LITTLE BOXES paintings by Kat Weir

The title and theme of Kat’s show references Malvina Reynolds’ 1962 folk tune of the same name. Malvina was an activist/housewife facing a dichotomous struggle between domestic bliss and domestic sameness. Kat’s fascination with the 1950’s and 60’s and all things kitsch, has nurtured her love/hate relationship with domesticity and suburban life. Her obsession with the aesthetic of these eras certainly doesn’t match the opportunistic ideal of the 'fulfilling' suburban lifestyle. It seems the trap of modern suburbia is easy to fall into!

With ‘Little Boxes’ Kat offers a fantastic solution. She intends to have her cupcakes and eat them too! She has made eight paintings: Four bachelors and four exotic pets, one to match every season. With corresponding colours and matching décor they offer this advice:

No matter what the season,
there will always be a man and a pet to match your outfit.
You'll never get bored!

Kat Weir has been drawing since she could hold a pencil.
She hails from New Zealand, where she completed her Fine Arts degree
in 2005. Kat has travelled the world and now lives in Melbourne.
She is currently working in North Fitzroy at Advanced Art (361 St Geroges Rd, North Fitzroy) where she has been tattooing for one year.
More of her work can be found here: http://www.myspace.com/katweir

Little Boxes

(Words and music by Malvina Reynolds; copyright 1962 Schroder Music Company)
Little boxes on the hillside, Little boxes made of ticky tacky,
Little boxes on the hillside, Little boxes all the same.
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
And the people in the houses All went to the university,
Where they were put in boxes And they came out all the same,
And there's doctors and lawyers, And business executives,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky And they all look just the same.
And they all play on the golf course And drink their martinis dry,
And they all have pretty children And the children go to school,
And the children go to summer camp And then to the university,
Where they are put in boxes And they come out all the same.
And the boys go into business And marry and raise a family.
In boxes made of ticky tacky And they all look just the same.
There's a green one and a pink one And a blue one and a yellow one,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky And they all look just the same.