Wellington Museums Trust newsletter June 2004

NEWSLETTERIssue Three | June 2004Trust staff go on stage at the awards night: (from left) Emmanuel Makarios, Manager, Wellington Cable Car Museum; John McCormick, Finance Manager,Wellington Museums Trust; David Chin, Marketing Manager, City Gallery Wellington; Paul Thompson, Director, Museum of Wellington City & Sea; John Gilberthorpe,Chief Executive, Wellington Museums Trust; Kim Townley, Manager, Colonial Cottage Museum; Stuart Grant, Director, Capital E; Beverley Seymour, Guide,Colonial Cottage MuseumPhoto by Robert Catto/www.catto.co.nzWE’RE ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY VIBRANT GOLD!The Wellington Museums Trust came home a winner from the recentWellington Region Gold Awards, taking “Vibrant Gold” ahead of otherfinalists the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary and Pataka Museum.The annual Gold Awards, which arepresented in association with TheDominion Post, celebrate enterprise andexcellence in business. The Vibrant Goldaward was described as highlightingachievements in tourism, promotions,events and lifestyle that brought vitalityand recognition to the region.“Our success in winning this award is areflection of the enormous talents andefforts of everyone involved with theTrust, whether they be the staff at thedifferent facilities, our hardworkingTrustees or our many sponsors andsupporters,” says Chair Bill Brien.“We receive a magnificent level of supportfrom our major funder, the WellingtonCity Council and, to a large extent, thatis responsible for our success.“In the past year, more than half a millionpeople either visited one of our facilitiesor attended a performance or eventorganised by a Trust facility. As ourfacilities are key contributors to theCouncil’s vision of Wellington as culturalcapital and to its newer directions ofcreativity and innovation, it is fantasticto be recognised for our contribution.”The Gold Awards were presented at afunction at the Events Centre attendedby more than 650 people and which hada theme of “Hollywood in the ‘70s”. Otheraward categories included Emerging Gold(for smaller enterprises), Generating Gold(for manufacturing and industrialcompanies), Creative Gold (film, mediaand creative content) and DiscoveringGold (technological, scientific andinnovative R&D projects).As well as winning Vibrant Gold, the Trustalso attained a distinction of anothersort as Bill Brien and his partner won atrip to Sydney on the strength of Bill’scostume, an 1870s black and goldWellington rugby jersey.Below: Rex Nicholls (right) recognises Trust ChairBill Brien for his ‘70s costume – 1870s, that isPhoto by Robert Catto/www.catto.co.nz

AOTEAROA IN THE ALPSA photography exhibition by Paul Thompson, Director of the Museum of Wellington City & Sea, has won acclaimin Zurich both for its quality and for its strong New Zealand flavour.Paul’s exhibition Niu Tireni was spottedat Wellington’s Idiom Gallery by visitingSwiss gallery director Philippe Rey, whowas in New Zealand looking for artistswith a distinct antipodean style. Philippeapproached Paul to show his work inZurich and the exhibition opened atPhilippe’s gallery, Galerie Röemerapotheke,in March.“Niu Tireni is a Maori term for New Zealandand features on the Maori King TeWherowhero’s flag,” Paul says.“As the starting point for this exhibition,I considered some of the shapes andsymbols used by Maori in the 19th Centuryin designing their own flags.“Niu Tireni features modern flags thatmake reference to those earlier symbols,Paul Thompson at hisexhibition “Niu Tireni”photographed in ways that bring outissues about land, identity and history.”Paul attended the opening of Niu Tireniin Zurich, combining his trip with a tourof Europe investigating museums, galleriesand institutions that featured photography.“We had a good turnout at the exhibitionand Tim Caughley, New Zealand’spermanent representative to the UnitedNations, came down from Geneva for theopening,” Paul says.“The Swiss were fascinated by the imagesand asked lots of questions, so I got usedto giving a rather abbreviated version ofNew Zealand’s interracial history.“Wearing my museum director’s hat, Ialso gathered information during my tripthat will assist the Trust with its rapidlydeveloping involvement with photography– as evidenced by the success of the Shed11 partnership.” (see story opposite)CRICKET MUSEUM’S GREATEST XIAn exhibition of New Zealand cricket greats – arguably, the top Kiwi team of all time – has been attractingan enthusiastic response from visitors to the New Zealand Cricket Museum at the Basin Reserve.2The brainchild of Museum Manager DavidMealing, the exhibition features a selectedX1 chosen by two ex-national convenorsof selectors, Don Neely and FrankCameron, and ex-New Zealand test andone-day international cricketer GavinLarsen. The museum worked with theSunday Star Times to develop acompetition in which readers chose theirgreatest-ever New Zealand cricket X1 andmatched that against a selection madeby the expert panel. The competitionculminated in an exhibition of theselectors’ chosen team.“The Greatest New Zealand Cricket X1”was officially opened by NZ Cricket ChiefExecutive Martin Snedden on March 27following the second day’s play of theBlack Caps’ test against South Africa.Official guests included former Australiantest cricketers Neil Harvey and Ian Craig.“With this project, we set out to encouragedebate about New Zealand test cricketand to raise the awareness of the museumand its role in stimulating anunderstanding of New Zealand cricket,its history and relevance to our society,”David says.“We have had a very positive responsefrom museum visitors, while a furthermark of the project’s success has beenthe recent formulation by The Listener’ssports writer Joseph Romanos of a secondGreatest X1.”Posters and postcards of the cricketingdream team have been produced and arenow on sale at the museum.

A FEAST OF PHOTOGRAPHYON THE WATERFRONTProviding more culture on Wellington’s waterfrontwas the idea behind Shed 11 PhotoFestival 2004,and it’s proving a strong success.The event is a partnership between theTrust, Wellington Waterfront Ltd and theNew Zealand Centre for Photography. Thelast of three exhibitions was officiallyopened earlier this month by Te PapaChief Executive Dr Seddon Bennington,with Wellington Waterfront Chair FranWilde also speaking at the opening.Trust Chief Executive John Gilberthorpesays that over 11,000 people have visitedthe exhibitions to date.“The Sunday public programmes havebeen especially popular,” John says,“attracting over350 people on atleast two occasions”.“The success of Shed 11 PhotoFestival2004 also reinforces the Trust’s conceptof the arts and cultural precinct boundedby Te Papa, Civic Square and Queens Wharfthat we have been promoting for the last18 months.”The current photographic exhibition,Victoria Ginn: The Spirited Earth, runs untilJune 6 and focuses on traditional dance,ritual and myth from South Asia to theSouth Pacific. The two previous exhibitionsfeatured the work of Reto Camenisch, oneof Switzerland’s best-known photographers,and that of 19th Century New Zealandphotographer James Bragge, who recordedearly Wellington and the Wairarapa.Above: Cambodian dancers perform at Shed 11Photo by Brian DavisLODGE LAUGHS AT WELLINGTONMuseum of Wellington City & Sea visitors can now look at 20th Century Wellington life through a cartoonist’seyes, with the recent opening of Lodge Laughs at Wellington.Nevile Lodge’s wry take on the Capital,its people and its institutions is thesubject of an exhibition featuring over50 of his Evening Post cartoons andspanning four decades. It is a collaborationbetween the Museum and the New ZealandCartoon Archive, which has staged suchsuccessful exhibitions as “The Other Sideof the Ditch” and “Harpies and Heroines”.Nevile Lodge (1918-89) drew his first“Lodge Laughs” cartoon for the EveningPost in 1947. He became the paper’s dailypolitical cartoonist in 1956 and continueddrawing cartoons until 1988.Cartoon Archive Executive Chairman IanGrant says that Nevile Lodge was onlythe second cartoonist to be employedby the newspaper. “However, he veryquickly gained a considerable reputationin Wellington for having his finger onthe pulse.”the Capital scene for so many decades“and as it would be a tribute to him thatwas thoroughly deserved”.Design and graphics for Lodge Laughs atWellington have been the Museum’sresponsibility, while the Cartoon Archivehas contributed the cartoons andaccompanying text. The archive launcheda book of the same name to coincide withthe exhibition opening.The exhibition is supported by TheDominion Post and The Lion Foundation.Ian Grant says that, when MuseumDirector Paul Thompson approached theCartoon Archive about developing anexhibition that would tell Wellington’smore recent history, he immediatelythought of Nevile Lodge as he had coveredNevile Lodge, Evening Post, 1988, Alexander Turnbull Library ref J-059-0013

TELECOM PROSPECT 2004:NEW ART NEW ZEALAND30 May to 22 AugustA city-wide celebrationof the visual artsFollowing the success of the inaugural contemporary arts survey exhibition, Telecom Prospect 2001, City GalleryWellington is proud to present Telecom Prospect 2004: New Art New Zealand in partnership with the Adam ArtGallery, the New Zealand Film Archive and Massey University.The exhibition spans four venues,showcases over 40 artists from emergingtalents through to well-known seniorfigures, and includes painting,photography, sculpture, installationand moving image works. A snapshotof where New Zealand art is now, theexhibition will bring the freshest,most innovative artwork currentlybeing produced in New Zealand to awide audience.City Gallery Wellington Director PaulaSavage says the exhibition is a city-widecelebration of the visual arts and will putWellington on the arts map bothnationally and internationally.“Building on the strengths of the firstTelecom Prospect,” says Paula, “we haveexpanded beyond the boundaries of theCity Gallery this year to work inpartnership with the Adam Art Gallery,the New Zealand Film Archive and MasseyUniversity to create a Wellington-widecontemporary arts event.“This has given us the opportunity toinclude more artists and to show largescale,adventurous works which will dazzleand intrigue.”Telecom Prospect 2004 is curated by EmmaBugden, one of the country’s leadingyoung curators with a background inexperimental and artist-run projects. Shedescribes the exhibition as a personalsnapshot of current New Zealand art.“This is my take on the most exciting,surprising and inspiring work made inthe last two years," she says.“Researching the show and travellingaround the country visiting artists intheir homes and studios has been a realprivilege. I think people are going to beas energized as I am by what they see.”Above: Scott Eady, “Honeymoon on the Pigroot” 2003, mixed media, dimensions variableCollection of The James Wallace Charitable Arts Trust, with thanks to Nicholas Blanchet and Sean Kerr.Left: Guests in the West GalleryBelow: Paula Savage, Director and Emma Bugden, Curator of Telecom Prospect 2004Opening photos by Neil PriceEXHIBITION DATESThe New Zealand Film Archive28 May to 15 AugustThe Adam Art Gallery29 May to 25 JulyCity Gallery Wellington30 May to 22 AugustMassey University11 July to 8 AugustFree entry across all venuesPrincipal SponsorTelecom NZ LtdExhibition PartnersThe Adam Art Gallery, The New ZealandFilm Archive and Massey UniversitySupported by Creative New Zealand5

NEW FACES, CHANGING ROLESKathryn Love has joined City GalleryWellington as Marketing CommunicationsCoordinator. Kathryn comes to the Galleryfrom Otago University, where shecompleted a Bachelor of Commerce inMarketing and Economics and a Bachelorof Arts in Film and Media Studies.Sarah Farrar joined City GalleryWellington as Assistant Curator inJanuary. Sarah also coordinates TheHirschfeld Gallery, the space at CityGallery dedicated to showing the workof Wellington-based artists and designers.Julie Congreve has also joined thegallery to work as Events Coordinator,taking over from Amy MacKinnon.Julie has come from Westpac, where shehad a wealth of experience as a BusinessProject Manager and Project Analyst.Julie is currently studying towards aBachelor of Business Studies, majoringin management.(from left to right): Robyn Walker, Julie Congreve, Sarah Farrar, Janina Dell andKathryn Love. The appointment of Janina as Gallery Education, Maori, was announcedin the last issue.Robyn Walker has been appointed PublicProgrammes Coordinator for the gallery.With a Masters in Geography and aGraduate Diploma in Journalism,Robyn is better known as Rockgirl -Radio Active 89FM’s Monday Drive host,C4’s Wellington correspondent for theNew Zealand music show Homegrown,and reporter for UnCharted.Laura Huang is now full-time, Frontof House at the Wellington Cable CarMuseum after long-standing employeeJasmine Robins moved to Tauranga.Laura began working at the museum inJanuary 2003 as a weekend supervisorwhile studying for her InformationSystems BA at Victoria University (whichshe has now completed). Originally fromTaiwan, she has lived in New Zealandfor ten years.Dot Hari, who started work at theMuseum of Wellington City & Sea twoyears ago as a volunteer guide, hasnow been appointed to a permanentposition on the front-of-house staff.Her previous positions include tourguide/liaison for international studentsat Sytec and Public Affairs Director forher church.Laura HuangDot Hari6

MAKING MAGICAL MUSICAn irresistible combination of music-making and computer technologyis behind the success of the Capital E SoundHouse New Zealand facility.In a darkened room off Civic Square,countless schoolchildren have nowcrafted classical, jazz and modernmasterpieces using top music and videosoftware, as well as recorded their ownCDs and music videos.“Anything you’ve seen on film, musicvideo or DVD or heard on a CD, tape oron radio, you can do here,” Manager CarlRayner tells a group of schoolchildren.“Tonyhawk, Dr Dre, Tomb Raider…it’s allmusic that could be created with thesoftware and it’s all here for you to use.”And with acoustic instruments, their ownvoices and more than 20,000 professionalsounds at their fingertips, even with nomusical knowledge the students makeshort work of composing, arranging andproducing their own unique track for theclass CD.Simply put, the SoundHouse is a worldclass,music multi-media production suite.It contains a heady mix of computers,midi technology and music software,as well as a range of instruments.The Capital E facility offers four differentschool programmes, which are pitchedat seven-year-olds right up to collegestudents. Holiday programmes are alsopopular and the facility has been usedfor teachers’ professional developmentand even for corporate workshops –the technology is such that adults,too, are keen to get a look-in.Carl, who spent six years as Head of Musicat a Hamilton middle school, has beenrunning the facility since it wasestablished three years ago and ispassionate about what it has to offer.“When I was teaching, I became verykeen on the use of technology in music,”he says. “My interest coincided with theintroduction of SoundHouse to NewZealand, which came about after PitschLeiser (then Director of Capital E) andStuart Grant (the current Director) wentto a SoundHouse conference in Australiaand decided that Capital E would be agreat place to have one.”The facility was developed in partnershipwith the SoundHouse Music AllianceAustralia. It is still the only SoundHousein New Zealand, which is now one of fivecountries to have such facilities (theothers are Ireland, South Africa, Chinaand Australia).Such is the attraction that a visiting USstudent ambassador programme has justbooked its group into Capital E’s facilityfor a third year running, as part of theirAustralasian tour. “They seem to get asexcited about this new technology asKiwi schoolchildren,” Carl says.Carl has taken the SoundHouse conceptone step further by developing ascholarship programme offered to around25 students at a time. Capital ESoundHouse New Zealand provides thementoring and the facilities so that thesestudents can develop their own originalmusic and performance material.Carl Rayner inspires a class in the Capital E SoundHouse New Zealand studio | Photos by Mark Coote“I tell all the schools that visit about thescholarship programme, and anyone that’sinterested can contact us about beingpart of it,” Carl says. “However, to besuccessful, they need to have the skillsas well as the passion to want to do it!”Scholarship students are generally collegeage, although Carl says there have beentwo very talented 13-year-olds so far.Courtney Durham and Greer Samuel haveboth written, recorded and released theirown songs on CD and music video, andare also star acts in Capital E’s upcomingJuly holiday event Massive DMV, a slickmusic/ dance/video showcase of youngCapital E SoundHouse New Zealand talent.7

PROFILE | Simon MarshWellington Museums Trust trusteeIn each issue of the newsletter, Kim Townley profiles one of ourtrustees. This time it’s the turn of Simon Marsh, who has been atrustee for four years.Capital ECivic SquareP 04 913 3720Simon started his working life as abio-chemist, more specifically amicrobiologist, filling the roles of tutorand researcher at Lincoln University aftercompleting his study. Simon co-authoreda number of research papers primarilyrelated to work on bacteria and virusescapable of surviving under thermophilic(very hot) conditions.While at Lincoln, Simon was responsiblefor turning around various poorlyperforming student business operations.A change of direction saw a move to thebroadcasting industry, working for RadioNew Zealand, walking the well-worn trackof new broadcasters by working in manyand varied of New Zealand’s towns. Onestint at Masterton, which he thoroughlyenjoyed, was a nice way to start his newcareer since that was where he first livedwhen arriving with his parents as a sevenyear old from the UK.Simon’s move to Wellington came almost20 years ago with his role of breakfastannouncer at Radio Windy.In 1991, he was one of the small groupof owners that launched More FM ontoWellington’s airwaves. Despite thewarnings of doom and financial ruin,More FM became New Zealand’s majorsuccess story in the radio industry. In1997, the More FM group of stations thathad developed around the country wassold to Canadian media company CanWest.Simon has always had a strong businessfocus within the radio industry. Thesedays his company provides advice onmarketing and media planning, oftenwith a radio direction. The majorityof his work is still with what is nowWellington’s leading radio group,Canwest-Radioworks Wellington.And why does he love Wellington?Simon answers: “weather”, with a slygrin. Along with the first, his answershad much in common with the majorityof us who have chosen to live inWellington. He loves the fact that thecity is so compact, that “we are all herewhere everything is going on in the cityinstead of being pushed out”.Also, “the magic that the harbour createsand the way in which the school youwent to is irrelevant”.Finally, “there is an enthusiasm andexuberance about Wellington and theregion that, while it knows it is not topdog, i.e. Auckland is Auckland andChristchurch gets the majority of tourists,it still produces quality and has a selfesteem which is healthier than both ofthe other major cities”.Simon enjoys working as a WellingtonMuseums Trust Board member as he feelsthe trust comprises a well-balanced group,each with individual strengths creatinga positive synergy. Board members areall totally biased towards Wellington andare committed to the Trust by what theycan offer, not for what they get out of it.City Gallery WellingtonCivic SquareP 04 801 3952Colonial Cottage Museum68 Nairn Street, Te AroP 04 384 9122Museum of Wellington City & SeaQueens WharfP 04 472 8904New Zealand Cricket MuseumBasin ReserveP 04 385 6602Wellington Cable Car MuseumKelburn Terminus of Cable CarP 04 475 3578Editorial contacts for the newsletter are:Kim Townley on 384 9122 orkim@colonialcottagemuseum.co.nz andAnn Cunninghame on 380 8000 ora.cunninghame@clear.net.nzThe Trust acknowledges the Wellington CityCouncil as its major funder