I grew up in the ’80s and the film culture for children then was unexpectedly disturbing with a lot of gothic undertones. I was attracted to the untruthful creatures in the Labyrinth, I loved the noises the Skeksis made in the dark crystal and I was obsessed with this cartoon called ‘The Last Unicorn’ which isn’t as cute as it sounds. It was just messed up.

I realized at a young age that whether a thing or being is considered ‘good’ or ‘bad’ or ‘beautiful ugly, scary or ‘weak’ everything is human. I didn’t articulate that as a child obviously. It was a feeling. I was attracted to seeing the real struggle behind the beast. A moment you can connect with something you don’t understand or that terrifies you. Remember when Sigourney Weaver looked at her gross monster alien son she birthed just before she executed him? You looked into that monster’s eyes and you saw the fear. You saw the hurt. You saw the devastation and incomprehension that his own mother could kill him. I bawled my eyes out for that thing. What a guy.

Anyway. This show is influenced by that.’ ( Marguerite Tierney- 1/12/21)
‘Beware the Beasties’ is on for two days only! Launching at LEDA Gallery Newcastle on Friday evening December 17th from 6 pm – 9 pm) The public is also invited to drop in on the following day, Saturday the 18th from 10 am – 3 pm at LEDA.