Diary Of An Artist In A New World

How Robert Mapplethorpe Contributed To A Great Museum's Troubles

The Corcoran Gallery Of Art in Washington D.C. is widely regarded as one of the world's great collections of art. What is less well known is the up-hill struggle the Corcoran has to keep its doors open these days.

Founded in 1869 as a private art gallery its mission was to encourage American genius in art. By that measure it has been wildly successful, at least in its early days, but with a strategy so nebulous it was bound to have difficulties once more finely focussed (and state supported) institutions opened their doors starting with The National Gallery Of Art in 1937.

In this light public perceptions are hugely important, and for many years substantial private donations kept the Corcoran's coffers awash with sufficient cash reserves to enable them to initiate the planning for a Frank Gehry designed new wing estimated to cost $115 million. By 2001 it was reported that they had raised $60 million, yet 2005 the project was cancelled due to lack of funds.

Now in 2007 the Corcoran spends $2 million to stage a huge exhibition called "Modernism", attracts 60,000 less patrons than the 2002 exhibition "Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years" and appears to have lost as much as $500,000 yet the Corcoran leadership describes Modernism as a "smash success". Huh?

East Sydney Academy Of Art - Artist's At Work

I experience a curious phenomenon. Every other art school in existence has smaller classes in the last term of the year. My last term is always my busiest. I do not know why, I just enjoy the full classes just before Christmas and the buzz that produces. This is the East Sydney Academy Of Art in action:

Last Supper Makes History Again

The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci is the subject of the highest resolution photograph ever made. At 16 billion pixels it dwarfs previous high res efforts. Best of all - it has been published on the Internet and is freely available to anyone with an Internet connection to download.

Father Stefano Rabacchi, Prior of the monastery where The Last Supper is located said that "Although Leonardo painted it for us, but we are obliged to share it with the world."

The Glory Of The Jacarandas

I love this time of year just for the Jacarandas. Jacarandas grow well in Sydney and every year there are many streets with the spectacular mauve flowers above and a mauve carpet of fallen flowers below. Jacarandas remind me of my north Queensland home. Ravenshoe and Herberton have so many Jacarandas the shire flag is mauve and green in recognition of these gorgeous trees. Jacarandas and Poincianas are my favorite trees due to their beautiful flowers.

A Beautiful Arty Party For Jennifer Waldron

Someone wrote in the guest book that this event was "stylish and raunchy at the same time - a rare feat". These hens are themselves stylish and beautifully elegant guests in the studio. They are close friends and family, and that kind of connectedness was obvious, and a beautiful thing to see.

Spring Flowers In Darlinghurst

It is spring and the Bourgainvillea is flowering. In one street a terrace house is a mass of crimson beauty. In a lane in a vacant lot and covering the broken timber wall at the back of derelict houses the Bourgainvillea is a wild mass engulfing the ugly with a huge pile of beautiful crimson.

Aaron Mangan And A Bucks Arty Party

This is the first time we have done an Arty Party for a bucks night. I was a bit apprehensive, bucks party's have a bad reputation, but Paul, the organizer was having trouble finding a hens event that would allow men. He wanted to be subversive and bring men to what is traditionally a women's event. In the end I needn't have worried. Aaron and his mates are a fabulous group of guys and we all had a wonderful time.

My Little Mulberry Tree

It's mulberry season!

Just around the corner from me is a miracle of nature and the drive to survive. In a tiny triangular bit of vacant land between two buildings, and behind an old wooden fence, is a tree. I don't know what type it is, and it doesn't matter, because under that tree, and spilling over the fence is a Mulberry tree/bush. Every year for more than 20 years it struggles for a little light, and a little space of its own in this world, and every year someone chops it down. Despite the tiny slivers of late afternoon sun that it has to make do with, each year it clambers back over the fence with fresh branches and leaves and on cue provides a feast of fast ripening mulberries for those who pass by. I like to believe this strong willed little mulberry is making its gift just for me, and so I give thanks each year as I taste the new crop and wish my little mulberry all the best and long life.

Hens Night For Rowena Tindal

Rowena is very special and so she must attract special friends. Siobhan was the best organizer possible, the twins were enchanting, in fact I loved everyone. Someone wrote in the guest book "When will you have us back again?" - I wish you could all come back again.

Arty Party For Kelly Murphy

This Saturday, the 13th, was memorable for the wonderful hens groups we had. I know why Kelly is so beautiful, because she has a very beautiful mum, although Kelly might not have thought so at a certain time when mum said "You can keep your veil on."