If you spend a bit of time looking over Bert’s oeuvre of abstract paintings you will see there are lot of paintings about parties.
Well that’s because he is a bit of a minor (very minor) celebrity and get invited to a lot of parties.
This was painted when Bert was struggling with his mental health due to the imposition of martial law the great leader Dan Andrews and in addition a deterioration of his physical health due to the significant exacerbation of his diabetes.
It is a celebration of joy whose sole purpose was to bring some happiness into his life.
It is the third in a series of celebrities at a party paintings.
Dimensions: 60x90cm
Painted: 2020
Materials: Acrylic on MDF board
Private collection
The story behind Celebrities at a party in Greensborough
The invitations were sent out a month in advance. The list of invitees spanned the gamut of art, politics, sports and just out and out coolness. Every single person that was invited made their way to this incredible party being hosted by ‘Wildman’ Bert Ernie.
The small hamlet of Greensborough had never seen anything like it. Saturday night, mid-winter 2020 – limousine after limousine arrived at the small house nestled in the center of everything to unload the most beautiful, the most intelligent, the most interesting of people.
The party itself kicked off at 7 p.m. sharp with a DJ playing electro-metal-jazz to a crowd of around a hundred. There was the finest of food, drink and drugs served to anyone and everyone.
At around 10:30 p.m. I pulled out the easel and began painting.
In the middle of this scene you can see Ed Sheeran dancing up a storm to the wild and intense music. He is surrounded by a bevy of supermodels in swimsuits and one snazzily dressed Bernie Sanders who is wearing the most outrageous pink Armani suit. Next to the dance floor is Joe Rogan who is floating two feet off of the ground and doing his best imitation of a Michael Jackson moonwalk. He is cheered on by Holly Dagres, Bret Easton Ellis and Sting.
Surrounding this center of action are many of the worlds coolest humans. Greta Thunberg is riding a skateboard. Justin Bieber is smoking a huge bong and being egged on by Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen. There is a small group of people who are listening to Tracy Grimshaw tell a tall tale of the time she bench-pressed 500 pounds for reps.
In the background and to the left you can see an elderly and frail Noam Chomsky who is arm wrestling (and winning by the way) a man by the name of Donald Trump. The people that watch this small event are Mike King, Todd Lyons, Wes Chatham and Matthew Collings.
Bert Ernie
Detail views of abstract painting Celebrities at a party in Greensborough
