What's On
Western Australian Museum – GERALDTON
EDWARD BURTYNSKY: AUSTRALIAN MINESCAPES
A traveling exhibition from the Western Australian Museum
Western Australian Museum – Geraldton 4 December 2009 – 14 February 2009
A stunning collection of photographs by internationally acclaimed Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky will be on display at the Western Australian Museum – Geraldton from the 4 December 2009.
Australian Minescapes is a travelling exhibition from the Western Australian Museum and features powerful images of Pilbara and Eastern Goldfields mine sites.
Burtynsky’s photographic depictions of industrial landscapes are in the collections of major museums around the world including the Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim Museum in New York, Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris and the National Gallery in Canada.
Burtynsky’s work includes detailed and often stark images of recycling yards, mine tailings, quarries and refineries. He refers to his subject material as ‘manufactured landscapes’, saying that while all these places are outside most people’s normal experience, ‘we partake of their output on a daily basis’.
The work was commissioned by FotoFreo Inc with the support of BHP Billiton Iron Ore and the FotoFreo Angels, for the FotoFreo 2008 Festival.
This exhibition was gifted to the Western Australian Museum by Edward Burtynsky with the financial support of FotoFreo Inc. Edward Burtynsky is represented by Nicholas Metivier Gallery, Toronto; Charles Cowles Gallery, New York ; Flowers Gallery London.
Image: Tailings #1, 2007 © Edward Burtynsky
PRIDE OF THE FLEET -
THE SEARCH FOR HMAS SYDNEY (II)Open from 24 April
Admission by donation
Local audiences and visitors to the Geraldton region can now visit the exhibition Pride of the Fleet – the search for HMAS Sydney (II), a nationally significant story considered to have a strong link to the community and importance to the nation.
The ship HMAS Sydney (II) was lost after a fierce sea battle with the German raider HSK Kormoran on the 19 November 1941. None of the 645 crew on board survived and this loss had a profound effect on wartime Australia, generating enormous grief and a need to find out what happened on that fateful evening.
Sixty-seven years later, on 16 March 2008, the wreck of HMAS Sydney (II) was found about 112 nautical miles off Steep Point Western Australia in 2,470 metres of water. This momentous find occurred five days after the wreck of the Kormoran was also discovered.
This is the first formal exhibition featuring the work of the team aboard the Geosounder to be opened in the nation, it covers all major aspects of one of Australia’s most enduring maritime mysteries.
Pride of the Fleet gives a comprehensive overview of the story of HMAS Sydney II as well as telling some of the stories of the men who were lost and the families they left behind.
It also gives due recognition to the Finding Sydney Foundation, the HMAS Sydney Search team and their work in discovering the battle site and wreck sites for both ships.
Pride of the Fleet – the search for HMAS Sydney (II) will be on display at the WA Museum – Geraldton until late 2008.