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Low angle close shot of a dark and light brown classic car on grass. Front left wheel is the closest object in the photo. The sun is at the centre of the top section of the photo.

MAAS Cars at Parramatta’s CARnivale 2019

February 1, 2019

Over the recent long weekend, I was thrilled to assist with the Museum’s participation in the annual CARnivale festival. Held for the second year in Sydney’s Parramatta Park on 26 January, CARnivale displayed over 400 classic vehicles, including cars, motorcycles, fire engines and ambulances, all made before 1987!

The Ideal Home Exhibition: Australian experiences of home across the past 100 years

January 29, 2019

Home should be a place of security, intimacy, love and family, a haven from the world. It is where we can express ourselves through the location, architecture, furnishings and decoration. But 'home' is also a site of financial burden, fracture, loss and danger - and increasingly for some, a home is simply unattainable.

Seven white busts and two statues of composers and writers. Made from Parian porcelain in the 1800s . Collected and donated to the Museum by Thomas Lennard in 1921.

Busted

January 25, 2019

The Museum has a wonderful collection of busts in the areas of science, fashion and art. From the slightly disconcerting 19th century French paper-mache anatomical models used to explore and demonstrate the workings of the human body to the fabulously formed torso of Chesty Bonds advertising Bonds singlets.

The museum interns stand beside a large yellow ball on a high tower. The Sydney Harbour Bridge is in the background.

Collecting in health and medicine: A curatorial intern experience

January 16, 2019

As a third year university student studying an arts degree, the same inevitable and dreaded question often arises in daily conversations; “oh, so what kind of job are you hoping to get with that degree?” My answer has always been that I would like to work as a curator or conservator in museums and art galleries, as I enjoy uncovering the history of objects and understanding what they can tell us about the past.

Woman sitting on wooden steps giving a talk to a group of people with presentation slides on the wall behind.

Incremental Urbanism: A follow up to Common Good

January 9, 2019

The Common Good exhibition at the Powerhouse Museum explores the impact of contemporary design practice in Australia and the surrounding region, examining how designers are responding to various social, environmental and ethical challenges to affect change.

A staged colour photograph taken in the 1970s for advertising featuring seven young men wearing board shorts. The man in the centre is holding a young woman with blond hair and wearing a bikini.

Remembering Australian summer holidays

January 2, 2019

The beach has always been the ultimate destination for summer holidays whether it was just a few kilometres away or a long car trip. Back in the 1960s cars weren't as reliable as today. Even for a relatively short drive you'd stop off at the service station to have the oil, water and tyres checked and to pick up maps.

The two Barbie dolls' costumes consist of a pink 'Rockers' T-shirt, one doll has a pink mini-skirt and tan leggings; the other has a pink jacket and pants ensemble. The styling is indicative of the mid 1980s. The Ken doll's costume is a silver long jacket and pants ensemble with a silver 'Rockers' T-shirt, and silver shoes.

Toys and games from the 1980s

December 26, 2018

Was your childhood spent in the 1980s? Then the names Puggle, He Man, Fabuland, Battle Cat and Teddy Ruxpin will ring a few bells this Christmas. Fantasy toys were an element of the 1980s. The super-hero toys He-Man and his and his faithful steed, Battle Cat, were media merchandising from the Masters of the Universe (MOTU) film, cartoon and comic series.

Two men and a woman stand around a table discussing fashion drawings and fabric samples. They are in the designer’s studio with garments hanging on racks in the background.

Serenely Akira: from storyboard to exhibition

December 20, 2018

Dismantling Reigning Men took a full week of sweat, noise and dust. But from it the MAAS team has crafted a cocoon of serenity designed to celebrate the creativity and subtle complexity of Akira Isogawa, in a new exhibition which opened on 15 December 2018.

There are five rings that can be worn singularly or stacked together. They are displayed stacked together. Each ring has a different shape, one has a projected triangular form, another is made up of two different sized circles, a projecting crescent, another is a two fingered ring with a sunrise shape above and another is a single ring with one rod soldered horizontal.

Vale Wendy Ramshaw

December 18, 2018

Wendy Ramshaw (1939 - 2018) was a leading contemporary British studio jeweller renowned for her innovative approach to jewellery design and production. Ramshaw emerged on the international jewellery scene in the 1970s, exerting a significant influence through inspiring exhibitions, workshops and artist residencies in countries such as the USA and Australia (1978).

Chinese folding fan open on a grey background. The blades are intricately carved ivory and the painted paper surface (leaves) portrays a busy landscape, depicting what looks like a historic scene with many small brightly coloured figures.]

Reflections of Asia: Behind the Scenes with Conservation

December 11, 2018

The Conservation department plays a crucial role in the preparation of the Museum's exhibitions. From the early stages of the exhibition development Conservators work closely with other members of the exhibition team, especially Curators, Designers and Registrars.

View of an exhibition title ‘Reflections of Asia: Collectors and Collection on a white wall and an art work made of blue wire.

Reflections of Asia: Collectors and Collections at MAAS

December 5, 2018

Of 10,000 or so objects in the Museum’s Asian collections, only about 10% have ever been on display. The exhibition titled Reflections of Asia: Collectors and Collections showcases over 500 objects from this extensive collection, developed over 140 years, including wood and lacquerwork, ceramics, metalwork, dress and textiles, contemporary fashion and art.

Food Work Sex Belief: How Art and Science Meet

November 28, 2018

From popular culture to mainstream media to discourse on the post-, trans- and non- human, the human impact of current technological change is palpable. The exhibition Human non Human responds to this sense of anxiousness and exhilaration.

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