Max Quanchi – Plenary
Wednesday 27th March: 10.00 – 10.30
Bio
Honorary Research Senior Fellow School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences - The University of Queensland. Research interests: Pacific History, History of Photography, Australia-Pacific Relations.
Abstract:
Ten best photographs; a criteria for judging the best photographs of the first 100 years of photography in the Pacific Islands
How do we judge the vast collections of photographs from the first 100 years of photography in the Pacific (1840-1940) now held in public and oprivate archives, institutions and repositories. Why have some images become iconic and often reproduced, why are some photographers canonised, and how do we value a single image against a massive archival collection, published images or series of albums? This paper is inspired by a series in the London Times in late 2018 on the ten best cartoons, ten best paintings, ten best advertisements, ten best ... but not photographs.
Leone Samu & Sonya Withers – Plenary
Wednesday 27th March: 16.00 – 16.30
Bio:
Leone Samu (Ngati Hamoa, Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa) has been a Collection Technician in the PCAP project from inception (May 2016). Prior to this role she has worked in a variety of roles in documentary heritage at Auckland War Memorial Museum. She is an artist and jewellery maker.
Sonya Withers is afakasi Samoan, born in Taumarunui, Niu Sila with whakapapa back to Falelatai, Samoa. Sonya worked as a collection technician on the Pacific Collection Access Project from Feburary 2018 – Janurary 2019. Prior to this role, Sonya was one of the 2018 Creative New Zealand Tautai Internship recipients where she worked alongside Te Papa Museum’s New Zealand and Pacific History team on a co-collecting project. Sonya comes from a textile design background with a Masters in Design where she undertook research into Siapo making and its place in Fa’a Samoa and the Samoan diaspora in Niu Sila. Sonya is currently the Pacific Design Lecturer at Massey University’s School of Design.
Abstract:
Moana Pacific Perspectives: Re-connecting Moana Pacific communities with their collections
‘Cultural Knowledge Holders’ from Auckland’s Pacific communities are working with Auckland Museum to enrich the Museum's collection database. 5500+ objects from 13 island nations are being catalogued, incorporating indigenous Pacific languages. This partnership with Pacific communities is providing valuable insight into how to work closely with and honour source communities.