10 objects-10 stories: celebrating community collections

Armbands, c.late 19th century, from the collection of the Scots-Memorial Museum and Heritage, Hobart

'10 objects-10 stories: celebrating community collections' launch (28 April-2 June 2016)

'10 Objects – 10 Stories: Celebrating Community Collections' presents a remarkable range of objects and their stories selected from small museums and collections around the state, the storytellers and custodians of our cultural heritage. The exhibition has been curated by the Melissa Smith and Veronica Macno and is being held in conjunction with the 10th anniversary of Arts Tasmania’s Roving Curator Program.

Opened by Nicholas Heywood, Managing Director of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra,  this small yet powerful exhibition conveys storytelling in every dimension .  The curators have managed to gather up a diversity of materials, forms and disciplines from across the state--from heavy metal to delicate silk, Science to Decorative Arts, local to international networks, oil painting to a whale's ear bone--it's all here.  The objects captivate and each mini-narrative told via the object label fascinate. Together, the ten objects tell the bigger picture of the strength of small collections held across the state and their potential to capture the past as well as to be charming in their own right.  

To be sure it's a roomful, so why not pop along!

Melissa introducing Nicholas Heywood. They are standing before the photograph and its reproduction of
'Scenes from Twelfth Night, 1922' from the Hutchins Archives and Heritage Collection. Nicholas was able to reminisce about his time at Hutchins--reminiscences a hallmark of  '10 object--10 stories'.

In his opening speech, Nicholas read extracts from a modern manifesto for museums from 'The Museum of Innocence' by Orhan Pamuk.  One such thought is:

"Large national museums such as the Louvre and the Hermitage took shape and turned into essential tourist destination alongside the opening of royal and imperial palaces to the public. These institutions, now national symbols, present the story of the nation-history, in a word-as being far more important that the stories of individuals. This is unfortunate because the stories of individuals are so much better to displaying the depths of our humanity". (p55)

Congratulations to Melissa and Veronica and to the staff and volunteers from small museums that keep our objects safe. The objects on display for this show were chosen from small museums/collections who were previous recipients of the Roving Curator Programs. Huge thanks to:

Arts Society of Tasmania Incorporated (Lady Franklin Gallery), Hobart

Channel Heritage Centre, Margate

Derby Schoolhouse Museum, Derby

Devonport Regional Gallery, Devonport

Don River Railway, Devonport

East Coast Heritage Museum, Swansea

Eric Thomas Gallery Museum, Queenstown

Hutchins Archive and Heritage Collection, Hobart

Scots-Memorial Museum and Heritage, Hobart

Tasmanian Wool Centre, Ross

Exhibition (and Roving) Curators Melissa Smith and Veronica Macno here with TMAGs Elspeth Wishart

Where

146 Artspace

146 Elizabeth Street, Hobart

Season

28 Apr - 2 Jun 2016

Opening hours

Monday               9:00 am - 5:00 pm 

Tuesday               9:00 am - 5:00 pm 

Wednesday        9:00 am - 5:00 pm 

Thursday             9:00 am - 5:00 pm 

Friday                    9:00 am - 5:00 pm 

Closed weekends and public holidays

Ladies' ball dress c 1892 (detail) from the collection of the Devonport Regional Gallery