Capital history in the news
Museum acquisition of key objects
Museum acquires rare treasures from renowned Trevor Kennedy collection | Treasures from an internationally recognised Australian historical and decorative arts collection are coming to the National Museum of Australia, after the institution announced a ground-breaking acquisition of key objects from the renowned Trevor Kennedy collection.
First Aboriginal protest at parliament
King Billy and Marvellous were not invited to the 1927 opening of Parliament House — but that didn't stop their fight for sovereignty | WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that the linked article contains images of people who have died. Wiradjuri elders King Billy and Marvellous arrived at the opening of Parliament House in 1927 to raise the issue of sovereignty with the Duke of York, who would later become King George VI. The elders' arrival at the opening is considered the first recorded instance of Aboriginal protest at parliament, and there is interest in commemorating this moment with a statue or formally acknowledging the trek the elders undertook to arrive in Canberra.
Art history in Canberra
National Gallery of Australia uses Zoom to help install new commission by Tjanpi Desert Weavers for upcoming Know My Name exhibition | The National Gallery of Australia has installed Kungkarangkalpa (Seven Sisters) with the artists, the Tjanpi Desert Weavers from Warakurna in Western Australia, guiding the installation over Zoom. The artwork was installed as part of the upcoming Know My Name: Australian Women Artists 1900 to Now exhibition that will open in November 2020.
How Local Art Made Australia’s National Capital | Recently published first book by Anni Doyle Wawrzyńczak tells the story of how local arts have been a vital force in Canberra’s development and highlights the influence of women in the growth of the city’s visual arts culture. Covers the city-wide development of arts and culture from the 1920s to 2001 including the story of the Bitumen River Gallery and its successor the Canberra Contemporary Art Space.
Acknowledgement: The renowned Trevor Kennedy collection which has been acquired by the National Museum of Australia includes the printing proofs for invitations to the opening of Australia’s first Parliament in 1901. The image above is of the original design for the invitations. It comes from the State Library Victoria. Full details here.
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