Canberran, Jerry Kirbell, a long-time collector and major fan of all things Madonna, presents a small slice of his extensive collection of autographed pieces, tour merchandise, promotional items, clothing, posters, printer's proofs, theatre memorabilia, magazine covers and rare photographs in CMAG’s Open collection Gallery.
The exhibition Madonna40: A Celebration is at the Canberra Museum and Gallery from October 14 to March 3.
The exhibition Madonna40: A Celebration is at the Canberra Museum and Gallery from October 14 to March 3.
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00:36 - I think I fell in love with her because of the music.
00:40 And I think because I've got two sisters
00:42 that are 10 years older.
00:44 So I was kind of, my early years were kind of
00:46 Donna Summer, Blondie, Abba.
00:49 And I think she came out in the eighties
00:51 and I think she was kind of the next,
00:54 the next big disco phenomenon really.
00:58 I've seen Madonna about 26 times live
01:01 and she's without doubt the greatest performer
01:04 I've ever seen.
01:06 I spend a lot of time in the years going to concerts
01:10 and I've seen a lot of amazing people,
01:12 but through the years she's without doubt the best.
01:17 Everything is kept in cardboard boxes.
01:19 I generally get stuff, open the parcel, look at it,
01:24 take a photo, list it, and then put it in a box.
01:26 So it's either in the garage or under the bed.
01:30 Yeah.
01:31 My favourite era is probably True Blue
01:33 going into Like a Prayer,
01:35 because I think she changed as a performer.
01:37 I think her confidence grew
01:39 and I think she went from becoming a pop star
01:42 to becoming an icon.
01:43 And I think she was also challenging herself
01:46 as well as challenging us.
01:47 This was the first item that I collected.
01:50 And I still remember sitting in the back of my dad's car,
01:53 having just bought it
01:54 and just being completely blown away by the cover.
01:58 I'd already heard Holiday and loved it,
02:00 but this was kind of,
02:01 this is the first time I'd probably
02:03 actually taken any notice of what she looked like.
02:05 And I just think it's a really great image of the '80s.
02:09 Basically, she was doing a book signing
02:18 for The Adventures of Abdi,
02:19 one of her children's storybooks.
02:21 And this was in the UK.
02:24 And it was just on a website
02:26 that she'd be signing books for 250 fans
02:30 in Selfridges in London.
02:32 So, went up to London that night.
02:35 As soon as the tubes opened,
02:36 shot across London,
02:38 got in the queue, was number 75,
02:40 and then just sat and waited to help us too.
02:43 And we were all kind of ushered in
02:46 and then just stood there kind of
02:47 trying to hold it together.
02:48 She was incredible.
02:49 She was very kind of,
02:51 very much how I wanted her to be.
02:53 She wasn't too friendly.
02:54 She was just very kind of matter of fact, I think.
02:57 I kind of garbled some kind of rubbish at her
03:00 and got the obligatory, "Would you like a book?"
03:04 and got two handshakes and then cried round London.
03:08 So, but no, she was amazing.
03:10 Her eyes had just been the same, just incredible.
03:12 - I can't hear it.
03:14 - I mean, this is an amazing opportunity to have.
03:16 And I think, especially in Canberra,
03:18 I don't think there's many cities
03:19 that do this kind of thing
03:21 where collectors can actually display things.
03:24 But to me, it's important
03:27 because it's obviously her 40th year.
03:30 The celebration tour starts the same day,
03:33 which obviously it wasn't going to be.
03:36 And yeah, it's just a thrill to be able to kind of
03:39 like show it and kind of like celebrate the tour
03:42 because obviously we won't be getting the tour over here.
03:45 So it's just nice to be able to acknowledge it.
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