Exhibition update

I’ve got the label text sorted and the first block panel of text. I’m feeling good about it. Quietly confident.

There’s still a few things to stitch up – like signage and processing of the photos. The mounting of the photos has been sponsored by Lin Klenner – Gilder, for which I am very grateful.

The exhibition is part of OUSA Art Week, 10-14 August in the Link (between the Union and library buildings), at University of Otago.

Five-star student flats on the way

A rating scheme was suggested by Amy Spurdle in her thesis “Authentic Scarfie Flats” to protect the Victorian and Edwardian character flats of North Dunedin. I hope the protection of these flats is central to the plan of the Tertiary Presinct partners (DCC, University and Polytech’). I’m looking forward to seeing the report.

Five-star student flats on the way

Dunedin Student Flat Name Archive

The Community Archive (ex NRAM) site has recently come available and I thought it’d be a great opportunity to make the collection of photos of named flats available through a more accessible and more stable electronic environment. As The Community Archive is supported by Archives New Zealand so I’m confident the content will be safe and remain free to access whereas there are no long term guarantees with Flickr and Facebook groups/repositories.

One of the things I really like about it is that it uses both a controlled vocabulary for cataloguing items but also allows for members of the public to attach their own tags. It’s the best of both worlds. It’s wonderful that the value of community collections is being acknowledged with this initiative. I believe it’ll provide a rich and vibrant fodder for interesting research in the future.

Find out more about The Community Archive.

Dunedin Student Flat Name Archive

The Shambles

Last night I read a short reminiscence by an alumnus of Otago’s mining school about his flat called The Shambles on the corner of St David and Great King Streets. He lived there during the early to mid 1960s. There were some very amusing recollections, including one about a large orange fungus growing in the bathroom.