They’re just silly artists
With nothing better to do
They teach all day
They work half the night
The kids are in bed and fed
The homework’s done
Bills paid
Nice-to-do-things

They have degrees these artists
Can you believe!
From art schools in our universities
Some Masters and PHDs
Nice-things-to-do
WHAT DO THEY DO?
They are just silly artists with nothing better to do

We have real degrees
We are professionals
We run these universities
Not like those silly artists
How silly is that
WHAT?
Really, they have degrees, how could that be?
Clever, creative, innovative with rigor
Are you talking about ME!

The university has a gallery you know
One of the premier institutions in our state
Showcasing commitment and excellence
For everyone to see

They have outstanding exhibitions, that make you think

Oh!
Sorry
HAD

Don’t worry those silly artists won’t be shown
When the world is watching us in eight years-time, in 2032

What will visitors do in our little town
A cultural desert
With everything shutting down
Will they frown on our narrow views
But I guess, they are just silly tourists with nothing better to do
That is right just nice-things-to-do

Editor’s note: Mona Ryder’s poem responds to QUT’s plans to cut all 2025 QUT Art Museum planning amid extensive budget cuts to the museum. Read more about the decision via NAVA. A petition to overturn the decision may be read and signed on Change.org.

For the second year running, Lemonade is excited to be planning coverage of eight Graduate Exhibitions across the sunshine state.

Lemonade Grad Show reviews promise fascinating insights into hyper-emerging trends and artists to watch. They are almost exclusively the first time exhibiting artists have been reviewed, critiqued, or written about. And they offer QLD-based artists unique national reach.

We are seeking funds to make this extended coverage possible. 100% of funds raised go directly to writers.

Become a Patreon or Email Lemonade to make a one-off contribution.

For the month of October, Lemonade welcomes our first extended Guest Editor, Jonathan McBurnie.

Jonathan McBurnie is an artist, writer and curator based in Rockhampton, Queensland. McBurnie is the Director of Rockhampton Museum of Art and has been published in diverse periodicals including Eyeline, Catalogue, The Lifted Brow, Zine Panique, Trip, the Journal of Asia-Pacific Pop Culture and Sneaky, where he was an editor and contributor. His first full length book, Litcomix: Literary Theory and the Graphic Novel, co-written by Adam Geczy, was released in 2023 by Rutgers University Press. 

Jonathan is also a Regional Ambassador for Lemonade.

We hope you enjoy Jonathan’s month of reviews.

Pitches, commentary and feedback continue to be welcomed to Louise Mayhew, Founding Editor, via editor@lemonadeletters.com.au