 200 entries and demonstrates the prizes continued maturing as one of Australia's premier drawing prizes. 

Michael Armstrong's graphite work, 'Traits of the Living (Dying)' 2016, has been selected as a finalist for the Marie Ellis OAM Prize for Drawing 2016. The award aims to encourage excellence in drawing as an important foundation for any arts practice. 25 finalists have been selected with the works scheduled for exhibition at Jugglers Art Space during August 2016. The exhibition will be running from the 2nd to the 30th of August with an opening night on Friday the 5th from 6pm til 9pm. Details of the exhibition and other finalists can be found here. 

​The link below is to an article and photos from my exhibition on 1 July 2016 in the Toowoomba Chronicle. The night was a great success with a good turnout and some wonderful comments from the attendees. Unfortunately it was a 'one night' show; my study commitments preventing me from holding it over a longer period. I am currently looking at some other venues for options to exhibit the show again later this year. Follow me on Facebook to find out when the next show will be held and other news and images of my work.

http://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/life-as-a-soldier-explored-in-art-exhibition/3058827/#/0

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After finishing the first version of this artwork, I decided to revisit it and add a third pose into the composition. The following is a time-lapse video covering the production with music supplied by Kevin MacLeod. Traits of the Living (Dying) II 2016, is part of a series of work, Death of the Bystander, discussing experience, trauma and the decisions we make to accept or deny our 'story'. The manner by which we define ourselves draws upon many sources, some healthy, some damaging, yet all powerful mediators of identity. This particular image speaks of the externalisation of our beliefs and hopes beyond ourselves. 

My latest time-lapse video, a recording of my work to create 'Traits of the Living (Dying) 2016, a piece scheduled to be exhibited in my upcoming exhibition 1 July 2016. The clip is heavily edited as the actual drawing took several weeks and even when in time-lapse form resulted in almost 15 minutes of video footage. Hope you enjoy it, 

​Michael Armstrong

On Friday 1 July 2016, 6-9pm I will be holding an exhibition of my latest artworks at the University of Southern Queensland Toowoomba Campus, Concert Hall (building Q1). All members of the public are welcome to the viewing, light refreshments will be served. The exhibition will be open to the public for one night only, and display a range of drawings, sculptures, ceramics and installation works completed over the first half of 2016. In addition to the completed works the exhibition will contain a range of preliminary artworks and maquette's in order to share the artistic explorations undertaken to complete the exhibition. The artist will be present and available to discuss the works and his processes and methods.

Link to USQ Map 

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