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QUEENSLAND ART GALLERY ANNUAL REPORT 2007–08
EXHIBITIONS AND AUDIENCES
26
AUSTRALIAN CINéMATHèQUE
The Australian Cinémathèque presented Isabelle Huppert
(13 July – 2 August), surveying the remarkable career of
this French actress; Buñuel in Mexico (2–12 August),
a retrospective as part of the 16th Brisbane International
Film Festival; and a special event screening of Jean-Luc
Godard's landmark series
Histoire(s) du Cinéma
(22–30
August).
Breathless: French New Wave Turns 50 (31 August –
2 December) was a landmark film program featuring 126
films across a range of thematic programs and director
focuses. Presented with the generous support of the
French Embassy in Australia, the program included films
by Claude Chabrol, Jacques Demy, Jean Eustache, Jean-Luc
Godard, Louis Malle, Chris Marker, Jean-Pierre Mocky,
Alain Resnais, Jacques Rivette, Eric Rohmer, Jean Rouch,
François Truffaut, Agnès Varda and others. Critic David
Stratton described it as 'a staggering list of films, the
biggest single collection of films from the Nouvelle Vague
assembled outside of France' (
At the Movies
, ABC
Television, 19 September 2007). New Wave Paris: Paris vu
par. . . was an associated program that showcased the
strong relationship between the French New Wave and the
streets of Paris, a primary location for so many iconic
films of the period. New New Wave, another associate
program, featured powerful films from contemporary
French filmmakers.
The Australian Cinémathèque continued to showcase
silent film as a key modern art form with Buster Keaton
(21 September – 7 October 2007), a survey of cinema's
great comic performer with live musical accompaniment
on the Gallery's 1929 Wurlitzer theatre-style organ.
The cinematic genre of Visual Music was profiled with a
major retrospective (28 March – 1 June 2008) featuring
the largest international presentation of Walt Disney's
early musical animations Silly Symphonies, retrospective
programs of visual music pioneers, selections of rarely
screened classics, and surveys of contemporary works.
Icelandic Waves (9–30 May 2008) surveyed the
extraordinary contemporary art and music culture of
Iceland with programs of video clips, short films and
music documentaries.
In June 2008, the Australian Cinémathèque launched
the 'Picasso & his collection' film program and the
associated retrospective of films with screenplays by the
celebrated French poet and screenwriter Jacques Prévert.
CHILDREN'S ART CENTRE
The Children's Art Centre presented a range of high-
quality interactive displays and programs in association
with the major 'Andy Warhol' and 'Picasso & his
collection' exhibitions. The Silver Factory: Andy Warhol for
Kids (8 December 2007 – 13 April 2008) spanned both
levels of the Children's Art Centre at GoMA and introduced
children and their families to Andy Warhol and his work
through a range of interactive materials. (See Focus:
‘Andy Warhol’ p.31.)
The Children's Art Centre component of 'Picasso & his
collection' (9 June – 14 September 2008) provides a new
direction in programming for young audiences by
presenting a major component for young people aged
13–25, in addition to interactive activities for children up
to 12 years. Yo Picasso Kids, developed especially for
children, includes two paintings by Picasso of his son
Paulo, which are complemented by the activities Make a
mask and Paper sculptures. These activities introduce
children to the artist, his innovative ideas and his passion
for collecting. The Contemporary Media Lounge offers
young people aged 13–25 access to live-streamed TV,
a French music DJ interactive, videos, and examples of
catalogues, journals and magazines from across Europe.
The I Art History program for secondary school groups
enables students to extend their understanding of the
works and ideas presented in 'Picasso & his collection'
through illustrated talks by local artists, academics, arts
workers and Gallery staff. During the winter school
holiday period, an artist-run workshop was held with
Jernin Yates-Round responding to the works in the
exhibition which inspired Picasso.
Ongoing public programs for children and families
included the popular Toddler Tuesday program, Sunday at
the Gallery and Tours for Kids. Toddler Tuesday introduced
young children to works in the Gallery's Collection and
continued to attract high participation rates. The Sunday
at the Gallery program of specially developed workshops
presented by local artists provided opportunities for
young visitors to engage with the work of contemporary
artists. Tours for Kids continued to focus on special
exhibitions and the Gallery's Collection, providing
interactive elements such as sound clues and visual
props to enhance young visitors' engagement with the
works and themes presented.
From 10 to 15 June, the Gallery hosted workshops and
tours as part of the 2008 Out of the Box Festival for three
to eight year olds. For the first time, the festival was held
across the Cultural Centre precinct, bringing together
cultural institutions in addition to the Queensland
Performing Arts Centre, including the Queensland
Museum South Bank, the State Library of Queensland and
the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art.
The Gallery's programs comprised the 'Different faces,
one smile' workshop with artist Towfiq Alqudy, 'Tours for
kids' focusing on the 'Sidney Nolan: A New Retrospective'
exhibition, and screenings at the Australian
Cinémathèque of Hans Christian Andersen's
The King and
the Mockingbird
.
Tony Ellwood, Director, Queensland
Art Gallery; Craig Porter, Manager,
Business Development, Leighton
Contractors; Marion Sharman and
Revan Macqueen (children of Kenneth
Macqueen); and artist William
Robinson at the opening of 'Making
it Modern: The Watercolours of
Kenneth Macqueen'
Guests enjoy the official opening of
'Sidney Nolan: A New Retrospective',
5 June 2008.