Maree Menzel

Maree Menzel was born on 9 November 1949 in Dimboola, Victoria, Australia.{{Cite web |title=Maree (Marie) Therese Menzel - BillionGraves GPS Headstones |url=https://billiongraves.com/grave/Maree-Marie-Therese-Menzel/22619508 |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=billiongraves.com}} She developed an interest in design and modelling from a young age and commenced a Diploma of Art and Design at Prahran Technical School in 1967. After her first year Maree was awarded a Commonwealth Advanced Education Scholarship, based ‘on results obtained in first-year examinations’.{{Cite news |date=16 Jan 1978 |title=Commonwealth Advanced Education Scholarships |work=The Age |pages=9  }} During her time at Prahran, she was mentored by Rowena Clark, a distinguished designer and educator. In 1983-5 Menzel studied a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the Victorian College of the Arts, focusing on printmaking.{{Cite news |last=Le Couteur |first=Guy |date=19 August 1995 |title=Life after art school |work=The Age Extra |pages=10}}

From 1972, Menzel was both modelling and writing for the first Australian pop music newspaper Go-Set. Her titles included ‘A guide to tarting your face on the cheap’,{{Cite news |last=Menzel |first=Maree |date=8 July 1972 |title=A guide to tarting your face on the cheap |work=Go-Set |pages=22}} ‘Happy hats’,{{Cite news |last=Menzel |first=Maree |date=27 May 1972 |title=Happy Hats |work=Go-Set |pages=22}} and ‘Excessoreyesing’.{{Cite news |last=Menzel |first=Maree |date=8 July 1972 |title=Excessoreyesing |work=Go-Set |pages=22}}

In the late 1970s, Menzel designed for the Melbourne Theatre Company including touring productions:

• 14 June 1977 The Wild Duck, Athenaeum Theatre Melbourne
• 24 January 1978 Dusa, Fish, Stas and Vi, Russell St Theatre Melbourne
• 10 March 1978 Dusa, Fish, Stas and Vi, The Playhouse Theatre Perth WA
• 26 April 1978 Dusa, Fish, Stas and Vi, Union Hall Adelaide SA
• 23 May 1978 Departmental, Russell St Theatre Melbourne
• 1 June 1978 Dusa, Fish, Stas and Vi, Theatre Royal Sydney
• 12 Dec 1978 Arsenic and Old Lace, Athenaeum Theatre Melbourne
• 8 February 1984 The Real Thing Athenaeum Theatre Melbourne {{Cite web |title=Maree Menzel |url=https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/240802 |access-date=17 February 2024 |website=AusStage}}

At the age of 28, Menzel was described as the ‘brilliant young Maree Menzel’, joining Kenneth Rowell to form a duo of designers for The Victoria Opera.{{Cite news |date=22 January 1977 |title=The Victoria State Opera 1977 Gala Season |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=19770131&id=MuBUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=R5IDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6632%2C6507640 |access-date=18 February 2024 |work=The Age |pages=136}}

Menzel also designed costumes and sets for

• 10 September 1982 Void: In search of a dream St Martins South Yarra Vic
• 20 March 1992 Mistress Antill Theatre South Melbourne Vic
• 18 May 1994 Blithe Spirit Carmelite Hall Middle Park Vic
• 25 November 1994 Steel Magnolias Carmelite Hall Middle Park Vic
• 24 November 1995 Wildest Dreams Carmelite Hall Middle Park Vic

Menzel’s career as a fashion designer took off in the 1980s when she began working with Prue Acton, a prominent Australian fashion designer. As principal designer for Acton’s Melbourne Cup outfits, Menzel showcased Australian fashion on a world stage.{{Cite book |title=Prue Acton: racing ahead: Melbourne Cup Outfits 1979-1991 |publisher=RMIT |year=1996 |isbn=0864446071 |location=Melbourne}} Her designs included the Titanium outfit (1983),{{Cite web |title=Ensemble - Prue Acton, 'Titanium', Melbourne Cup, 1983 |url=https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/246105 |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=Museums Victoria Collections}} Mock Croc (1986),{{Cite web |title=Hat - Prue Acton, Brown Straw, 'Mock Croc', Melbourne Cup, 1986 |url=https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/270083 |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=Museums Victoria Collections}} and an embroidered navy linen suit for Derby Day 1987.{{Cite web |title=Suit - Prue Acton, Navy Linen, 1987 |url=https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/246093 |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=Museums Victoria Collections}} Menzel also designed Fantasy Head, a mask for a charity auction at the Metro Nightclub in the late 1980s, using green and gold fabric scraps to evoke sea and bush themes.{{Cite web |title=Mask - Maree Menzel, 'Fantasy Head', Fabric, circa 1980-1990 |url=https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/270091 |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=Museums Victoria Collections}} Snake Proof, a costume designed by Menzel and Marcos Davidson, was part of Australian Fashion: The Contemporary Art, an exhibition at the Powerhouse in Sydney and London's V&A Museum in 1989-1990. {{Cite news |last=Geissler |first=Marie |date=25 May 1989 |title=Fashions for raising eyebrows, exports |url=https://www.afr.com/politics/fashions-for-raising-eyebrows-exports-19890525-k3dsb |access-date=30 October 2024 |work=Australian Financial Review}}

Menzel's eye for colour and sense of humour led to several interior designs and window dressing commissions. Her Port Melbourne home, with a deep orange Moroccan-inspired lounge room and hand painted mandala ceiling rose, is featured in Places, a photographic book by Earl Carter and Jean Wright.{{Cite book |last1=Carter |first1=Earl |title=Places: Inside Australian Houses |last2=Wright |first2=Jean |publisher=Viking |year=2001 |isbn=978-0670891863}}

Menzel’s work continues to be appreciated for its artistic value and innovative approach to costume design. Her designs are preserved in collections such as Museums Victoria.

• 2004 Victoria Law Foundation Best Illustration Award

Menzel married jewellery designer and musician Marcos Davidson in a colourful ceremony in 1989.{{Cite web |title=Photograph - Wedding procession Maree MENZEL & Marcus DAVIDSON, Station Street to Yacht Club, Pat Grainger, 1989 |url=https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/60641a6c175fecd3b2dc0575 |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=Victorian Collections |language=en}} They divorced in the 1990s. After many years with cancer, Menzel died on 27 December 2004, and is buried at Dimboola Cemetery.

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Category:1949 births

Category:2004 deaths

Category:Australian fashion designers

Category:Australian costume designers

Category:Australian women costume designers