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.
To mark the centenary of the birth of the great New Zealand artist Colin McCahon (1919-1987), the National Gallery of Victoria has a small exhibition of McCahon works at the third floor of NGV International.
To further this observance, Luke Smythe at Monash Art Design & Architecture organised a free symposium, which was given yesterday. For those of us who were there, it was a rich occasion.
Jane McCabe, Lecturer in History, Otago University, Dunedin
Peter Simpson, former Associate Professor, University of Auckland and author of a new two-volume survey of McCahon's work
Laurence Simmons, Professor of Film, Television and Media Studies, University of Auckland
Luke Smythe, Lecturer in Art History & Theory, Monash University
For your correspondent, McCahon has been a key artist since the early-mid 1970s.
Less so for some. From a 1978 notebook, this is how miserably and ignorantly his great Victory over death 2 (1970) was given and received by the then political leadership of New Zealand and Australia.
At yesterday's symposium, Rex Butler spoke about Colin McCahon's last four paintings, one of which is included (as below) in the NGV exhibition.
Supposedly from an error in The Art of Cookery by Hannah Glasse, where "catch" should have read "case" (i.e. remove the skin); however, this is apocryphal.
1. A few days ago we received this message from the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance...
I'm writing to ask for your help in our campaign to build a stronger Australian arts culture.
Some of the questions we're looking to focus on are:
Is creativity and arts practice important, and if so, what makes it important?
Is it as important as sport?
Is support for Australian culture and arts activity something government should support? Should they do more?
How do we ensure our culture is properly represented in government funded and commercial art projects?
How do we ensure the creative and cultural contributions of all citizens are respected and represented in political decision making?
We need your views on what it takes to recognise and support a society that values artistic practice; on how to ensure that the art we buy and watch is our art and not simply the stuff we import.
Please join us to take part in this important conversation.
When: February 17th to 21st.
Where: Via an online video forum.
2. Also a few days ago, we noted the logo on the cap Nick Kyrgios's father was sporting at the Australian Open...
3. Then, watching the Dead Kennedys on RAGE this morning...
FIAPCE Clothing Supplies
detail A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/ someone looks at something... LOGOS/HA HA
