How Yesterday Remembers Tomorrow opens at the new Blue Mountains City Gallery

How Yesterday Remembers Tomorrow exhibition opening night at Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, including Ms&Mr’s installation, Frame Drag 1988/2009/2024 (front) and Tony Schwensen’s Attempting to approach fanaticism-Red Sox (back).

How Yesterday Remembers Tomorrow opened last Friday night to much success at the Blue Mountains City Art Gallery, part of the new Blue Mountains Cultural Centre. The Centre, which opened on 17 November 2012, joins the growing network of regional art galleries in NSW and will feature quality curated, local, regional and national touring exhibitions in addition to educational programs for the community.

Officially opened by Dr Blair French, Executive Director, Artspace with Paul Brinkman, Director of the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, How Yesterday Remembers Tomorrow was well received by the diverse audience in attendance on the night - from toddlers to seniors and all in between. In positioning the exhibition within this new space, Artspace and How Yesterday Remembers Tomorrow curator, Mark Feary makes a poignant reflection upon how an art practice shifts and changes over time.

Featuring work by six contemporary Australian artists and artist partnerships who are past recipients of the Helen Lempriere Travelling Art Scholarship for emerging artists, the exhibition presents early works alongside more recent projects and includes work by Lauren Brincat, Claire Healy & Sean Cordeiro, Todd McMillan, Ms&Mr, Tony Schwensen and Sam Smith.

The exhibition highlights how artists’ practices develop over time through sustained research, experimentation and refinement - a theme particularly relevant to the large population of emerging and established artists the Mountains boasts.

Accompanying the exhibition is Close to Home, curated by the Centre’s Rilka Oakley, which showcases the work of contemporary artists residing in the Blue Mountains region, working in a variety of media including digital animation and embroidery.

How Yesterday Remembers Tomorrow is on at the Blue Mountains City Gallery until 17 March from where it will tour to its final venue, Redland Art Gallery in Cleveland, QLD from 10 April.

Heritage and the Internet - BMACHO Occasional Papers No.1; 2012

 

HERITAGE AND THE INTERNET

Barrie Reynolds

40 Hume Avenue 

Wentworth Falls NSW 2782
barrie.r@bigpond.net.au

Introduction
In May 2012, BMACHO hosted a Seminar on Heritage and the Internet at Wentworth Falls, in the Blue Mountains. The aim was to increase awareness of the potential of the Internet for locating historical sources and what is involved in the online publication of material of this nature.

The presentations of the three speakers at the Seminar are published here in slightly amended form for a wider audience. Each speaker addressed a key aspect of the subject and, as will be seen, provided a list of sources on which participants (and now readers) could draw. It is expected that readers will extend their interest well beyond these basic lists and add to them other sources that they find useful.

First presentation

DOCUMENTS TO DIGITAL - USING
THE INTERNET FOR HISTORICAL RESEARCH
Carol Liston
School of Humanities and Communication Arts
University of Western Sydney
c.liston@uws.edu.au

 

Abstract
Successful Internet searching requires some pre-planning, a basic knowledge of the tools, and record keeping of sources tried. Some search strategies are suggested and hints are given on using various features of Google, Trove, and the catalogues and eresources of the National Library and the State Library of NSW.

Second presentation

FROM NET TO KNOWLEDGE: MUSEUM OBJECTS, MATERIAL CULTURE
AND THE INTERNET
Michael Lech
Curator, Collections online
Historic Houses Trust of NSW
michl@hht.net.au

Abstract
The internet has opened up a whole range of new sources of information for those researching, documenting and cataloguing museum objects. This paper will examine how to use the internet as a tool to undertake good historical research about Australia's material culture - it will look at what information is available online and how to find and interpret that information.

Introduction 

 “Facts… are like fish swimming about in a vast ... ocean; and what the historian catches will depend, partly on chance, but mainly on what part of the ocean he chooses to fish in and what tackle he chooses to use – these two factors being, of course, determined by the kind of fish he wants to catch.” (Carr 1961, p.23)

Third presentation

THE INTERNET FROM AN EDITOR’S VIEWPOINT
Peter C. Rickwood
Editor of the Blue Mountains History Journal
Public Officer and past-President of the Blue Mountains Historical Society
& Visiting Senior Research Fellow
BEES, University of New South Wales
p.rickwood@unsw.edu.au

Abstract
Lessons learned whilst publishing a journal both online and in print form are discussed. An editor spends a great deal of time checking the references cited by authors so the means for doing that on the Internet are detailed.

Introduction
Publishing online is made less painful if the Webmaster is cooperative, competent and fast. But even so the load falls on the Editor to ensure that the manuscripts comply with the format that the publishing authority has adopted. My experience is mostly related to the Blue Mountains History Journal.


Download full BMACHO Occasional Papers No.1; 2012

Workshop - Developing the Visitor Experience

Workshop at Powerhouse Museum

Developing the Visitor Experience
Friday, 8th March 2013
10:00am - 4:30pm

A creative workshop with practical application suitable for all stakeholders interested in developing or refreshing public programs, education activities, tours and talks. Using live interpretation and improvisation methodologies this workshop explores new ways to interpret your existing objects, themes and galleries. The workshop process is designed to unlock rigid patterns of thinking by changing the way we view our work.

Presented by Nigel Sutton. Nigel Sutton, Creative Director of NDS Productions, is recognised as an innovator in the field of live thematic and cultural interpretation. He has developed site specific works or creative consultations for more than 50 major museum exhibitions and arts festivals as well as touring outreach programs for cultural institutions.

$80 per person. Bookings essential. Lunch and morning/afternoon tea provided.

To book visit: http://sa2.seatadvisor.com/sabo/servlets/TicketRequest?eventId=100597613

FIRE in the MINE - Lithgow State Mine Exhibition

Bathurst District Historical Society Events + Cox Road Bus Tour

Bathurst District Historical Society

21st February (Thursday) - Muster - 7.30pm in the Museum – Jen Thompson is researching the Ribbon Gang and will tell us about her latest information.

3rd March – Sunday - Cox’s Road Bus Tour – leave 8.30am sharp from McDonald’s rear carpark for a history packed tour of one of our nation’s great achievements – Cox’s Road. Just over 101 miles was constructed from 18th July, 1814, to 14th January. 1815 – the first road to Bathurst. 

We will be exploring from Phil’s Falls into Bathurst so see where Cox’s party crossed several streams and rivers, the countryside the men traversed, what had to be cleared, what the men had to do, how they were fed and lots more! Hear from Cox’s personal diary of the various happenings along the route. Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea provided. 

Also hear about Colonial Surveyor George William Evans who came through to Bathurst and whose report Macquarie acted upon to dispatch William Cox to build the road. Evan’s party discovered the Fish River area and further west near the junction of the now named Fish and Campbell Rivers. He described the O'Connell Plains and the Macquarie Plains and on 9th December, 1813, he reached the site of where Governor Macquarie would officially name Bathurst. Home between 5 and 5.30pm. 

Cost: $50 members or $55 for non-members – remember morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea provided. 
BOOK & PAY EARLY – RING the Society on 63324755 (Monday to Sunday between 11am to 2pm) or call personally or email info@bathursthistory.org.au 

Alan McRae, President 63315404 H

Cementa festival, 1-4 Feb 2013

"The thing about the Cementa festival was that it was in and was about Kandos.
Putting Kandos up there with the rest of the world."

(Fiona MacDonald)

For lots of photos go to:

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Happy viewing.

Powerhouse Museum-Farewell to curator, Christina Sumner, OAM

  Farewell to curator, Christina Sumner, OAM

Published on February 4, 2013 by Anne-Marie Van de Ven in ceramics, Curator profiles, Object of the week and Textiles. 0 Comments Tags: Bright flowers: textiles and ceramics of Central Asia, christina sumner, South East Asian textiles.

On the eve of of Christina Sumner’s departure we asked her a few questions about her experiences at the Museum over the last 28 years.

What have you enjoyed the most about working in the Museum?

Always always always it’s been the people and the collection. I’ve been lucky enough to spend every working day with curatorial and other colleagues who are bright, interested, articulate and as passionate as I am about the collection – building it, and committing ourselves to interpret, tell stories about and communicate the meaning of our objects to the wider community.

Can you nominate 3 favourite objects you have acquired for the permanent collection?

 
The first great treasure I acquired was the Anzac House Australia tapestry in 1988. I’ll never forget the goosebumps and excitement as this great tapestry was unrolled in a warehouse for me to see, and I realised what I was looking at. The tapestry was designed by Jean Lurçat, who is known as the father of modern tapestry, and woven at Aubusson in France between 1960 and 1962. In 1987 the Anzac House Trust moved to smaller premises and presented the tapestry to the Musuem as a bicentennial gift to the people of New South Wales.

Another beloved textile is the early 19th century suzani from Bukhara that I acquired in 1992. This was the start of a long love affair with these beautiful dowry embroideries that eventually resulted in the 2004 loan exhibition Bright flowers: textiles and ceramics of Central Asia, for which we borrowed suzanis, other embroideries, costume and 10th to 20th century ceramics from the amazing collections of state museums in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. It was quite an experience to see our suzani displayed in its own cultural context, with other embroideries from Central Asia.

Read full article

THE CROSSING 1813:2013

William Charles Wentworth, 1872, by James Anderson, Oil painting on canvas, image courtesy State Library of NSW.

THE CROSSING 1813:2013
2013 Centenary

The year 2013 marks the bicentenary of the first acknowledged crossing of the Blue Mountains by European settlers. The crossing was made by Gregory Blaxland; William Lawson; William Charles Wentworth; a local guide; three convict servants; four pack horses and five dogs in May 1813. After three weeks of trekking through the scrub the party reached Mount Blaxland seeing a vast expanse of potential farming land below. The crossing is considered significant as it led to the opening up of the western plains of NSW to settlement.

The HCNSW is delighted to announce it will be running a year long marketing and publicity campaign to encourage and promote community engagement in the bicentenary through locally arranged events. We will create a dedicated page on our website. The following benefits will be offered to participants:

*  An easy to use registration system.
*  Each event has a dedicated page with space for an image.
*  Events are published on our home page.
*  The HCNSW stamp of approval.
*  Inclusion in an overarching professional publicity campaign.
*  Promote your work to new audiences. The ongoing vitality of the history sector depends on an engaged and appreciative community.
*  The HCNSW will also host a one day seminar to be held in May 2013.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTICIPATION

Members of the HCNSW are eligible to list their events for free on our website and will benefit from participation as outlined above. All events must fulfill the following criteria:
The History Council of NSW will only consider events that commemorate the crossing of the Blue Mountains in some way.
The event should support the objects of the History Council of NSW.
Event registrations will open from February 2013 and be published throughout the year on our website, in our e-newsletter and through our social media channels.
This program is supported by the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

Museums & Galleries NSW Collection Documentation and Significance Assessment Grants

Update: The Collection Documentation Grants deadline has been extended to 15 February 2013.

The Collection Documentation and Significance Assessment Grant Program is a new initiative commencing in 2013 to enable community museums and keeping places to bring in specialists to work with volunteers on documentation and or significance assessment of objects and collections.

This is an Arts NSW devolved funding program, administered by Museums & Galleries NSW on behalf of the NSW Government. The objective is to make the collections more accessible. Core projects include identifying significant objects, writing significance statements, cataloguing objects, digitally photographing objects and entering collection information into a database.
Priority is given to collaborative projects involving four or more museums/keeping places; however applications from single organisations will be considered where they can demonstrate a strong case for funding. Ideally, organisations applying for individual project funding will already have undertaken significance assessment of their collections.

Download the guidelines here

AMOUNT AVAILABLE: The amount that can be applied for under this program is a maximum of $7,500.

TIMEFRAME: One round of Collection Documentation and Significance Assessment Grants will be offered annually. No late applications will be accepted.

Applications for must be postmarked on or before Friday 15 February 2013.

Projects must have commenced no later than 31 August 2013 and be completed no later than 31 December 2013.

For further information:
Phoebe Arthur
Museum Sector Programs and Collections Coordinator
t: 02 9358 1760
freecall: 1800 114 311 (regional only)
e: phoebea@mgnsw.org.au

City of Greater Lithgow Mining Museum - President's report 2012

PRESIDENT'S REPORT 2011-2012

I am pleased to provide a report of the activities of the City of Greater Lithgow Mining Museum Inc over the past twelve months. This year our principal focus has bee set on the twin tasks of developing a theatrette and upgrading the Bath House to comply with regulations covering places of public entertainment. Works are progressing on both projects with the theatrette and Spectravision expected to be operational by March 2013. There have also been other exciting developments throughout the year.

Read/download full report