Capital history in the news — Capital history here

Mar 31

Mar 31 Capital history in the news

The places we love are moving online | Article explains that Canberra’s cultural institutions are working to provide more on-line content so people can continue to engage with them while they are closed to combat the spread of COVID-19.

What’s not on in Canberra right now | Similar article to the one above, explaining how many of Canberra’s galleries and museums are expanding their online offerings and encouraging virtual visits during the COVID-19 health emergency.

Going nowhere Matisse Picasso paintings trapped in Australia by Covid-19 | Article explains that some of the world's most valuable works of art are trapped in Australia, unable to return to their home institutions because of the COVID-19 health emergency. This includes nearly 100 Matisse and Picasso art works here for the Matisse & Picasso blockbuster at the National Gallery of Australia. Interesting aspect is that a similar situation happened during the Second World War.

Rations darning not complaining what wartime rationing was really like | Historian Michael McKernan explains how Australians experienced rationing during the Second World War and makes the point that Australians put up with it because they recognised that the sacrifices of the troops were greater than anything they were called on to do.

A visual love letter to Canberra in all its hope beauty and strangeness | Article about Seeing Canberra which opened at the Canberra Museum and Gallery (CMAG) in early March. In this exhibition, paintings and objects drawn primarily from CMAG’s collection, show how the development of the city has been represented visually. Note: The Canberra Museum and Gallery is currently closed in support of measures to contain COVID-19.

Acknowledgement: Prompted by Michael McKernan’s interesting account of war time rationing I found the image above at the State Library of Queensland. It was taken in 1947 and shows a crowd queuing for rationing cards. It is out of copyright and see acknowledgement page for full details.

Please share. Let’s get the past and present talking.