City workers and residents with a love of both books and art are invited to join a book club with a difference that meets five times a year at the QUT Art Museum at Gardens Point.
TEXTA is the brainchild of QUT Creative Industries Faculty lecturers Dr Liz Ellison and Penny Holliday in partnership with QUT Art Museum Curator Megan Williams and is now in its fourth year.
Up to 20 people meet on a Tuesday evening to discuss books over a glass of wine at the Art Museum and also enjoy a tour of the exhibition linked to the chosen text.
"TEXTA started as a way to bring art and literature together in a very informal and fun way. With the Brisbane Writer's Festival starting tomorrow in Brisbane it's the perfect time for us to canvas for new members," said Ms Holliday.
"TEXTA uses mostly fiction to unpack the subjects, themes and emotions of art which always leads to spirited conversation.
"We realised that while people can be confident talking about books, the language of contemporary art can seem a little intimidating but really it is not that different. People from all walks of life and of all ages have come along and seen that the QUT Art Museum is not some exclusive highbrow club.
"The books are selected for their thematic links to whatever the current exhibition is and to complement the artwork while our members get to have a say in the choices made.
"Our next meeting is on 20 October and the novel being discussed that night is the classic Australian text Clean Straw For Nothing by George Johnston which was chosen to match the exhibition 1969: The Black Box of Conceptual Art - a reconstruction of the first conceptual art exhibition in Australia.
"Previously we have read books including Drusilla Modjeska's The Orchard in relation to the exhibition Garden earlier this year, The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka by Claire Wright which linked perfectly to the Museum's Quarternary exhibition, and Li Cunxin's Mao's Last Dancer that was matched with the current exhibition Tutu Reimagined."
QUT Art Museum Curator Megan Williams said the book club concept had been a great success and had introduced a new audience to the Art Museum.
"Books and art are intertwined and both broaden our outlook on life and bring people together," Ms Williams said.
"Running a book club here is also a brilliant way to raise awareness about the QUT Art Museum and the dynamic exhibitions we show here."
Ms Holliday added that anyone of any age is welcome to join the club.
"Whether you are 20 or 60; whether you live or work in the city; we'd love you to come along and share a mutual love of books and art with like-minded people," she said.
To attend phone the Art Museum on 3138 5370 or visit www.artmuseum.qut.edu.au/programs
Media contact:
Amanda Weaver, QUT Media, 07 3138 9449, amanda.weaver@qut.edu.au
After hours: Rose Trapnell, 0407 585 901, media@qut.edu.au
