THE Ballaarat Mechanics\u2019 Institute is encouraging Ballaratians to step beyond its intimidating exterior to explore the current exhibition, Talking Shop, in their heritage reading room.<\/p>\n
Talking Shop has been curated by Amy Tsilemanis and focuses on Ballarat business and city life throughout the city\u2019s history and in our contemporary society.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a generative exhibition showing old and newer photographs, including Instagram shots from The Ballarat Life tag, as well as advertisements and ephemera.<\/p>\n
Ms Tsilemanis is coming to the end of her three year curatorship with the BMI and wanted to bring out photos and artefacts in new ways.<\/p>\n
\u201cTalking Shop\u2019s really just about connecting people in this amazing space which is full of both the history of Ballarat, but also ideas for the future,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the thing I love, just seeing people come in and talk to each other around the material.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pauline O\u2019Shannessy-Dowling is Talking Shop\u2019s artist in residence. She said the conversations and personal engagement sparked within visitors is joyful and nostalgic.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople love saying, I remember when\u2026 I remember the trams and I remember what it was like then,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really quite exciting for people, I think, to be able to remember their own little piece of history and contribute it to something like this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although these conversations happen, Ms Tsilemanis said it isn\u2019t always easy getting people into the BMI in the first place.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis space is quite special\u2026 but the whole \u2018hidden treasure\u2019 thing is a blessing and a curse because often people just don\u2019t know we exist,\u201d she said. \u201cThe amount of people that have said, I\u2019ve lived here all my life and I\u2019ve never been in.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey might not necessarily use the library or be a member, but they can come in and be part of the Mechanics\u2019 Institute in another way. This is a resource and a source of inspiration.\u201d<\/p>\n
When people discover the BMI and its impressive original heritage reading room, Ms O\u2019Shannessy-Dowling said it transports them to another world.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will take you somewhere away from your daily worries,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou sort of feel like you\u2019re in some kind of movie set or some really special place where you can do special things. People are completely blown away when they have a look around.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of Ms Tsilemanis\u2019s favourite pieces in Talking Shop is a very old, but coloured tourist advertisement. A business featured in the book was based at the front of the BMI building.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s got the most beautiful artwork and descriptions about the streets,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Mechanics\u2019 has always had the shops at the front.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Ballarat Life Instagram shots in the library\u2019s entry, and vintage milk bar photos have been popular with visitors.<\/p>\n
So have photos of Ballarat\u2019s controversial Grenville and Sturt Streets intersection over the years. \u201cIt grabs people\u2019s attention,\u201d Ms O\u2019Shannessy-Dowling said.<\/p>\n
The public is asked to bring in their own images and memories of what it was like to shop in Ballarat in past times.<\/p>\n
Instagrammers are encouraged to snap photos of the exhibition, interesting Ballarat shopping related artefacts or local shops around town that interest them with the hashtag #TalkingShopBallarat.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, 2 March, people can come into the BMI\u2019s community day to meet Ms Tsilemanis, Ms O\u2019Shannessy-Dowling and contributing collectors, John Kerr and Max Harris. The exhibition closes on 27 April.<\/p>\n
The Max Harris photography collection is also on show in The Batten Lending Library. It features images from the 1860s to 1960s that Mr Harris has collected over 40 years. Visitors can purchase prints to take home with them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE Ballaarat Mechanics\u2019 Institute is encouraging Ballaratians to step beyond its intimidating exterior to explore the current exhibition, Talking Shop, in their heritage reading room. Talking Shop has been curated by Amy Tsilemanis and focuses on Ballarat business and city life throughout the city\u2019s history and in our contemporary society. It\u2019s a generative exhibition showing […]<\/p>\n