What is the role of the community gallery in museums today? - Guest post by Dr Nina Parish & Dr Chiara O'Reilly

Part of the Greek community display at Hurstville Museum & Gallery

We recently hosted a workshop at the Australian National Maritime Museum to present some of our research on telling migrant stories in Australian museums.One of our research areas considers the community gallery and here we discussed the Spotlight space at Hurstville, which is currently showing an exhibition on the Greek community, as a strong example of this type of gallery in Australian museums. 

The exhibits in this space are community-led and reflect a collaboration between the local community of the St George region and staff at the Museum and Gallery. Although it’s just a small space – with three dedicated cases - it plays an important role in crafting particular stories of identity, belonging and in showcasing diversity. At Hurstville, as elsewhere, the community gallery is also vital to the generation of community events – as Gemma Beswick, the Historical & Cultural Services Coordinator at Hurstville, explained in an interview with us, the openings of exhibitions in the community gallery often turn into a festival, a party. And it doesn’t take much to understand why a celebration of your community, a chance for you to see yourself in a museum, to have some sort of input into this type of institution, this type of representation, would be so popular.

This type of dedicated community-led space is essential to modern museums – not only does it celebrate specific communities but it also has the potential to increase participation. Our research is interested in how this space is able to include new voices in the museum and open the museum up to the community. We are particularly focused on how museums today can best balance the tensions between telling local history, celebrating achievements and reflecting critically on sometimes difficult stories of diversity and its significance. Spotlight spaces like that at Hurstville are key to understanding the role of museums in twenty-first century life and we will keep you up-to-date about our research project as it develops.

Dr Nina Parish (University of Bath)

Dr Chiara O’Reilly (University of Sydney)

Click here to find out more about the Suitcases, Boats and Bridges: Telling migrant stories in Australian museum project!

Arty Chalk Exhibition

 

The new exhibition in the Dragon's Lair Gallery is a must see!

Arty Chalk exhibition presents a variety of works created by children aged between 6 and 12, who attend art classes with artist Annabelle Josse.

The display is a well-chosen mixture of different subjects and media and shows how creative and skilful the young artists are. The exhibition includes colourful sunflower paintings, wire heads, little clay monsters, quirky puppet heads and eggshell mosaics, just to name a few.

Over 50 people enjoyed the exhibition opening last Saturday, 4 May 2013.

One visitor commented: "…gobsmacked by the talent of the kids…better than HSC Art Express!"


The exhibition is on show until 26 May 2013.


If you want to know more about Arty Chalk art classes, visit www.facebook.com/ArtyChalkArtClasses

Image: Dragon's Lair Gallery, Hurstville Museum & Gallery





Revealed! Treasures from the Hurstville City Library, Museum & Gallery Collections

Our latest exhibition Revealed! Treasures from the Hurstville City Library, Museum & Gallery Collections officially opened to the public last week. Over 60 guests enjoyed the event, including a fascinating speech from ABC presenter, author, and collector Claudia Chan Shaw. Claudia, who describes herself an 'obsessive collector', has written a book entitled Collectomania : from objects of desire to magnificent obsession.

Also, check out what the staff from Museums & Galleries NSW had to say about the opening.

Don't worry if you missed the event. We have many other events and activities coming up including:

Kids Activity

Be a museum detective
Get your detective investigation book from the Museum & Gallery service desk and explore the exhibition. There are many questions to answer and mysteries to solve. Available anytime during exhibition opening hours. Free activity.

Museum & Gallery Talks

Join us for a series of exciting talks exxploring the theme collecting, collectors and collections. Free events, bookings essential on 9330 6444.

Sunday 3 March, 3.00pm - 4.00pm
Michael Lea
Curator, Powerhouse Museum
Collecting collections - the Clements Cabinets at the Powerhouse Museum

Sunday 24 March, 3.00pm - 4.00pm
Dr Birgit Heilmann
Curator, Hurstville Museum & Gallery
Holy relics turn into history - the different lives of objects

Sunday 7 April, 3.00 - 4.00pm
Michael Vardakis
Pottery collector
My pottery collection

Seniors Week Program

Revealed! Show and Tell
Monday 11 March, 2.00pm - 3.15pm
Free event, bookings essential
Discover artefacts, oddities and treasures at the Revealed! exhibition. Join the curator and hear the stories of a selection of items from the exhibition, followed by show and tell with your own objects. Participants are asked to bring an interesting item of their own to discuss with the group. Afternoon tea provided. Bookings on 9330 6444.

Workshops

Make your own time capsule
Sunday 10 March, 2.30pm - 4.30pm
Ages: 15 to adult
Cost: $10.00
Bookings essential
Learn about time capsules and what they are used for and then make your own. Time capsules are a great way to mark a special family celebration. Bring some items to put in your time capsule, e.g. photographs, newspaper cuttings, special mementos.

Model Making
Saturday 13 April, 10.30am - 12.30pm
Ages: 7 - 14
Cost: $5.00
Bookings essential
See what interesting designs you can makeout of simple craft items.

Exhibition Finale
Sunday 14 April, 2.30pm - 4.30pm
All welcome, free event, bookings recommended
Don't miss your last chance to see the Revealed! exhibition. Come and have your afternoon coffee at the Museum & Gallery. Our staff will be on hand to give you insights into some of the objects on display.

Call 9330 6444 or email us to book.

Lunar New Year: One Celebration, Many Traditions

Exhibition on show 2 February – 3 March 2013

Next time you’re at the Museum & Gallery, make sure you take a look at our new exhibition Lunar New Year: One Celebration, Many Traditions. This exhibition looks at the symbols, customs and traditions of Lunar New Year across Asia. While you’re there, don’t forget to write a greeting, message or wish for our Lunar New Year tree.

Revealed! Treasures from the Hurstville City Library Museum & Gallery Collections

Discover artefacts, oddities and treasures as
Hurstville Museum & Gallery opened the vaults to reveal items from its historical collections.

The exhibition will be on show from 2 February - 14 April 2013.

The items on display in this exhibition come from a collection which began in the 1970s, when the Hurstville Historical Society started gathering objects relating to the history of the local area.

Official Exhibition Opening

Join us for the official exhibition opening on Friday 15 February 2013, 6.00pm for 6.30pm.

ABC TV Show Collectors presenter and fashion designer Claudia Chan Shaw will present her new book Collectomania.

Free event, bookings: 9330 6444 or museumgallery@hurstville.nsw.gov.au

Hurstville Museum & Gallery
14 MacMahon Street, Hurstville

Look out for our exciting programs and events about collectors, collecting and collections.

You Are Invited!

All are invited to attend the official opening of Lunar New Year: One Celebration, Many Traditions. This exhibition explores the diversity of Lunar New Year celebrations across many different countries.

Cr Jack Jacovou will open the exhibition on Saturday 9 February at 1.00pm, and our guest speaker will be Dr Thomas Berghuis, Lecturer in Asian Art from the University of Sydney. Refreshments will be served.

Please RSVP on (02) 9330 6444 or by email.

The exhibition will run from Saturday 2 February to Sunday 3 March 2013.

Dragon’s Lair Gallery, Hurstville Museum & Gallery, 14 MacMahon Street, Hurstville

The Museum and Gallery is open Tuesday – Saturday 10.00am – 4.00pm, Sunday 2.00pm – 5.00pm, and other times by appointment

The exhibition is proudly sponsored by Westfield Hurstville.

Italian Cultural Open Day

Listening to Italian live music, drinking good coffee and enjoying fine Italian sweets ... If this sounds like a perfect Sunday afternoon for you, then join us for an Italian Cultural Open Day at Hurstville Museum & Gallery on Sunday 23 September, 2.00pm–5.00pm.

The event is held in conjunction with Sydney’s Italian Fruit Shops – The Original Green Grocer exhibition. Free activities include: Live Italian folk music 2.00pm–4.00pm, guided exhibition tour 3.30pm, face painting, and bocce games. Coffee and Italian sweets will be available for purchase.

Hurstville Museum & Gallery, 14 MacMahon St, Hurstville.

Image caption: The Firenze family and friends relaxing after hours
in their fruit shop in Cronulla, NSW, 1952.
Image courtesy of the Firenze family.

Museum 2 You – Kid’s Craft Activities

Look at some of the great projects the children made at our recent Kid’s Craft Activities program! This session was held in conjunction with our current display Museum 2 You, where visitors can learn about climate change, sustainability and biodiversity, and in keeping with the themes, the children made vases our of old water bottles, bugs out of egg cartons, and bird feeders out of milk containers.

There are lots more exciting programs coming up in conjunction with Museum 2 You. Check out our website for more information.

Image courtesy Hurstville City Library, Museum & Gallery

Visit our new exciting exhibition Sydney’s Italian Fruit Shops – The Original Green Grocer

Visit our new exciting exhibition Sydney’s Italian Fruit Shops – The Original Green Grocer.

Colourful photographic panels tell the story of Italian migrant families who came to Australia in the early decades of the 20th century and opened small fruit shops. These shops were important places for intercultural exchange and they changed Australian eating habits. At that time some of Sydney’s residents met Italian families for the first time and learned about eggplants, sundried tomatoes and spaghetti. The travelling exhibition was created by Co.As.It., (Italian Association of Assistance) in collaboration with the Australian Centre for Public History (ACPH) at the University of Technology, Sydney. Check out the Online Fruit Shop Register and find your local Italian fruit shop.

Join us for the Official Opening this Friday 17 August , 6.00pm for a 6.30pm start. The event is free and refreshments will be provided. Call 93306444 or email us to reserve your spot.

The exhibition will be on show at Hurstville Museum & Gallery from 11 August – 30 September. Our opening hours are Tuesday-Saturday 10.00am - 4.00pm, Sunday 2.00pm - 5.00pm. 14 MacMahon Street, Hurstville.

Image: The Firenze family fruit shop in Cronulla NSW 1955. Image courtesy of the Firenze family.

Learn about climate change, sustainability and biodiversity at Hurstville Museum & Gallery

Come to the Dragon’s Lair Gallery in August to learn all about climate change, sustainability and biodiversity. Museum2You is a display that comes from the Australian Museum. It has lots of information about energy use, the environment and natural resources, books to read, and samples of products you can use to reduce your impact on the environment. For the kids, there are colouring in sheets, bug samples to handle, and books to read.

The exhibition will be on show Saturday 4 August – Sunday 2 September 2012. We also have an exciting calendar of programs and events including a lunchtime talk, kid's craft activities, a kids's workhop, a bus tour and a poster competition.

For more information contact us on (02) 9330 6444 or via email or visit our website.
Dragon’s Lair Gallery
Hurstville Museum & Gallery
14 MacMahon St, Hurstville

Drawing for Illustration

Have you always wanted to illustrate your own work? Come and learn how at Hurstville Museum & Gallery’s next workshop, Drawing for Illustration. Our tutor, Felicity Gardner, is a professional free-lance illustrator. You can check out her work here. The class will be held this Saturday 21 July from 1.30pm - 3.30pm. It's for 12 to 18 years olds and costs $10 per person, bookings are essential. Call 9330 6444 or email us to book your place!

Hieroglyphs at Hurstville

Our popular classes on ancient Egyptian culture and symbols are back! Join us on Sunday 1 July for a lecture on Death and the Afterlife in Ancient Egypt. On Sunday 29 July, we will he hosting a workshop on Reading Hieroglyphs. Our presenter is a teacher and museum educator who holds a Masters in Egyptology. Details for these events are as follows:

Lecture: Death and the Afterlife in Ancient Egypt
Learn about life after death and funerary beliefs in Ancient Egypt as described in The Book of the Dead.
Sunday 1 July
3.00pm – 4.00pm
Free event, bookings essential

Workshop: Reading Hieroglyphs
Learn to read simple hieroglyphs with the use of an alphabet.
Sunday 29 July
2.30pm – 4.30pm
$10 per person, bookings essential
Ages 15 +

Hurstville Museum & Gallery
14 MacMahon St, Hurstville

Plase contact us on 9330 6444 or via email to book.

Knitting is for everyone!

The Knitted Garden is proving to be a very popular exhibition. Visitors young and old are fascinated by the wonderful creations of Griffith Natty Knitters - the vegetable garden, flower beds, and Griff the dog. Even the gents are getting into the spirit and practising their knitting!

 

Image courtesy Emma Williams

 

Don't miss your chance to see this exhibition at Hurstville, as it must close this Sunday 24 June. The Museum & Gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday 10.00am - 4.00pm and Sunday 2.00pm - 5.00pm. We will have volunteers on site on Sunday - why not come along and knit with us! And after the exhibition closes, you can enhance your skills with a number of books available at Hurstville Library, including:

How to knit by Debbie Bliss

Big book of knitting by Katharina Buss

Knitting over the edge by Nicky Epstein

The Knitted Garden has arrived!

The Dragon’s Lair Gallery has been transformed into a magical garden display, which includes flowers, vegetables, animals, and teddy bear’s picnic scene – and they are all knitted! The exhibition was created by the Griffith Natty Knitters group, and was first exhibited at Griffith Regional Art Gallery in 2010. It took 2 years, over 25,000 grams of yarn, and the input of hundreds of people to complete. The Knitted Garden is artwork of a different kind – and you can see the hours of painstaking work that went into creating each design. Some patterns were developed through trial and error, or were sent through from friends and relatives overseas.

The exhibition will be on show until Sunday 24 June, and volunteer knitters will be onsite most afternoons and weekends. Why not join Penshurst Purlers as they knit squares for Wrap With Love on Thursday 21 June from 2.00 – 3.30pm? For bookings or further information, please contact the Museum & Gallery on 9330 6444 or by email.

You can see the exhibition during our opening hours Tuesday – Saturday 10.00am – 4.00pm, Sunday 2.00pm – 5.00pm, and other times by appointment.

Dragon’s Lair Gallery
Hurstville Museum & Gallery
14 MacMahon St, Hurstville

Photographs courtesy Griffith Regional Art Gallery

Painting With Collage at the Museum & Gallery

Participants at our recent Painting With Collage workshop created ‘paintings’ of a very different kind. Our presenter Annabelle demonstrated how to use recycled coloured paper to create a bright and colourful work, and you can see the lovely results in Lisa P’s creation shown below.

What kind of creative workshops would you like to do at Hurstville Museum & Gallery? Post your suggestions below or contact us on 9330 6444 or via email.

Strong Women Strong Painting Strong Culture

Indigenous Women’s Art of the Central and Western Deserts from the Sims Dickson Collection

Contemporary Indigenous women’s art from remote central and west Australia is the focus of a new exhibition at Hurstville City Museum & Gallery. Strong Women Strong Painting Strong Culture was originally developed to celebrate the Centenary of International Women’s Day at Cessnock Regional Gallery in 2011, and is touring Australia with the support of Visions of Australia funding. The exhibition will tour venues across New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland.

The exhibition explores the role of desert women as artists, community leaders, and custodians of cultural traditions and family life, and demonstrates the important role of Aboriginal owned and managed arts centres. Works on display include Kapi Tjukula by Tjampawa Katie KAWINY (pictured). The exhibition includes large scale works on canvas, woven baskets and soft sculptures.

Strong Women Strong Painting Strong Culture is on display at Hurstville City Museum & Gallery from 21 April – 5 August 2012. A curator floor talk will be held on Friday 4 May 2012at 6.00pm, followed by the official opening at 7.00pm. All welcome, bookings essential on 9330 6444 or via email.

For further information visit our website, telephone us on 9330 6444, or send us email.

96 year old artist Tjampawa Katie KAWINY from Amata, South Australia. Photo by Skye O'Meara, courtesy Tjala Arts.

Kapi Tjukula by Tjampawa Katie KAWINY (c. 1921). Image courtesy Deborah Sims.

Caring For Your Sporting Memorabilia

The Royal Agricultural Society Challenge Shield. Photo: Dragi Markovic, National Museum of Australia

Visitors to our recent exhibition League of Legends: 100 Years of Rugby League in Australia will be interested in this article by the National Museum of Australia's conservation team. It gives you some tips on how to care for all types of sporting memorabilia, including trophies, medallions, textiles, photographs and paper.

You can also read more about rugby league treasures in The Trophy Cabinet, an article by Curator Guy Hansen from the League of Legends catalogue . The League of Legends: 100 Years of Rugby League in Australia catalogue is available for loan at Hurstville City Library and Penshurst Branch Library.

Dumplings, Fried Rice and Hot Pots: Regional Cooking in China

Proudly sponsored by Kip McGrath Education Centres St George

Did you know that there are eight distinct regional styles of Chinese cooking? Explore Hurstville City Museum & Gallery's exhibition to learn about the unique cooking techniques and characteristics of Chinese cuisine. Also on show is a selection of antique food carriers, on loan from Anna Lee of the Chinese Australian Historical Society. Items on display include a 19th century tea pot holder or 'tea cosy', designed to keep a pot of tea warm. The tea could be poured using the two handles, without having to remove the teapot from the holder.

Don't miss your last change to see these unique objects. Dumplings, Hot Pots and Fried Rice: Regional Cooking in China must close this Sunday 26 February at 5.00pm.

For more information, go to our website or contact the Museum & Gallery.

Creative Cards for St Valentine's Day

Participants at recent our Be My Valentine workshop spent an afternoon decorating a card and envelope for Valentine's Day. Also on the agenda was the fine art of weaving paper hearts, which turned out to be quite tricky (until you got the hang of it)! As you can see, the class came up with some beautiful and imaginative designs.

What kind of art and craft activities would YOU like to see happen at Hurstville City Museum & Gallery? Post your thoughts here or contact the Museum & Gallery at museumgallery@hurstville.nsw.gov.au

Forget the Super League Wars!

The Museum & Gallery was luck enough to secure PhD candidate Katherine Haines to give a talk on Sunday 4th December on The Story of the NSW Ladies Rugby Football League, 1921. Kath had visitors enthralled with her story of the historic match between the Metropolitan Blues and the Sydney Reds, and the efforts of these women to begin their own rugby league competition. Though the NSW Rugby League was initially supportive, the politics of the ensuing debate was enough to rival that of any of the issues in the contemporary NRL. Thanks to Kath for volunteering her time give this fascinating presentation! You can read more about Kath's research here.