The Ignatian - December 2016 Vol 26 July Edition Vol 27 | Page 37

Old Ignatians Unite for the Archibald Prize
In late 2016, two Old Ignatians came
together to create an entry for this year’s
prestigious Archibald Prize: Christopher
Malouf (OR2007), now an architect at
DesignInc Sydney, and Andrew O’Keefe
(OR1989), one of Australia’s most popular
entertainers and recipient of the Order of
Australia.
“I chose to paint Andrew because he was
an Old Boy from Riverview… and he
has an untold story,” says Christopher
on his choice of subject. “Most people
only see the bubbly TV personality, but
there’s a side no one knows and it’s quite
interesting trying to capture that part of
his personality in a painting.”
He describes his portrait as having a split
face – one side representing the thoughtful,
intellectual side, including Andrew’s legal
background, and the other the artistic and
creative personality that shines through
the TV screen.
Andrew concurs. “That eye,” pointing to
the right, “is quite hawkish and focussed,
while the other is dreamier. To be able to
combine those things seamlessly into a
unified face is amazing… It’s a bit cruel
though,” he adds with a laugh, “to be so
true to life on the thinning hairline.”
Andrew has been asked to sit for the
Archibald before, and says that there’s
a ‘natural flattery’ to being asked, and in
this case he had considered it a favour to a
fellow Old Ignatian. “Now I realise that the
favour was indeed Christopher’s to bestow
on me. I had no idea he was so talented.”
We congratulate Christopher on the high
quality of his completed portrait, and wish Photo Christopher Malouf (OR2007)
both him and Andrew the best of lu ck in
and his muse, Andrew O'Keefe (OR1989)
the Archibald Prize this year.
with his Archibald Prize entry.
Seamus O’Sullivan Sets His Sights on Nashville
Congratulations to Seamus O’Sullivan
(OR1992) on his music grants, awarded last
year by the Australia Council for the Arts
and Creative Victoria, to further his study
of pedal steel guitar in Nashville.
“I was so surprised and excited, because
it’s very competitive… but it feels like a
validation of your work and confirms that
you’re moving in the right direction."
His love of country music came at an
early age, and Seamus says he was able to
use the music theory and guitar classes
he took at Riverview to help develop
the foundations of his musical career.
Since leaving the College in 1992, he has
recorded on ten album releases
(including Victorian Music Award’s
Country Album of the Year, 2012), toured
extensively with various international
artists, performed at numerous music
festivals and is the founding member of
The Bakersfield Glee Club.
Photo Seamus performing on the pedal steel guitar
“In my twenties I was studying music, and
I found myself coming full circle back
to the kind of music I grew up with. The
pedal steel guitar is something very unique
to country music, so being able to go to
Nashville, the birthplace of the instrument
I study, is so exciting.”
We wish Seamus the best of luck. To
hear some of his music, check him out at
pedalsteel.com.au.
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