Bytown Museum_NEWSLETTER_FallWinter2011_WEB_Oct12
Transcription
Bytown Museum_NEWSLETTER_FallWinter2011_WEB_Oct12
M U S É E B Y T O W N M U S E U M BYTOWNNEWS Fall / Winter 2011 Found Pinhey Treasures from The Bytown Museum The Bytown Museum was, and still is, where families from across the region entrusted their valuable family objects. Page 2 A Piece of History: The Barber’s Chair from the Château Laurier A call from a prospective artefact donor revealed a beautiful barber’s chair from one of Ottawa’s landmark buildings, just steps from the Bytown Museum. by Grant Vogl Page 4 Director’s Message Page 2 Partners in Exploration Page 5 A New Publication Page 6 Membership & Fundraising Page 7 Programming Corner Page 8 Cindy Stelmackowich: Dearly Departed By Judith Parker, Acting Curator Cindy Stelmackowich: Dearly Departed is an exciting initiative for the Bytown Museum; it’s the first time an artist has been invited to create an exhibition based on a study of the museum’s historic collection. In this cross-disciplinary exhibition, Stelmackowich displays both historic artefacts and contemporary art side by side to explore the theme of Victorian mourning customs and women’s social roles. During the winter of 2011, Cindy Stelmackowich, who is an Ottawa artist and academic, was invited to become the Bytown Museum’s first collections-based artist in residence. She was particularly drawn to artefacts associated with Queen Victoria’s cult of mourning, private and public bereavement objects, and those incorporating human hair. For example, the photograph Queen Victoria, by Walery, c.1887-89, (Bytown Museum, P240), was used BYTOWNNEWS Cindy Stelmackowich, For Thee, Eveline: The Dearly Departed, 2011, ultrachromium print, 28" x 20". Artist’s collection. (Photo: Cindy Stelmackowich) during the celebration of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee and depicts her wearing a white mourning veil over 25 years after the death of her husband, Prince Albert. Another example is the touchingly poignant tomb inscription found in Memorial Cloth of Wilhelmina Ross, c. 1814, (Bytown Museum, R477), with its aching expression of parental grief. This memorial cloth was brought to Canada from England in 1833 by Wilhelmina’s parents, Lieutenant and Mrs. Walter Ross. Public mourning customs for men and the use of photographic portraits as a symbol of mourning and remembrance are conveyed by Mourning Ribbon for Mayor Henry Friel, 1869, (Bytown Museum, P1685). Henry Friel died in 1869 at age 45 while Mayor of Ottawa. Mourning badges such as this one were worn by Ottawa city councillors for 30 days to mark Friel’s death. High mortality rates in the 19th century meant that symbols of bereavement for deceased family members were commonplace in daily life. Human hair was used in decorative objects and treasured for (see DEARLY DEPARTED on PAGE 3) 1 B DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE Dear friends and supporters, This issue focuses on the projects, collaborations and partnerships that the Bytown Museum is a part of to connect you with the people, places and events that have shaped this city. Cindy Stelmackowich: Dearly Departed is the product of Cindy’s artist residency last winter at the Museum. In another connection with contemporary culture, Artengine invited the Bytown Museum to participate in the 2010 edition of Electric Fields, a festival that focuses on sound and space. Read more in the Programming section of this newsletter. Y T O W N M U S E U Found Pinhey Treasures from The Bytown Museum By Bruce S. Elliott, Pinhey’s Point Foundation Last summer, Michele LeBoldus, President of the Pinhey’s Point Foundation and I, honourary historian, trawled the Bytown Museum’s collections databases with the assistance of acting curator Judith Parker. We were seeking to identify artefacts associated with Pinhey’s Point Historic Site, with the interrelated Pinhey, Hill, and Christie families, and more generally with the old Township of March/City of Kanata. As it was founded in 1898, the Historical Society of Ottawa and its Bytown Museum became the primary place of deposit for historical We are partnering with the Pinhey’s artefacts from much of the Foundation to bring you a membersurrounding area, long before exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at Horaceville, the Pinhey family’s artefacts within our collection that are country estate at Pinhey’s Point on connected with the Pinhey’s family. the Ottawa River, passed into public Contact Francesco if you’re not hands in 1971 and became a house already a member; space is limited for and community museum. The deposit this event next April! of objects at the Bytown Museum was also a natural development because I invite you to read further about the several Pinhey descendants lived in exciting and dynamic partnerships Ottawa and were prominent members the Bytown Museum is a part of to of the Historical Society, which bring you engaging programming. operated the Bytown Museum until With the Museum being open over recently. Descendants included Anna the fall and winter, there are many H. Pinhey, Hamnett Pinhey Hill, and opportunities for you to explore this Dr. H. Townley Douglas. Other items evolving city. came from Amy Macnab, descendant of another March riverfront settler, Sincerely, Capt. Benjamin Street, R.N. Tom Caldwell, President, Board of Directors Please join us on facebook: www.facebook.com/bytown 2 M during the 1900 fire in LeBreton Flats that destroyed both his residence and Dr. Hill’s Tudor Hall. But other items remain locked away in the Bytown Museum’s offsite collections facility at the Diefenbunker in Carp, and many have never before been on public view. A number of these items relate to the Hon. Hamnett Pinhey and his Horaceville house and property, others to his nephew (and son-inlaw!) Dr. Hamnett Hill, a prominent Ottawan who, along with Dr. Christie, was featured in last summer’s keynote exhibition at Pinhey’s Point, Remedies, Elixirs, and Medical Men. These treasures include a previously unknown, unretouched copy of the only surviving photograph of Hamnett Pinhey, who died in 1857, and watercolours and photographs of Horaceville and Old St Mary’s Anglican Church. Other artefacts were donated by Miss Anna Pinhey (1870–1962), the youngest daughter of lawyer Charles Pinhey and a prominent member of the Historical Society and of a host of a number of Ottawa charitable organizations. Among her treasures is a photograph of the Bronson Avenue residence of her uncle, Ottawa Mayor John Bower Lewis. This house was discussed but not depicted in David Some of these artefacts are given Jeanes’s recent landmark article on pride of place in the Bytown’s new Bytown’s early Gothic revival houses permanent galleries: Dr. Hamnett in the Foundation's Horaceville Herald Hill’s kit of surgical tools, presented newsletter. We also found a to him as a prize in surgery upon previously unknown portrait of completing his studies in 1834; a snuff Anna’s brother Harold Kirkes Pinhey, mull presented and inscribed to Dr. taken by her cousin John Charles A.J. Christie by one of his fellow Pinhey, a Paris-trained artist well Bytown doctors; and a piece of china represented in the Horaceville from lawyer Charles Pinhey’s collections. Four images were (see PIHNEY TREASURES on PAGE 4) Wellington Street home, damaged BYTOWNNEWS D E A R L Y D E P A R T E D Dearly Departed (Continued from PAGE 1) its close affiliation with an individual. Hair was fashioned into symbols of eternity and beauty such as flowers and leaves in wreaths, or woven in to jewellery, typically worn during mourning. A quote from Godey’s Ladies Book (December 1850) attests to the sentimental and memorial value of hair: “Hair is at once the most delicate and lasting of our materials, and survives us, like love. It is so light, so gentle, so escaping from the idea of death …” Dearly Departed embraces an innovative approach to the interpretation of history by employing a current trend in curatorial and museological practise — that of inviting an artist to “mine the museum” to explore its artefacts from an artistic perspective. ABOVE LEFT|Mourning Ribbon for Mayor Henry Friel, 1869, Bytown Museum, P1685. (Photo: James Hare) ABOVE RIGHT|Memorial Cloth of Wilhemina Ross, c 1814, Bytown Museum, R477. (Photo: James Hare) In Dearly Departed, Stelmackowich goes one step further and creates contemporary artwork from transformed 19th-century objects in her own collection. For example Stelmackowich’s digital print, For Thee, Eveline: The Dearly Departed, 2011, poetically layers images of 19th-century objects including a homemade mourning booklet containing mourning prose and a miniature hair wreath with an anatomical illustration of hands that conveys a haunting sense of loss. Her sculptural work, Eye Wreath, 2011, entwines the flowers of a vintage hair wreath with antique glass eyes used in taxidermy to create a disquieting ambiance of presence and absence. References to the human body as a site of fragility, mortality, beauty, and memory are frequently found in Stelmackowich’s work, which examines the emotionally charged visual and written language of 19th-century mourning and remembrance through the filter of feminist thought. BYTOWNNEWS ABOVE|Cindy Stelmackowich, Eye Wreath, 2011, mixed media, variable dimensions. Artist’s collection. (Photo: Cindy Stelmackowich) Dearly Departed is a testament to the possibilities of innovative curatorial/artistic collaboration and the ability of contemporary art to engage in a dialogue with historic material culture. Judith Parker, Acting Curator Cindy Stelmackowich: Dearly Departed October 19, 2011–January 8, 2012 Please join us for the opening reception on Tuesday, October 18 from 5 pm to 8 pm. Cindy Stelmackowich would like to thank the Ontario Arts Council and the City of Ottawa for their assistance. 3 B Y T O W N M (Continued from PAGE 2) donated by Miss Amy Macnab, granddaughter of Canal Commissary Duncan Macnab and a daughter of Capt. Street of March. Macnab’s uniform epaulettes are on display at the Bytown Museum. A silhouette portrait of Macnab in which the epaulettes are visible in the gold detailing is in the collection as are three other images Miss Macnab donated to the Bytown Museum. Also donated was a c. 1840s watercolour view of people canoeing off the riverfront of March, associated with early gentleman settler James Read. Tools, ceramics, and children’s toys are also in the collection of Pinhey related artefacts. We are delighted that this cooperative event, bringing together three of the premier local history museums in greater Ottawa, is coming to fruition. Mark your calendars for this special behind-the-scenes, membersonly event to be held in the last week of April, 2012. R E C E N T A S E U M Watch for further announcements in the spring, when you will be able to register with Francesco Corsaro, Director of Development to indicate your intention to attend. Space for this very special event will be limited. Pinhey Treasures A U Weiss & Son, Surgical Tools of Dr. H.P. Hill, 1834, wood, metal and ivory, Bytown Museum, 1982.125.01. (Photo; Bytown Museum) C A Rich History: The Barber’s Chair from the Château Laurier By Grant Vogl, Collections and Exhibitions Manager Q U I S I T I O N remained in use at the Château before becoming part of the private collection of barber Vincent Boileau, who cut hair at the Château for 33 years, and later Mr. Morvan, but further research may reveal just how rich the story of this chair truly is. The Bytown Museum continues to acquire new pieces of our cultural history through the generosity of our donors. Featured here is our newest acquisition, a beautiful Theo A. Koch barber’s chair, which was kindly donated to our collection by Robert Morvan. This unique artefact holds a great many stories, and is a truly fascinating piece of Ottawa history. Purchased by the Château Laurier Barber Shop around 1912 for a whopping $75.00, this Koch’s “one-lever hydraulic barber’s chair” served as the seat of politicians, soldiers, and businessmen. This beautiful and ornate piece features quarter-sawn oak, nickel-plated steel flourishes, and a plush leather seat stuffed with horsehair. Fully adjustable, the chair’s hydraulics remain in working order, and it was donated in excellent condition along with two original leather strops. The history of the Barber Shop at the Château is full of famous names and faces; both Prime Ministers Mackenzie King and Louis St. Laurent visited the shop weekly for a cut and shave. It is as yet unclear how long this chair 4 Theo. A. Kochs Company, Barber’s Chair, c. 1912, oak, leather and steel, Bytown Museum, E2011.002.01. (Photo: Bytown Museum) BYTOWNNEWS B Y T O W N M U S E U M P A R T N E R S H I P S A New Way to Explore Spring, 2012 The Bytown Museum, Virtual Museums Canada and Carleton University Archives, and Research Collection and have partnered to produce a virtual exhibition and smart phone application called “Heritage Passages: Bytown and the Rideau Canal.” The exhibition will be made available through a website featuring digital models of the Ottawa Locks site at the beginning of the Rideau Canal system. Visitors will also be able to download a GPS-enabled smart phone application that will guide the user through interpretive tours of locations along the canal. Electric Fields 2011 November 22 to 27 Presented by Artengine Polytectures is part of Electric Fields 2011, presented in collaboration with the Bytown Museum. Explore the architecture of downtown Ottawa through a narrated walking experience produced by Montréal’s Antoine Bédard (Montag). Twelve local composers and musical groups have translated key buildings on the walk into new pieces of music that together create a sonic portrait of the core of the capital. Polylectures will be available for download and on MP3 players to sign out from the Bytown Museum. Polylectures November 22 to 29 MP3 players available at the Bytown Museum during regular Museum hours N E W P U B L I C A T I O N Hidden Treasures from the Bytown Museum by Janet Carlile, Lilly Koltun, Steven C. McNeil, Rosemarie L. Tovell, René Villeneuve, with Charlotte Gray, Judith Parker and Mike Steinhauer This beautifully designed and lavishly illustrated exhibition catalogue presents 41 historic objects from the collection of the Bytown Museum. Each artefact and work of art is lovingly described by one of five guest curators. Mike Steinhauer, past Director, traces a history of the museum and its collection from its beginnings in 1898 up to the present. Judith Parker, Acting Curator, outlines the exhibition’s eclectic development. HIDDEN TREASURES FROM THE BYTOWN MUSEUM Janet Carlile, Lilly Koltun, Steven C. McNeil, Rosemarie L. Tovell, René Villeneuve with Charlotte Gray, Judith Parker & Mike Steinhauer BYTOWNNEWS Hidden Treasures from the Bytown Museum Bytown Museum, 2011 100 pages, 51 colour plates, English Edition (French edition forthcoming) $39.99 + HST $35.99 + HST for Bytown Museum Members 5 M O R E B Y T O W N Looking Back Café & Boutique Some highlights from this past summer at the Bytown Museum. Our summer exhibition, Hidden Treasures from the Bytown Museum, provided the perfect opportunity to invite members of the Historical Society of Ottawa for an afternoon tea and tour of the exhibition in recognition and thanks for the HSO’s contribution to the Bytown Museum’s collection. Approximately 20 HSO members joined us on the afternoon of August 31 for this special event where we also presented the HSO with a copy of the Hidden Treasures exhibition catalogue. The Bytown Café and Boutique is your destination for original gift ideas this Christmas and all year round. With a selection of items including umbrellas, fashionable tote bags, and handy travel mugs, you can keep the Bytown experience with you between visits! We are also proud to offer a comprehensive collection of books showcasing the interesting and dynamic history of the Rideau Canal and the city of Ottawa, written primarily by local historians and authors. Come and find the perfect addition for your personal library, or unique gift for the historian in your life. ABOVE| Judith Parker, Acting Curator, talks about the four presentation cups that Lt. Col. John By gave to key participants who built the Rideau Canal. (Photo: Bytown Museum) Tales of The Rideau: Mostly True Stories of the Rideau Canal By Ken W. Watson Ken Watson, 2010 $12.95 + HST $11.66 + HST for Bytown Museum Members Capital Lives. Profiles of 32 Leading Ottawa Personalities By Valerie Knowles Book Coach Press, 2005 $20.00 + HST $18.00 + HST for Bytown Museum Members Museum Hours October 11, 2011 – May 18, 2012 Open Tuesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Mondays ABOVE| Ruthanne Edward, kicks off the Story Series in July. (Photo: Bytown Museum) Ottawa’s history has never sounded so good! Our Story Series with the Ottawa StoryTellers was a great success this summer and livened up Thursday evenings at the museum. We were entertained with stories of the history of the city from the Bytown era to present day Ottawa. Our final event of the season, the Story Slam, featured 8 tellers and the audience picked the winner. 6 May 19, 2012 – October 8, 2012 Open daily, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday to 9 p.m. (free admission after 5 p.m.) Free Admission: Nov 11, Remembrance Day May 18, International Museum Day Free Sundays; Nov 6, Dec 4, Jan 8 Dates to Note: Open Nov 11, Remembrance Day Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day Open February 18, Family Day An Acre of Time By Phil Jenkins Chelsea Books, 2008 $22.95 + HST $20.66 + HST for Bytown Museum Members (Photo: Phil Jenkins) Invisible Army: Hard Times, Heartbreak and Heritage By Ed Bebee Ed Bebee & Friends of the Rideau, 2010 $19.95 + HST $17.95 + HST for Bytown Museum Members Bytown News Editor: Francesco Corsaro Contributors: Tom Caldwell, Francesco Corsaro, Megan Bocking, Bruce S. Elliott, Judith Parker, Grant Vogl, Kiersten Vourimaki Send address changes, letters and story ideas to: Bytown News 1 Canal Lane | P.O. Box 523, Station B Ottawa, ON K1P 5P6 (613) 234-4570 x225 [email protected] Charitable registration number: 867207201RR0001 Bytown News is published 3 times a year Next issue will be released April, 2012 Bytown News: Fall/Winter 2011 ISBN: 978-0-9812860-9-9 BYTOWNNEWS TT HH AA NN KK YY OO UU Thank You to Our Supporters! Updated as of October 7, 2011 Anonymous (2) Lalca Djiwa Charles Akben-Marchand Margaret Gervais Victoria Alexander Meg Hamilton Geoffrey Bennett Victor Harrison Edward Brado Dorene Hirsch Jean Bruce Historical Society of Judith Burns Ottawa Vera Campbell Diana Gill Kirkwood Susan Coxford Mary Martel-Carleton Alan McLay Alan Meltzer Robert Morvan Sunny and Nini Pal Terrence W. Parker Ann Pepper The Family of ~~Henriette Riegel Patricia Richardson Annie and Amelia McLeod Conservation Campaign Anonymous (2) Vera Campbell Doreen Hirsch Dr. Lilly Koltun Patricia Richardson Robert Serré Lana Shaw John Bryant Senez R. Cyril Symes Tom & Lana Tanner The Family of ~~Lyn Taylor Gail Watters Bob Yaremko Every effort is made to keep this list up to date and accurate. If you notice an error or omission, please contact Francesco Corsaro, Director of Development. Go to bytownmuseum.ca and click DONATE NOW. Make a secure, tax-deductible donation to the Bytown Museum through canadahelps.org or fill out a donation form and send it by mail to the attention of Francesco Corsaro. Please contact Francesco Corsaro for Thank you to our information on Corporate Sponsorships Corporate Sponsor M E M B E R S H I P & F U Membership & Fundraising The Fall and Winter seasons provide a wonderful backdrop for a visit to the Bytown Museum. Whether under a blaze of coloured leaves or a fresh blanket of fluffy snow, the Bytown Museum is a warm and welcoming place to connect with Ottawa’s past, people, and historic events. As a member of the Bytown Museum, you have recently enjoyed a member-exclusive talk with Phil White, Dominion sculptor, where he talked about his work on Parliament Hill and also briefly touched on the Museum’s bust of Lady Macdonald by renowned English sculptor Marshall Wood. This event is just one of the many ways in which you can connect with the Bytown Museum. We look forward to offering interesting and engaging programming and welcome your feedback and suggestions. Our campaign to raise funds for the conservation of Annie and Amelia McLeod, a painting by Moses Pierce, has received a wonderful response from many generous donors. We are well on our way to reaching our goal of $2500, but we still need your support. Shape your city and connect with the Bytown Museum. Make a donation today to play your part in exploring the stories of your evolving city. I look forward to seeing you here often! Francesco Corsaro Director of Development N D R A I S I N G Board of Directors Tom Caldwell – President Meg Hamilton – Vice President Vacant – Secretary Glen Shackleton – Treasurer Eugene Haslam – Director-at-Large Anthony McGlynn – Director-at-Large Helen McKiernan – Director-at-Large Allan Meltzer – Director-at-Large Henriette Riegel – Director-at-Large Bytown Museum Staff Vacant – Director [email protected] ; x224 Francesco Corsaro – Director of Development [email protected] ; x225 Grant Vogl – Collections & Exhibitions Manager [email protected] ; x222 Megan Bocking – Program Manager [email protected] ; x226 Vacant – Boutique Manager [email protected] ; x223 Judith Parker – Acting Curator [email protected] ; x228 The Bytown Museum gratefully acknowledges the following partners for their support: Canada Summer Jobs, Canadian Heritage, Canadian Heritage Information Network, Council of Heritage Organizations in Ottawa, National Capital Commission, Ottawa Museum Network, Parks Canada and Young Canada Works BYTOWNNEWS 7 R O G R The very popular Click! Photo Treasure Hunt program is back for the fall! We’ve partnered with National Capital Commission (NCC) to present an engaging, free program for youth called Click! Photo Treasure Hunt. Students set out from the Museum on their own to explore a mapped area of the Capital. Cameras are provided, and each class leaves with a CD of all the photos taken during this 90-minute activity. To book, call 1-800-461-8020 or email [email protected]. P M M I C O R N O M I N G Mark your calendars! We are looking forward to thanking our tireless volunteers with our popular Lumberjack Breakfast on Friday December 9 from 10 am to 12 pm. We are always looking for more volunteers. If you are interested please see our website to download our Volunteer Form and contact Megan at 613-234-4570 ext 226. E V E N T S Artist’s Talk & Catalogue Launch Cindy Stelmackowich will give an artist’s talk in the exhibition Saturday, November 19, 2 pm to 3 pm Included with your admission to the Bytown Museum Big Hairy Workshop In collaboration with the Ottawa Art Gallery Curious about how the Victorians made objects with hair? Join us for a hands-on workshop exploring the creation of small sculptural pieces inspired by the exhibition. We'll use wire, yarn, and, yes of course, synthetic hair. Saturday, November 19, 12 pm to 4 pm Included with your admission to the Bytown Museum. Curator’s Talk Explore our fall exhibition, Cindy Stelmackowich: Dearly Departed, with Acting Curator, Judith Parker. Sunday, November 6, 2 pm to 3 pm Included with your admission to the Bytown Museum Presented in English, with bilingual discussion E R It has been a delight to work with our dedicated volunteers this summer, who have been working hard at the museum on our Heritage Garden. We are currently expanding our volunteer program with new projects. Megan Bocking, Program Manager C E VOLUNTEERS See you at the Bytown Museum! Beginning October 30, join us Sundays for a tour through Cindy Stelmackowich: Dearly Departed. No registration required. Included with your admission to the Bytown Museum. Every Sunday Starting October 30 English at 2 pm; French at 3 pm Note: Not offered November 6 or December 4 due to special programming H G We are keeping the momentum going for the fall with many events to tempt you down to the Museum. With exciting new partnerships and programs, there is no shortage of ways for you to connect with Ottawa’s heritage and history. Cindy Stelmackowich: Dearly Departed Exhibition Tours W N The Bytown Museum was hopping with activity this past summer. Between the Ottawa StoryTellers, Free Thursday evening programming and our hands-on workshops, there was always something to do on site at the Bytown Museum. Click! Photo Treasure Hunt is Back U A Meet Megan Bocking (Photo: James Hare) P R E Details about special fall programming including the Hairy Workshop and tours can be found at bytownmuseum.ca T O F I N D U S bytownmuseum.ca facebook.com/bytown spacingo5awa.ca/backspacing capitalneighbourhoods.ca