Yesterday we caught the ferry from Hobart up to Mona, David Walsh’s brilliant Museum of Old and New Art on the River Derwent. What’s not to love about this place: the location on the water’s edge; the amazing architecture; the eclectic and engaging collections; or the generosity of spirit that made it possible? To all of these I would add I love it because the Library is physically and emotionally at the very heart of Mona.
Let me quote from the description of the library on Mona’s website:
Would you be surprised to know that more than art—possibly even more than mathematics and milkshakes—David Walsh is mad about books? As such, our library is no mere appendage, and certainly no ‘monument to ego’ (as Umberto Eco would put it), but rather a working research space that we invite you to use. Just lower your voice, you hooligan, and spit out your gum.
Our collection reflects David Walsh’s tastes (which are both prolific and eclectic; …at the moment as there’s not enough room, but a new, bigger library is on the cards… Watch this space.
How lucky are we to have a Library champion such as David!
Our visit concluded with a divine lunch at The Source Restaurant where each of the glass topped tables was in fact a mini exhibition with a collection secreted below the glass. We sat at a table holding minerals and gems, and by crooking my neck in a non-sticky beak way I could see that the adjacent table seemed to have sporting memorabilia below the surface.
This extension of the collections into adjacent spaces reminded me of Redbridge Central Library at Ilford, a large town in East London. A refurbishment done by Opening the Book integrated moveable display boxes into the shelving . The image above (courtesy of Opening the Book) displays birds eggs from the co-located Museum’s collections amongst relevant parts of the library’s collection. Similarly the slightly blurry photo taken by me includes kitchen implements amongst the cookbooks.
I always hoped to do something similar, a wonderful way to develop links between cultural partners and start conversations. Mona takes the integration of its various parts seamless through its O App.
If you’re in Hobart make sure that Mona is on your agenda.
Jan Richards Consulting 