Western Australian Museum

Mechanics Alive !!!

Spare Parts Puppet Theatre & the Western Australian Museum presents Cabaret Mechanical Theatre’s Mechanics Alive!! (United Kingdom)
Sat 15 March – Sun 11 May (Closed Good Friday)
09:30am – 5:00pm (last entry 4:30pm)
Anzac Day (1.00pm – 5.00pm)

How does a simple wooden mechanical sculpture capture your imagination?

Open your mind and watch a kaleidoscope of stories unfold before your eyes...

Discover what happens when puppetry, science and technology collide in the world of automata at the highly acclaimed Mechanics Alive!! travelling exhibition.

An Egyptian god performing sit-ups, fish jumping into a cat’s mouth and even a man eating from the bath he is stewing in are just some of the amusing and amazing machines on display.

Colourful, engaging and satirical, this inspiring collection from London’s Cabaret Mechanical Theatre includes automata from renowned UK designers and craftsmen.

“Rare it is...that you embark on a story and find so much more than meets the eye - but Cabaret Mechanical Theatre is just that.” Independent Newspapers UK Limited | United Kingdom

Door Sales Only
Adult $10
Child / Concession $7
Family (2 adults, 2 children) $30

Special School Bookings (essential): (08) 9427 2792 education@museum.wa.gov.au Check out more exhibitions, activities and events of the 20th UNIMA Congress and World Puppetry Festival at www.unima2008.com

JUST ADD WATER
SCHEMES AND DREAMS FOR A SUNBURNT COUNTRY

Western Australian Museum - Perth
30 May– 27 July 2008
Entry by donation

Water - not a day goes by when we don’t think about it, talk about it, drink it, or in some cases, pray for it. Water is an increasingly precious resource in this sunburnt country.

Australians have stored more water in dams per person than any other country. We’ve piped it, pumped it, and even dragged it out of the clouds, becoming a nation of plumbers in the process.
The National Archives of Australia has tapped into its vast collection to explore how Australians have used and managed water for the past century.

The travelling exhibition Just Add Water: Schemes and Dreams for a Sunburnt Country will be on show at the Western Australian Museum – Perth from May 30, 2008.

Just Add Water is a timely exhibition that has been several years in the making.
For more information about Just Add Water

http://www.naa.gov.au/whats-on/exhibitions/on-tour/just-add-water.aspx

Free Guided Tours
Join one of our Visitor Services Officers on a journey around the Museum with one of our guided tours. Learn some fascinating insights into the history of the Museum buildings in the Historical Buildings Tour (daily at 11.00am), or get the inside information in the Western Australian Land and People Gallery (daily at 2.00pm). Tours operate Monday to Friday, bookings are required for groups of 10 or more.

Historical Buildings

Take a tour of the Western Australian Museum’s stunning collection of historical buildings including the Old Gaol built by convicts in 1855.

Other Galleries
Other permanent galleries at the WA Museum in Perth include the historic Mammal Gallery, Bird Gallery, Butterfly Gallery and the Old Gaol featuring historical exhibits. Of course, don’t miss out on Megamouth!

RECENT EVENTS:
Go To Past Exhibitions

THE CHARM OF ZHEJIANG CELADON
16 NOVEMBER 2007 – 3 MARCH 2008
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM – PERTH
9427 2877
FREE

The charm of Zhejiang celadon pottery comes to the Western Australian Museum – Perth in November. This beautiful exhibition of a specific style of pottery comes to Perth as part of the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Perth and Zhejiang in China. Perpetual Green Scenes: the Charm of Zhejiang Celadon is an exhibition representing a dynamic period in Chinese history and a strong partnership forged between two industrious cities. Zhejiang is an eastern coastal province of the People’s Republic of China, renowned for the production of celadon, a specific style of pottery.

Celadon production was prominent around the Longquan kilns, sited along the Longquan River in the southwest Zhejiang province. In Chinese history the Song (1127–1279), Yuan (1279 – 1368) and Ming dynasties (1368-1644) were regarded as the greatest periods for ceramic production.

Mostly recognised for its pale, sea-green pigment, celadon ceramics became sought-after trade commodities throughout Southeast Asia, the Middle East and India.

The touring exhibition consists of 80 pieces of ancient celadon and 25 pieces of modern celadon belonging to Zhejiang Provincial Museum.

This is a unique opportunity to see this collection as it will not be touring to other any other state in Australia.

The sister city relationship was formed in 1987 through the auspices of the Western Australian State Government and the Department of Industry and Resources.

Museum@Work
Discovery Centre
Museum@Work is a free fortnightly lecture series giving a snapshot of what goes on behind the scenes at the Museum. The presentations are given by Museum professionals, ranging from exhibition designers to curators and show the diversity of work undertaken by the Museum.

The 45 minute presentations start at 12.30pm in the Tunnel meeting room. All are welcome, bookings are not required. Enquiries to 9427 2837 or click here. After the presentation you can get together with the Friends of the Western Australian Museum.

Click here to download a pdf of the museum@work presentations for 2006.

What's On