GoMA's Matisse: Drawing Room Exhibition review

Matisse: Drawing Room - more than an afternoon gallery stroll

"Old Masters" - do people call the Impressionists-Expressionists-Surrealists old masters?

The phrase probably belongs to Rebrandts and Renaissance artists but the reason I think of Matisse as an old master is not because of his place in art history or his age or his talent.

The first time I saw photographs of Matisse I was dumbfounded by his appearance - he didn't look like a radical artist that he was. He revolutionized the use of colour and line, composition and shape. He was a man of beautiful vision. But he looked like a banker. I guess he was a banker of ideas.

This realisation gave me heart because I realized then that artists do not have to be "extraordinary" - their work is extraordinary. They may be ordinary people but they see the world differently.

What I find interesting in this exhibition is Matisse's use of charcoal - rather than pencil. Every artist is born to work in particular mediums. I find his simple line work in pencil a little wonky but when he picks up charcoal it all comes to life. Pencil is so starkly unforgiving. Of course, Matisse's pencil drawings are elegant but his charcoals showcase his talent - see the nudes.

We all walk around with a bucket over our heads to hide ourselves from the world and to keep the world out. But sometimes we peep when a writer or an artist says: "Look, look at this!" I have developed a theory that some of the people society labels as crazy-mad actually see the world as it is - they just can't close their minds.

I stood in front of Matisse's large canvas of a woman lying with a bull and thought: "What would his friends (who weren't artists) have thought of this?"

Artists throw away the bucket. It is not possible to walk around with a completely open mind. But if you never peep then there is no "innovative thinking" no real "progress" no real "appreciation" - no wonderment.

This is why Queensland's art galleries are so, so important. Children stake a claim in this place by sticking their dots in the spotty room, by building art from trash to hang in the gallery, by engineering white lego structures, drawing, designing patterns on computers... They own the gallery as a space of wonderment. Free wonderment! Wonderment should be free. Fly, fly, fly and be free... spots on the ceiling... spots on the piano... giggles... with dad... with mum... with friends.

The Gallery of Modern Art may only be five years old but it extends the Queensland Art Gallery's extraordinary efforts to lay the foundations for a Matisse to rise in Brisbane. Who knows what lights switch on in the brains of all those beautiful youngsters who place a dot in the spotty room or stroll through the Pip & Pop Show. Thank God for small wonders!

If you have an open mind, you might even stop in The Drawing Room, sit down at an easel, pick up a pencil and put yourself in the shoes of a banker of ideas.

Here are my entries in the competition to win a trip to Paris - you enter a random draw by emailing your entry on the tablets provided.

Government, History, Politics, Economics, Rhetoric, Journalism - Arts Degree

To think is easy. To act is hard. But the hardest thing in the world is to act in accordance with your thinking. - Johann von Goethe

Defamation Tute: JR 212

My old uni notes (20 years old)

* Unlawful to publish defamatory matter unless it is protected, justified or excused by law.

Need proof of:

• publication

• it was defamatory matter

• no defences - protected, justification or excuse

"Liar" "Cheat" "Thief" "Coward" "Murderer"

I found a suitcase of old uni notes in the garage all dusty but readable.

The last time I did a "Law for Journalists" course - around 2002-2003 I think - the law had not changed. High Distinction too.

All the amateur publishers - for that's what most everyone is on the web in these days of social media - don't know anything about all this. That' why the mainstream publishers cry in their soup at night because there's nothing better than the thrill of pushing that envelop to the edge. A lot of what is published these days anywhere is careening down a chasm.

And the law - on paper hasn't changed - all the cases still stand. But you wouldn't think so watching what's been happening in our society with the Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott and his crew calling the Prime Minister Julia Gillard a liar all the time, for example.

Interesting really. As if people in real life don't have to compromise, as if circumstances don't change, as if you don't change with the circumstances.

Reading these old notes I realised that I hadn't changed with the circumstances because the stuff of these notes is still what I believe. And reading my old Ancient History tute papers I see that politics hasn't changed at all either.

Tutorial No 5: The Alkmeonidai and Marathon: What was the significance of the signal at Marathon in the context of Athenian politics in the early 5th Century BC?

A record made by Herodotus of a shield signal to the Persian invading fleet of Darius was made probably by members of a pro-Persian force - possibly a respected Athenian family, the Alkmeonids. Lot of possibles there. No defamation laws. No defences.

Recorded in stone. Were the Alkmeonids defamed? They apparently did not believe that Athens could beat the Persians so they wanted to be on the winning side. Does all this sound familar at all?

I think that Arts students and generalists - as opposed to engineers, librarians and specialists - do get a better "education". Pity we don't rule the world. ;)

Attenborough's planetary fears... population... from @independent

"There is no question that climate change is happening; the only arguable point is what part humans are playing in it," he says. "I would be absolutely astounded if population growth and industrialisation and all the stuff we are pumping into the atmosphere hadn't changed the climatic balance. Of course it has. There is no valid argument for denial." - Sir David Attenborough


Exoplanet Hubble photo inspired print project for iPod covers

This time of year, every year, it is my tradition to make a lino cut. I have printed t-shirts, made t-shirts, printed pillow slips and made covered photo albums over the years.

This year I found a pattern for iPod covers. So I'm giving it a go.

I'm planning to make two patterns this year. I found this image of an exoplanet taken by the Hubble Telescope. It reminded me of this image called The Explosion:

Loved Roy Lichtenstein since high school art class - long time.

Of course, a lino cut doesn't print out anything like this. And I wanted a pixelated effect.

Next year I will need to invest in a new set of colours. Might give it another go.

Will post the final iPod cover when I get done.

Wish I was in Washington for the Lichtenstein retrospective.