Ephemera on display
From Mundane to Friday: The Art of Everyday Melbourne until 22 July 2022.
Where: City Gallery, Melbourne Town Hall
When: 9-5, Monday to Friday until 22 July 2022.
This exhibition considers the transient objects we leave and how they might be interpreted. .
The exhibition includes various prosaic oddities plucked into significance, such as Melbourne’s first brick and recently discovered contents found in the pocket of a ticket inspector’s jacket from the 1990s and sadly lots of closed businesses’ signs from the last two years. There is an interesting free catalogue and the curator’s essay (by Kenny Pittock) starts with an interest ibn ephemera sparked by abandoned shopping lists (he had a job collecting supermarket trolleys.)
From home: This might be one where you need to visit in person – as you can only see a couple of things online.
On stage until 7 August 2022.
Where: Exhibition Gallery, National Library of Australia Canberra.
When: 9-5, every day expect public holidays until 7 August 2022.
This exhibition has a wide brief looking at all sorts of staged entertainment from ballet to rock concerts. On show are contracts, scripts, musical scores, posters and other advertising material. Highlights include the JC Williamson theatre archive.
From home: There is a virtual tour for those not able to get to Canberra.
Remembering the Easter Show until 10 October 2022.
Where: Museums Discovery Centre, Powerhouse, 172 Showground Road, Castle Hill.
When: 9-5, every day expect public holidays until 10 October 2022.
The exhibition looks at the ephemera of agricultural promotion – certificates, ribbons, medallions, product displays evolving into show bags – and the fun of the sideshows.
From home: On the Powerhouse website you can look at exhibits including showbags, programmes, side show banners and medallions.
Our footy, our stories, our people: 145 years of the SANFL until 16 October 2022.
Where: State Library of South Australia
When: hours vary throughout the week until 16 October 2022.
See highlights of the South Australian National Football League History Centre’s huge collection, including medals, posters, photographs, guernseys, trophies, film and video, fan memorabilia and a seven metre photograph of Adelaide Oval. The Library’s contribution includes two Magarey Medals donated by the families of the 1929 winner Bob Snell, and Max Pontifex who won in 1932, as well as images from the Ken Farmer scrapbooks.
From home: This might be another one where you need to visit in person – pity.
Circus: Roll up, Roll up! until 19 June 2022. OVER NOW
Where: Treasures Gallery, National Library of Australia Canberra.
When: 9-5, every day expect public holidays until 19 June 2022.
This exhibition draws on the Vivian James Carter Collection of 20th century circus and carnival posters, photographs, programmes and tickets. The posters range from simple promotion of a travelling sideshow in a country town to the multimedia experiences of the end of the 20th century. An early poster is for the WONDERFUL PERFORMING FLEAS! The World’s Greatest Novelty THE BIGGEST WONDER OF THE AGE! ENGAGED IN ENGLAND AT AN ENORMOUS SALARY By Mr. FRANK LACEY and registered in all the Colonies. (Flyer printed in Wellington New Zealand, between 1890-1910.)
Less outrageous claims are made for Ashton’s, Bullen’s, Silver’s and Worth’s circuses as well as international travelling troupes.
From home: At the National Library (NLA) website, you can watch a curator’s talk about the Carter Collection. (There are 565 items in it.) The NLA has also digitised 51 posters which you can see online including the performing fleas.
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