What's On
Western Australian Museum – GERALDTON
Opening hours:
Open: Daily from 9.30am - 4.30pm, excluding Wednesdays, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
The Western Australian Museum - Geraldton will be open late on Thursdays during February with a fantastic program of events to celebrate the last days of the exhibition Australian Minescapes which closes on February 14, 2010.
EDWARD BURTYNSKY: AUSTRALIAN MINESCAPES
A travelling exhibition from the Western Australian Museum
Western Australian Museum – Geraldton 4 December 2009 – 14 February 2010
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’.
You can also listen to Edward Burtynsky's floor talk from April 2008 online.
FILM SCREENING
Manufactured Landscapes
A film by Jennifer Baichwal
Theatre, Western Australian Museum – Geraldton7.00pm, Thursday 11 February 2010
Seated inside the Edward Burtynsky: Australian Minescapes exhibition, you are invited to watch Manufactured Landscapes. This award-winning documentary follows Edward Burtynsky on his journey to China as he captures the effects of the country’s massive industrial revolution. This stunning documentary by director Jennifer Baichwal leads the viewer to contemplate human endeavour and its impact on the planet.
Film duration is 90 minutes.
Entry by gold coin donation
Bookings essential on +61 [0]8 9921 5080
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
SHIP AHOY!
Western Australian Museum – Geraldton
FUN TRAILS
Trails are available daily
Ship’s Captain
Set sail for a visual journey around the Museum.
| Ages: | 4 years and above |
| Cost: | $2 per trail |
Fleet Commodore
An action packed trail full of games, puzzles and activities based around sailing and ships.
Ages: 6 years and above Cost: $2 per trailAdmiral of the Fleet
A trail full of fun and facts for the young maritime adventurer.
| Ages: | 8 years and above |
| Cost: | $2 per trail |
ANZANG NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
Western Australian Museum – Geraldton25 February – 18 April 2010
ANZANG Nature Photography is an exhibition that celebrates the depth and diversity of nature in Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and the New Guinea region through the eye of the nature photographer.
ANZANG Nature Photography focuses on enhancing a general knowledge of this extraordinary area by encouraging photography of its nature and wilderness to stimulate interest in its ongoing conservation.
The ANZANG Nature Photography Competition is owned by the South Australian Museum.
Image: Underwater – Winner
Space jellies
Justin Gilligan, New South Wales
PRIDE OF THE FLEET -
THE SEARCH FOR HMAS SYDNEY (II)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.