Hawke’s Bay Art Gallery and Museum Newsletter 1985

REGISTERED AT THE POST OFFICE HEADQUARTERS WELLINGTON AS A MAGAZINE

HAWKE’S BAY ART GALLERY & MUSEUM (INC)

NEWSLETTER

MARCH TO MAY 1985

AGMANZ CONFERENCE

In April 1951, the Hawke’s Bay Art Gallery and Museum hosted the first conference of the young Art Galleries and Museums Association of New Zealand. It was a small gathering – the official photograph shows only 23 people present, if Council members of this museum are excluded.

From April 11 to 13 next, the Conference will again be held here, this time in the Century Theatre and with a much larger number of people representing a young, active and concerned profession. The conference theme is “Museums and their Collections” and discussions will range over a wide range of issues, one of the most important being new concepts in the presentation of the Taonga – the Maori art treasures – housed in the nation’s museums.

First AGMANZ Conference, Hawke’s Bay Art Gallery & Museum, Napier, 1951.

WINTER LECTURES 1985

The 1984 Winter lecture Series, jointly sponsored by the Hawke’s Bay Art Gallery and Museum, the Hawke’s Bay Branch of the Royal Society of New Zealand and the Hawke’s Bay Regional Committee of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, was an outstanding success. For several of the lectures the Founders’ Room was inadequate for the number of people attending. This year the lectures will be held in the Century Theatre. A sound system is now permanently installed in the theatre, ensuring that everyone will be able to hear every word quite clearly.

We hope that our members will continue to give their support to this series. All lectures begin at 7.30 pm in the Century Theatre. The lectures for 1985 are:

1   TUESDAY MAY 21: Brian Muir – 7000 years of Chinese Pottery Brian is Curator of Applied Arts at Auckland Institute and Museum. This lecture will provide an insight into an ancient culture.

2   TUESDAY JUNE 18: Bruce and Estelle Martin – Japan: A Potters View Bruce and Estelle had an opportunity to, observe Japanese culture during a visit to promote an exhibition of their pottery in Osaka.

3   TUESDAY JULY 16: Dr Bruce McFadgen – The Mystery of Poukawa Swamp
Dr McFadgen is a Staff Archaeologist with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. He will be discussing the ideas of Russell Price and the way in which recent scientific research has prompted a reassessment of them.

4   TUESDAY AUGUST 20: Dr Graham Bagnall – William Colenso and the Maori in Hawke’s Bay
Last year Dr Bagnall spoke about Colenso’s botanical research. This year he will examine his relationship with local Maori people. This is an important aspect of nineteenth century history in Hawke’s Bay.

5   TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 17: Hiwi Tauroa – The Treaty of Waitangi
Race Relations Concilliator Hiwi Tauroa will outline the issues in the current debate about the Treaty of Waitangi and discuss the alternative resolutions which have been proposed. This is a matter of national importance.

6   TUESDAY OCTOBER 15: Patrick Grant – New Zealand Climate, Environmental History and People during the last 1800 years
Mr Grant was until his recent retirement a scientist with the Water and Soil Division of the Ministry of Works and Development. He will discuss the effects of climate change on human and environmental history in New Zealand. His ideas may cause archaeologists to rethink some of the theories they have developed in recent years.

This series of our lectures provides a wide range of subjects. Help us to spread the word by telling those you know about the lectures.

There will again be no charge for admission, but contributions to help defray expenses will be welcomed as you leave.

Photo caption – Mr Kamao Ota at his kiln opening at Koishibara, Kyushu, Japan.