David Jones, artist and poet (1895-1974) begins his PREFACE TO THE ANATHEMATA :

'I have made a heap of all that I could find.' (1) So wrote Nennius, or whoever composed the introductory matter to Historia Brittonum. He speaks of an 'inward wound' which was caused by the fear that certain things dear to him 'should be like smoke dissipated'. Further, he says, 'not trusting my own learning, which is none at all, but partly from writings and monuments of the ancient inhabitants of Britain, partly from the annals of the Romans and the chronicles of the sacred fathers, Isidore, Hieronymous, Prosper, Eusebius and from the histories of the Scots and Saxons although our enemies . . . I have lispingly put together this . . . about past transactions, that [this material] might not be trodden under foot'. (2)

(1) The actual words are coacervavi omne quod inveni, and occur in Prologue 2 to the Historia.
(2) Quoted from the translation of Prologue 1. See The Works of Gildas and Nennius, J.A.Giles, London 1841.


21 November 2014

Wayne Goss


Gough chose the Sydney Town Hall for his memorial send-off, with an on-stage symphony orchestra and a choir. And for his parting selection, Hubert Parry's setting of the words of William Blake - Jerusalem

     I will not cease from Mental Fight,  
     Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand:  
     Till we have built Jerusalem,  
     In England's green & pleasant Land

Today for Wayne Goss it was the Gallery Of Modern Art, Brisbane. With contemporary Australian art on the walls, no raised stage, and at the end a track from the Rolling Stones - You can't always get what you want

      You can't always get what you want  
     You can't always get what you want  
     You can't always get what you want  
     But if you try sometimes you just might find  
     You just might find  
     You get what you need
     
     
Behind the speakers, 
Queensland artist William Robinson's 
Four Seasons (1987).

Behind the people, 
Queensland artist Robert MacPherson's 
Mayfair: (Swamp rats) Ninety-seven signs for C.P., J.P., B.W., G.W. & R.W. (1994-95).
       
 click to enlarge   
 detail
 A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
 someone looks at something ...

 LOGOS/HA HA