October 2017

Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute Newsletter

with BMI Curator Amy Tsilemanis

What an amazing Ballarat International Foto Biennale it has been! It was my absolute pleasure to curate ‘Imprints: Storytelling the City’ (pictured above with BMI Librarian Rosemary McInerney) as part of the BIFB Fringe program, bringing close to 1000 people into the BMI Library and Heritage Reading Room to explore it. Huge thanks go to guest artists Barry Gilson and Ellen Sorensen, and Henry Sutton’s great granddaughter and tireless researcher Lorayne Branch (pictured right with volunteer Vanessa Brady). I hope you had a chance to speak with them throughout the month. Big thanks also to the Ballarat Arts Foundation and Federation University for their support of the exhibition. Collaboration across the city is what makes multi-layered projects like this possible and builds the foundations for ongoing work together.

A Lasting Impression

1. Twilight TalksThe talks have re-commenced during the last two weeks with enjoyable presentations by our Mayor Cr Sam McIntosh and a talk about cinema by Peter Wolfenden of Melbourne. The stimulating program for the following seven weeks is contained in this Newsletter. We have a number of talks by high profile speakers on offer so encourage your friends to come along. People gather from 5pm for drinks and nibbles - it is a great way to end the working week. The cost is $6 for members and $10 for visitors.

2. Pleasant Sunday AfternoonCongratulations to the ‘Friends of the BMI ‘Committee for the work they put into the major fundraising effort of the Pleasant Sunday Afternoon on 24 September. The live music by Jing Zhang and Nathan Chua, two students from Ballarat Grammar and organized by Bron and Maria Sozanski, was beautiful and relaxing and the afternoon tea was delicious. Sixty people attended and a total of more than $1400 was raised.

3. New Member Offer

As a bonus, any person taking out a BMI membership for the remainder of this year will receive a $10 Max Harris gift voucher.

Phil Roberts

News from the President

Recommended Reads

Bear Town Fredrik Backman

People say Beartown is finished. A tiny community nestled deep in the forest, it is slowly losing ground to the ever encroaching trees. But down by the lake stands an old ice rink, built generations ago by the working men who founded this town. In that ice rink is the reason people in Beartown believe tomorrow will be better than today.

A Legacy of Spies John Le Carre

The undisputed master returns with a riveting new book - his first Smiley novel in more than 25 years, interweaving past and present so that each may tell its own story.

The Girl From MunichTania Blanchard

Growing up in Hitler’s Germany, Charlotte von Klein has big dreams for the future. But in 1943, the tide of the war is turning against Germany, and Lotte’s life of privilege and comfort beings to collapsing around her.

MYSTERYChase | Linwood Barclay

Down a Dark Road | Linda CastilloLie To Me | J.T.Ellison

Marathon | Brian FreemanThe Seagull | Ann Cleeves

I Know A Secret | Tess GerritsenThe Stolen Girls | Patricia GibneyY is for Yesterday | Sue Grafton

Before Evil | Alex KavaThe Climate Change Murders |

David Kilner Good Friday | Lynda La Plante

The Last Place you Look | Kristen Lepionka

Insidious Intent | Val McDermidDeath at the Clos Dulac | Adrian Magson

Blacklight Blue | Peter MayThe Store | James PattersonSecrets in Death | J.D.Robb

Watch Over Me | Daniela SacerdotiThe Accordinist | Fred Vargas

NOVELThe List | Michael Brissenden

Lost for Words | Stephanie ButlandKeep You Safe | Melissa Hill

The Vanishing Futurist | Charlotte Hobson

To Become a Whale | Ben HobsonSay My Name | Allegra HustonThe Music Shop | Rachael Joyce

A Legacy of Spies | John LeCarreThe Girl Who Came Back | Susan Lewis

Billy Sing | Ouyang The YuDeeper Than the Sea | Nelika McDonald

The Last Secret of the Deverills | Santa Montefiore

AUSTRALIANThe Girl From Munich | Tania Blanchard

Wimmera | Mark BrandiSecrets of the Springs | Kerry McGinnisAnd Fire Came Down | Amma Viskic

Diamond Sky | Annie Seaton

SCANDANAVIANBear Town | Fredrik BackmanBuried Lies | Kristina Ohlsson

Wolves in the Dark | Gunnar Staalesen

NON FICTIONSam’s Best Shot | Dr James Best

A Fuhrer for a Father | Jim DavidsonTour De Oz | Bret Harris

China Baby Love | Jane HuteheonThe Mistress of Cliveden |

Natalie LivingstonThe Shipwreck Hunter | David L. Mearns

In Order to Live | Yeonmi ParkThe Good Girl Stripped Bare |

Tracy SpicerShackled | Chris Turney

New Releasesfor October

Judy Nunn

Judy is an Australian actress and author. Judy appeared in The Box, Prisoner, Sons & Daughters and Home and Away. She is now one of Australia’s leading popular novelists – her best sellers are Kal, Beneath the Southern Cross, Territory and Pacific.

A Fuhrer for a FatherJim Davidson

In this singular memoir, historian and biographer Jim Davidson writes about his fraught relationship with his authoritarian and controlling father, whose South African background and time in Papua New Guinea and Fiji promoted his own post-war mini empire of dominance. A manipulative and emotionally ferocious man he rejects his son and creates a second family, shutting Jim out and eventually disinheriting him, but never really leaving him alone.

Authorof the month

Bookof the month

Marshland (Spain)

Thursday October 12, 7:30pm in the Minerva Space. Set in 1980 between the death of Franco and the landslide election

of the Spanish Socialist Worker’s Party, two ideologically competitive cops trudge through the rain to solve a string of major crimes

involving murder and drug running. - Vendetta Films.

Email Meg at m.tasker@federation.edu.au or telephone Carolyn on 5327 9585 for membership details.

Ballarat Film Society’s October screening:

John WattMargaret O’Rorke

Jamie Govan

Graham StoreyAlan Cranswick

Jane GreigHilary PopeLola AllenJon Hynes

New MembersWelcome on board

Above: Ellen Sørensen and guest at Ellen’s artist talk

Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute117 Sturt St Ballarat, Vic 3350www.ballaratmi.org.auP: (03) 5331 3042e: library@ballaratmi.org.au

Library hours:Mon - Fri: 10am - 4pmSaturday: 9:30am - 12pm

For venue hire enquiriese: bookings@ballaratmi.org.auP: 0419 677 713

Curator’s Cornerwith BMI Curator Amy Tsilemanis

My practice-led curatorial work all feeds into my PhD research and I’m looking forward to speaking at an upcoming Twilight Talk about the role the arts can play in bringing local history to life. Also look out for the audio recordings that I will get up online from our two library-side talks with Ellen Sorensen (pictured right) and Barry Gilson, exploring their paths to becoming artists and how they created works for Imprints, and with Lorayne Branch, on her connection to Henry Sutton and his amazing achievements.

Up next in sharing the beautiful BMI we are looking forward to being part of Open House Ballarat, and planning for the return of White Night to Ballarat next year! www.openhousemelbourne.org/ballarat

Storytelling the City opening: (Back row from left) Ellen Sorensen, Ron Sutton, Amy Tsilemanis. Sharon Rose, Lorayne Branch (Front from left) Erin Mccuskey, Barry Gilson

A review of our Imprints: Storytelling the City opening event on September 1 from FedUni PhD student Dave McGinniss:

It was once again, a different kind of night at the Ballaarat Mechanics Institute. Standing out the front on a cold spring evening with a crowd of friends and strangers (picutred above), we weren’t sure what we were waiting for, but we knew it was something. Then another crowd came trailing down the Sturt St hill. They joined us, all listening to the words of artist Barry Gilson as he explained the significance of this city and place to him. He strode into the Institute, and what could we do but follow? Sounds that I have never heard in the Institute’s lending library drew us forward, the beautiful and intense singing and music of Barry’s Wadawurrung people. Eventually the whole group was gathered in the library – who knows how many but standing room only for sure. We crowded around and listened as Barry continued, now talking about his art, and how it reacts and interacts with the Max Harris collection of historical urban photographs displayed inside. But here another door opens – and a rare chance to experience the Heritage Library. We stood together again, lit only by fairy lights. A single piano serenades us from the balcony, Ellen Sorenson’s haunting concerto prompting us to stop, and listen, and just be still. I don’t know how long it went for but it was long enough for me to stop worrying about what’s coming next, and appreciate the moment. Once again, a night that will live long in the ever-building memories of this city.