Yesterday evening we attended the pre-award party for the Archibald prize at the Art Gallery. For $60 we got champagne, nibblies and a chance to view the portraits before the judges announced the winners.

Because of the impromptu protest against the war in Iraq we had to walk from Pyrmont to the art gallery. A 40 minute walk in heels (ok, they weren't that high but it's not like I was wearing sneakers!) is not much fun. I headed straight to the alcohol table when we got there and after a couple of glasses of champagne I was feeling much better. Paddy and I then spent the next half hour ambushing the wait staff coming straight from the kitchen. I was really hungry! (and I wanted to get my $60 worth *grin*).

After we had our fill of nibblies we went downstairs to view the exhibition. They have 4 prizes, the Archibald - portraiture (painting), the Wynne - Australian landscape or figure sculpture, the Sulmann - abstract Australianna and a new photographic category. We also entered the competition they were running - if you picked the winner in each category, you'd go into the draw to win a week at an art school (how exciting!!!! *grin*). They've since announced the winners and I didn't get a single one right. Obviously I don't know anything about art :D.

the one I voted for	the winner

Oh, it was mum's birthday too! Happy Birthday Mum!!!