J and G: April 2008

Today was a day just for me. I'd been urged by various friends to visit the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) to see the Andy Warhol exhibition. However, it was dinner with my 21 year old cousin Stephanie that pushed me over the edge. Steph was adamant that I should go, and with the exhibition having already been extended for two weeks and due to finish on 13 April it was this weekend or never.

Why was I reluctant? It's two fold. Gi and I stumbled across a really good Andy Warhol Pop Art show at the art gallery in Mackay several years ago. A complete fluke, but an absolute delight. The second mental barrier was the ticket price of $20. Gi wasn't interested in going, so I decided to go on my own, and I'm very pleased that I did.

In accordance with 2008 technology I checked the GOMA website to confirm opening times and discovered that they provide a free podcast tour. I downloaded this and was set to have a lovely woman in my head as I wandered around the exhibition.

After a load of washing and a cooked breakfast I drove to Southbank. For those readers who don't know the delights of Brisbane, Southbank is a special part of Brisbane, on the river, directly across from the central business district. It's our cultural hub, incorporating the performing arts complex, the museum, the Queensland Art Gallery, the GOMA, newly extended State Library and the Southbank Parklands with its rainforest, beach, open park spaces, restaurants/cafes, walking and bicycle paths, markets and arena for concerts and shows. Just behind is the Convention Centre and the Griffith University Conservatorium of Music. The best part of all is that it's all within walking distance, it's green and representative of the last 25 years of Brisbane's changing face. If you want music, drama, art, history, books, technology, peace, entertainment, food, views, exercise or education it's all available.

I found a free car space, and strolled across the road arriving at the GOMA at 9.30am. Delighted to find there was no queue for tickets I handed over my credit card and began my three hour affair surrounded by Andy and his work. The only hitch was that I'd failed to sync my ipod and my laptop so the downloaded tour was still sitting on my laptop. I resorted to donning my glasses and reading all of the signs and labels.

We all recognise the iconic Campbell soup images and the screen prints of Marilyn, Mao and Jackie Kennedy. However, there is a lot to learn about Andy Warhol. His work included painting, sketching, screen printing, publishing, film - both TV and movies, commercial work, photography, and making time capsules that represented his daily life. He compiled about 620 boxes before he died. Some of these were on display, including gift labels from Olivia Newton John, seating cards from a dinner held at the Iranian embassy, interview transcripts, perfume packaging and posters of Paul McCartney. It very much reminded me of the diaries and scrapbooks that I keep. I wonder if anyone will ever look at those with any interest, or if they'll all contribute to land fill one day.

I was very pleased that by coming early I'd managed to avoid the last minute rush expected of the last weekend's crowds. It was an indulgent three hours as I studied, marvelled, questioned and interpreted Andy's prints, films, collections and images. I felt so inspired that I made notes of things that I would one day like to do artistically.

At the end of the exhibition visitors come out into a special space that has been set up just for kids. One room is for kids to draw, following the sketches that Andy had made about women based on the alphabet for a book that was never published. Another room was filled with what came to be known as Silver Clouds. Helium filled silver pillows floated up, down and around, interacting with the children in the room. The looks on their faces was priceless.

I wandered out into the midday sun, the sky vast and blue above. I took some photos of the new architecture, and sought a coffee at the River Cafe before heading onto the second indulgence of the day...shopping. Groceries albeit, but if I have time I quite like grocery shopping. There is nothing worse than being rushed to make a decision about what type of rice or toilet paper to buy. These decisions take time. Don't be fooled though, lazy grocery shopping also gives me a chance to wander around a few other shops, and I found some new perfume and a funky necklace all on sale to help overcome the dullness of choosing rice and toilet paper.

The day was inspirational. I have found a wonderful new space to spend time. I left with new ideas and motivations. I intend to make regular visits to the GOMA and the State Library. Most importantly though are the following photos, certainly inspired by the colours of Andy's art.

We wandered around the Queensland Art Gallery today. There are some new exhibitions focussing on Australian artists from the 20th century. I was also taken by some of the sculptures. Below are a couple of things that caught my attention.

Cubism Australian style

Inside looking out.

View of the Qld Art Gallery as we walked across the Victoria Bridge.

'Under the jacarandas' is an iconic Australian painting depicting the jacaranda trees now common throughout Brisbane. This is one of my favourites, and always reminds me of the Univeristy of Queensland, St Lucia campus where I studied.