WARHOL IN THE SOUPY TROPICS

 Yet  another interesting book,  Warhol, by  Australian  sculptor and  painter Geoff   Todd  , has  been   found  in   Darwin  by one of our runners . It  is  one of  30 copies self  published  by  Todd in  1978  as  homage to  the American  painter, graphic artist ,rock band manager  and   filmmaker, Andy  Warhol.

Todd  , with a  studio in  Darwin and another in  Ararat, Victoria ,   was  inspired  by Warhol. He  also collected   examples  of   his  distinctive   art work.  Warhol  made  the Campbell's soup label  a great work of  art , which made  it  into  a   dress , which  turned up  on   the   BBC 's  Antiques Roadshow . 

International singer-songwriter , Leo  Sayer,  officially opened   a  major  Todd exhibition, Private  Pop ,  at  the   Ararat Regional  Art  Gallery  in  2011 .

The exhibition included   an early Warhol  purchase by Todd - a 1981     silkscreen print , Father Christmas, from his Myths series.   The  gallery was made into  an  extension  of  Todd's home and  studio, filled with  his paintings , his art collection ,  library   and  other   objects .

Todd's extensive involvement with  the Northern Territory includes working with traditional Aboriginal artists in Arnhem Land ; in 1994 he was commissioned  to  make  a Coat of Arms on the facades of the NT Supreme Court  and   the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly .

Within parliament  he designed  the  lobby floor in  stone, steel  and  inlay ;  a  third  Coat of  Arms  was inserted  within  the chamber. Indonesia is another area  in which  he has  made  a  large impression.

See  book ,  The Art of Geoff Todd . Outsider, Maverick  and   Humanist .