It is the museum aspect of the Powerhouse
that makes it an attractive destination
for children and parents alike.
Certainly, the robots, tram rolls
and eco displays are interesting.
It is the artwork that I found exciting in a recent visit.
The current exhibit is
Love Lace
(Make Lace not War)
Simply put: It is a sensational investigation
into the world of positive and negative.
When I first entered the exhibition space there
was an elderly lady tatting away in the traditional way.
You could be fooled at this stage
that the curator, Lindie Ward,
had designed a predictable lace display.
Love Lace is anything but.
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| Optical fibres create this Lace Jellyfish |
The definition of lace for this exhibition is rather open to include any ‘openwork structure whose pattern of spaces is as important as the solid areas’.
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| Jenny Pollak installation |
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Love Lace is a playful exploration by
artists and students alike
and includes a competition also,
The Powerhouse Museum International Lace Award.
The use of new technology and a mind boggling variety of materials ensures that there is something to inspire
youth and the elderly (and all us in-betweeners)
while strategically placed lighting
brings to life beautiful shadow play.
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| Chain wire fencing |
As an art educator,
I regularly try to impress upon the students
the equal importance of positive and negative.
I can't recall an exhibition that asserts this concept
with more clarity.
Traditional notions of lace are relegated to fibre and textile work, a deeply entrenched female domain.
Through the materials and artists' approach to the theme,
these boundaries and definitions no longer exist.
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| Screen |
My only disappointment is that Sydney is a bit too far to take my students for an excursion.
However, the website is a plentiful source of educational resources for art teachers and class teachers alike.
For educational links click here
