Stories Behind the Facade
Sat 9 November 2019 – Sun 26 January 2020
Yarra Ranges Regional Museum
10:00 am - 4:00 pm, daily
35-37 Castella St, Lilydale
free admission + family friendly
Conceived from a shared love for storytelling and keen interest in heritage and architecture 'Stories Behind the Façade' exhibition is a yearlong collaboration between family members — Jola Pawlowska, Sam Moon, Tex Moon and Jesse Raaen.
The exhibition showcases intricate paper cut-outs of five significant heritage buildings in the Dandenong Ranges. Inspired by unique Polish paper cutting art-form Wycinanki (pron. Vee-chee-none-kee) the artworks are a nod to the Polish heritage of artists mother (Jola Pawlowska) and daughter (Sam Moon), as they extend the boundaries of this traditional folk art.
Multiple historic layers and stories of these buildings are revealed and brought to life through recorded memories (Tex Moon), photographs and building biographies (Jesse Raaen) —
- Art Deco mansion Burnham Beeches (arch. Harry Norris);
- Mid-century entertainer Miller Short House (arch. Frederick Romberg);
- Arts and Crafts Mawarra (arch. Harold Desbrowe-Annear and lnd. Edna Walling);
- St Michael and All Angels church (arch. Keith Reid) and
- Edwardian ‘Kenloch’ estate
Why is this project important?
Stories and oral traditions of our community can easily be lost as generations pass or move out of the area, taking with them the associated collective memories that are part of local history.
Our built and natural heritage is constantly under threat, not only from pressures such as ‘urban sprawl’, development and natural deterioration, but also bushfire, storm and other landscape and environmental threats.
This exhibition is an opportunity to celebrate our cultural heritage, reflect on the heritage value of our environment and significance of our cultural past, present and future.
Selected heritage architecture artworks previously created by the artists will also be exhibited:
- The Majorca Building, Melbourne (Harry Norris)
- East Melbourne Terrace House, East Melbourne
-
Gdansk, Warsaw, Krakow, Torun and Kazimierz Dolny townscapes
Five magazine covers commissions by ‘POLAND’ international magazine
Program of events
Sat 30 Nov –
Blooming Marvellous Gardens of the Dandenong Ranges - Talk + Q&A
Evening talks on scientific (botanical) and horticultural significance of the regions, associated and neighboring gardens.
- Craig Wilson, (Gentiana Nursery) will speak about the magnificent garden of Sir Arthur Streetons ‘Longacres’;
- Emma Moysey, (Ferny Creek Horticultural Society) with an insight in to ‘Kenloch’; and
- John Curtis, (Parks Victoria) will give an overview of the beautiful Alfred Nicholas Memorial Garden, Pirianda garden (formerly owned by the Ansell family) and George Tindale Memorial Garden.
Sun 1 Dec –
Why Does Heritage Matter? – Talk
Caitlin Mitropoulos, Heritage Advocacy Advisor, National Trust — Why Does Heritage Matter? Peoples Connection to Places.
To learn more about our practice please visit Inside our Studio page, to learn more about us head to Meet the Artists and if you would like to read a little more about what inspires us check out the Q&A at Beneath the Surface.
Oral history recordings and any other material not previously recorded in print or digital format obtained as part of this project, will be donated to Yarra Ranges Regional museum for recording and archiving local history.