At home with:
Glenn Barkley
Q / WHERE DO YOU CALL HOME?
Q / DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A
A/ I live and work between Camperdown in Sydney and Berry on the South Coast. I grew up in Sussex Inlet and my parents are still there and the South Coast feels like home to me.
COLLECTOR?
I have a large studio in Berry that was built by my mother-inlaw, the potter Lyn Havilah, and it’s a very relaxing place to work. There is also an expansive garden that needs constant love and care. I’m very fortunate.
A/ Yes, I have collected things since I was a kid and I still have my original Star Wars figures. I have collected a lot of art over my life – as an artist and a curator it’s part of the job, right? We also have a lot of objects that relate to places we have been and people we have met. I’m also a bit of a bibliophile so have a large book collection too.
Q / WHO DO YOU LIVE WITH?
Q / ARE YOU A GOOD COOK? FAVOURITE DISH?
A/ I live with my wife Lisa and two cats Milky and Matthew.
A/ I’m a good cook – Lisa is a great cook. I tend to cook comfort food – curries, soups and stews. Iso has been good for cooking - I stockpiled one pot wonders!
Q / DOES CAT FUR GET ALL OVER YOUR POTS? A/ Yes, although they aren’t so furry! You learn to live with it because it’s worth it!
Q / WHAT ARE YOU READING RIGHT NOW? A/ I’m reading the Getty’s recent publication on the painting materials of Sidney Nolan written by Paula Dredge, Head of Painting Conservation at the Art Gallery of New South Wales – it’s a really fantastic - deeply researched and insightful - if you like that kind of thing! And I have just bought Sahel: Art and Empires on the shores of the Sahara – I’m a huge admirer of African ceramics and this book has ample examples – I can’t wait to read it. I’ve also set myself the task of watching every Academy Award winner of best movie since 1950 – I’ve seen some great films I would have otherwise ignored and revisited some others – The Apartment, All About Eve, One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Lawrence of Arabia are stand outs so far.
JULY 2020
Glenn Barkley in his studio. Photo credit: Simon Hewson
