Famous faces
Given the arts theme is writ large in this week’s newspaper, The Note is pleased to make its own contribution to culture with a bit of news surrounding this year’s Archibald Prize winning portrait.
The Note can reveal that the portrait of musical comedian or comic musician (depending on your view) Tim Minchin is set to grace the hallowed halls of Christ Church Grammar School in Claremont where he was educated in the 1980s and early 1990s.
Mr Minchin is one of the school’s most famous products, having shot to fame in 2005 when he won the prized Perrier best newcomer award at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival with his brand of cabaret-style entertainment laced with at-times controversial and oft-risqué commentary on societal mores.
The Note proudly holds in its collection of musical memorabilia a CD from Mr Minchin’s pre-hairdo days, performed by band Timmy the Dog. That included, on guitar, his brother Dan, who has shunned the rock and roll lifestyle to become a management consultant at Barrington Consulting Group.
The Christ Church Grammar School Foundation Inc bought the Sam Leach painting of the self-proclaimed rock and roll nerd for a price thought to be around the $20,000 mark.
It’s probably a pretty smart move because there are some other local educational institutions that might have sought to claim the now London-based performer as their own. Mr Minchin has an arts degree in English and theatre from UWA and an advanced diploma in Contemporary Music from the Conservatorium of WA (part of the WA Academy of Performing Arts).
It is early days and the school, which prides itself on its arts focus, has yet to receive the painting or decide where to put it.