QVMAG TREASURE HAS GONE AWOL

THIS IS NOT THE WORK THAT IS MISSING BUT IT IS A REALATED WORK ALONG WITH A PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST

People of a certain age seem to remember Bret Whiteley and all the consternation that surrounded his life and work. What he did and stood for challenged the status quo and the ordinary. In so many ways he, and indeed his family, have been at the edge of a great deal of what has made Australian cultural production what it is looking from the sharp end of the vernacular.

For a somewhat conservative cultural institution such as the QVMAG to have had the wit and cultural wherewithal to collect a risky contemporary work – a drawing WAVES V – of an artist such as Whiteley is more than notable. It took a bit more vision than might has been appreciated at the time – Australia in the 1970s.

For the drawing to dissolve unnoticed into some kind of curatorial oblivion is disappointing in one sense and not unexpected in another given the ad hoc manner in which musingplaces in Australia developed and maintained their collections.

Regions well away from metropolitan centres yearn to be bigger, better, brighter in competition with their cousins  in the metropolitan world. Sadly where that's the case its meaningless and especially so when it is spiked with hubris. Oh my goodness, we are punching above our weight!? Dreams of innocence and greatness, whatever, they are in the end  just that. Typically such imaginings depend on disclaiming a reality that can be its own form of hubris.

But what has this to do with a missing drawing in the collection of a regional musingplace with a missing drawing made by one of Australia's most significant artists and apparently since the late 1970s at the time it was acquired?

For what 'purpose' would a musingplace gather 200,000 object together, with an estimated dollar value it $240Million other to maintain a research resource? However, the QVMAG, strategically, does not articulate its 'purpose' – and clearly speculative institutional research plays hardly any part. Rather, it talks about its 'mission' "to grow, preserve, interpret and share the QVMAG collections in an inclusive, creative and sustainable way in perpetuity" – in other words, simply fulfil an institutional cost centre aspiration to 'be there' – and ideally forever. Well, on the evidence, in large part the QVMAG has fulfilled that aspiration albeit seemingly 'without purpose' – quite possibly without purposefulness – and consequently any dividends appear to be coincidental rather than purposeful.

Interestingly, the institution looks very much like it has taken, and relied upon, its own 'expert advice' at management level and it appears as if the 'trustees' – the aldermen – have given it the OK. That is, without actually asking themselves 'why are we conscripting funds for this purpose/aspiration from our constituency?' Let alone proactively including the institution's Community of Ownership & Interest (COI) in the determination of institutional policy making and/or the determination of strategic directions. And then there are the matters of accountability, due diligence and transparency with the COI in mind.

Just being there is a kind of 'theme park' aspiration that has value but museums and art galleries can and do that and offer their COI much more than slaking curiosities. Interestingly the QVMAG is listed as a "theme park" in the city's tourist attractions, arguably selling the institution's value short.

Laudable, as it may be to have a musingplace there does need to be some 'purpose' in having one to provide its management with 'performance guidelines'. In a 21st C context just being there no longer quite enough when it comes to funding and resource allocation.

While it' is said that the "City of Launceston owns the museum" culturally, morally and ethically, law and lore seem to be in conflict at Launceston's Town Hall where the 'trustees' reside and for the most part careless of QVMAG's existence. That is until news of a missing drawing makes the national cum international 'world news'.

Again, what has this got to do with a missing drawing held in the QVMAG's collections? Well it comes down to the acknowledgement of the accountability on the part of the QVMAG's Trustees to the COI and then assessing the institution's 'purposefulness'. When something is held in a collection this should be done with more purpose than say an exhibit 'Bullens Circus and Menagerie' where purposefulness was mostly to do with entertainment and the quenching of curiosities in order to make a profit.

So, when something disappears from view in a musingplace, its purposefulness  – the object's and the institution's – is blighted and compromised. It is a point at which the musingplace's performance and cost benefit might be thoroughly reassessed. It is a point where its delivered dividends, social, cultural and fiscal might be profitably assessed.

In the case, of the QVMAG, 'just being there' delivers something in that the institution gains a budget that affords the employment for something in the order of 50 people with skill sets the community might not otherwise have access to. With an operating budget of  $6plus million', a notional average 'levy' of something in the order $130, the cost per visitation being something in the order of $50plus there are some serious numbers to be crunched, values to be assessed and current relevance to be thought about.

There is a trickle down effect to all  that in that the institution 'adds value' to the community just by 'being there' even if it is only delivering nominal value relative to inputs. The extent to which fiscal concerns do unavoidably comes up, and they are contentious, that is unsurprising. When the community is conscripted to fund the institution via their 'rate and tax demands' funding v's dividends – cultural, social, fiscal – is ever likely to be on the agenda.

So, where does this missing drawing from the QVMAG's collections take us?

1. Firstly, it raises further questions like, are there any more missing objects? 
2. How appropriate is the institution's current governance in a 21st C context – policy determination and strategic development? 
3. Is the institution's management really open to criticism and critique?
4. Is the institution actually delivering dividends commensurate with investments made on the part of the institution's COI?

On the second question, once looked for, there are bound to be all kinds of anomalies as there is a search going on for at least one other set of objects albeit without the fiscal value attached to Whiteley's WAVES V.

Link

• ABC story and video on Bret Whiteley ... CLICK HERE

Ray Norman

Independent Researcher

Launceston

Brett Whiteley's Waves V drawing is still missing from QVMAG 

Johanna Baker-Dowdell......... https://www.examiner.com.au/news/local-news/5617812/waves-v-still-missing-from-qvmag/

The whereabouts of Brett Whiteley's Waves V drawing, which is owned by QVMAG, is still unknown. Brett Whiteley said, “Drawing is the art of being able to leave an accurate record of the experience of what one isn’t, of what one doesn't know”...................... The last part of that quote is apt for Launceston art lovers, as there is a piece of Whiteley’s art we may never know, even though it is part of the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Galley’s collection...................... Whiteley’s Waves V drawing was bought by the museum in 1976 and recorded as part of its collection, but has not been seen since. ..................... It has never been displayed in Launceston. ..................... I’m disappointed it wasn’t on show. Carolyn Riley..................... Launceston Art Society president Carolyn Riley said she was unaware the museum had a Whiteley work, but said the mystery around its disappearance was “a bit exciting”...................... “I’m disappointed it wasn’t on show,” she said. ..................... “It would be nice if we could have some sort of recognition of his work.” ..................... There is no photographic or digital image of the drawing, which Whiteley produced in the mid 1970s. ..................... Waves V was bought for $800 and its value is unknown, however similar works have sold between $20,000 and $30,000. ..................... Gallery storage containers have been searched and employees from the time when the Whiteley work was acquired have been contacted. ..................... City of Launceston owns the museum.

A TURN UP FOR THE BOOKS: Darren's bailed from Launceston's Council

Well, well, well how the worm turns. In 2014, and at about this time of year, the then Mr Alexander was aspiring to be Launceston's mayor [Link] but he pulled up short. 

So, now its 2018 and Ald/Mr Alexander has bailed, thrown in the towel and is as they say "is moving on"! As is usual at times like this there is always a colleague or two hanging around to say what a good chap you've been and to "wish you well in your next venture" etc. etc . etc. – see below.

Looking ahead Launcestonians will have at least one seat around the table filled with a new alderman. And, its looking like its going to be a bit of a tussle for others as we listen to the punters as we go around the traps door knocking.

Last week's goings on in Canberra will not be going unnoticed around town and what looked like a reasonable strategy last week, well its not looking so clever this week.

Party politics has a rather nasty smell about it in local government! And, it's really on the nose now.

With news that Launceston's population is shrinking, while Tasmania's is growing significantly, Darren's move may well be an exemplar of what's actually going on and why. However, one shouldn't be frightening the horses too much.

When Darren joined Council: 

• The city's debt was nominal but it has now blown out to $20million or thereabouts; 
• The University of Tasmania (UTAS) was also ticking along albeit quietly while currently it's in upheaval with large slabs of its program under threat; 
• The City Council had not yet promised to hand over large slabs of land to UTAS that may or may not be built on;
• You could still buy Lonnie's Boags beer at York Park; and
• The silos were still empty.

So, the world moves on and we need to keep on bracing ourselves for change.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO SOURCE

FROM THE EXAMINER ... Darren Alexander has quit as alderman of City of Launceston Council. ............ Mr Alexander made the announcement during the council’s August meeting on Monday. ............ “Today will be my last day as an alderman of this great city,” Ald Alexander told his colleagues at the meeting. ............ “I have truly enjoyed my time on the City of Launceston Council and, more importantly, I’ve enjoyed working with all aldermen throughout this term.” ............ Fellow alderman Danny Gibson paid tribute to his colleague on social media. ............ “Alderman Darren Alexander has today resigned from our City of Launceston. I wish him well,” Ald Gibson wrote on Facebook. ............ Ald Alexander was elected at the 2014 local government elections and cited business and family reasons behind the decision. ............ Alderman Darren Alexander (centre) with his local government colleagues after being elected to the City of Launceston Council in 2014. Alderman Darren Alexander (centre) with his local government colleagues after being elected to the City of Launceston Council in 2014. ............ City of Launceston council mayor Albert van Zetten thanked Alderman Alexander for his time on the council. ............ “Darren has been a larger-than-life addition to the council and it has been fantastic to have an alderman who is such an enthusiast for technology and the business sector represented in Launceston,” Ald van Zetten said. ............ As the resignation comes within six months of a local government election, there will not be a recount for Ald Alexander’s position on the council. ............The Launceston council elections will be held in October.

OPINION: IT'S TIME

OPINION: If you go down to Town Hall today you'll feel the tension beginning to build. Time is running out for the Mayor and the ground is shifting under his feet. The numbers are growing for those who want to knock his hat off. Also, Ald. Finlay looks less and less likely to get enough puff to knock it off.

Albert is in the line-up again apparently because there's a branch of a political party that wants to 'rain on Janie's parade' and curiously, they seem to see him as some kind of Messiah. 

However, recent events in Canberra have begun to shoot holes in that strategy. Here it might be worth considering 2 Corinthians 10:12  “Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.”

Politicising local government in a 'party context' is ever likely to backfire given the way the ground shifts. Not putting too fine a point on it, fingers can, and do, get burnt.  Long ago, Socrates in his wisdom recommended that one needed “to find yourself and then think for yourself” and in local government, if one has the wherewithal, that advice stands up well in a representational role.

Currently within the candidates lining up for the 'Top Jobs' there are three of the five so far who do not have  'party allegiances' or aspirations beyond community representation. That's very refreshing given that they look like they can also divine the difference between up and down, in and out.

In the 'deputy's camp' as yet its still unclear but those wishing to 'sideline Janie' have got one contender who has declared himself. However, others have joined the dance and are positioning themselves and beginning to 'bay for blood' given the overall background performances and the incumbency's culture of 'seat warming'. However, some may simply be jostling for place at the trough, – so beware and aware.

In the representative's camp you would like to think that that there will be alternatives to the status quo given that 'the quo' have well and truly lost or forfeited their status.

Dr Tandra Vale

Cultural Commentator

NOTHING TO SEE? WELL WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

The Albert Hall lease under consideration is for a continuation of the current group which is TLA Catering. [The] understanding is that the lease was due for renewal in April.

However, just like the Blue Cafe, Rowing Club, Bowling Club etc, this did not happen. Strange coincidence that all these properties are in some way linked to the proposed stupidity of the UTAS relocation – although one could reasonably argue "What isn't linked to it?"– with this compromised Council.

Rumours around City Hall suggest that negotiations have been going on for quite some time between Council and TLA and if all things were fair, and integrity and justice were part of the modus operandi of the LCC, then TLA should simply expect not only to renew the lease but also that it should be a lengthy one in order to allow them to conduct business with certainty as bookings for the Hall logically need to be in place years ahead of the actual events.

The alternative scenario, if this Council deals with TLA as they do to all but the favoured few around town – and one must remain highly suspicious because of the time delay and the secrecy involved with a "closed door decision"  – then TLA will either be shafted altogether or they will only be given a short lease which will fit in with the much discussed plans by UTAS to take over Albert Hall in its voracious grab of property around town, thanks to the "generosity" of Council with the ratepayers land.

BLOODY GRUMPY
Launceston

POSITIONS VACANT AT TOWN HALL

ALARM BELLS RINING AROUND THE TABLE

click on the image to enlarge

THE MESSAGE SEEMS TO BE: BE ALERT AND BE PREPARED TO BE ALARMED

Increasingly as the local government elections bear down upon Tasmanians, Launcestonians in particular,  there is much to think about and quite a bit to worry about. Reports coming in from around the traps is clearly suggesting the incumbent alderpeople need not to be taking their continued tenure for granted.

Three LCCnews 'operatives' have been out and about today and they've reported in that the "the punters out there are right pissed off with the Council" – in a nutshell.

The reasons why are hard to get a handle on as "they are all over the place". However, the incumbents and/or their supporters seem to be invisible 'out on the streets' but they may be resting on their laurels – such as they are.

Mostly however home owners are concerned about their rising rates demands and well might they be. Launceston's rates are at least $300 per annum above rates elsewhere. A Western Australian homeowner who recently moved to Launceston said "I just cannot believe just how high Lonnies rates actually are". At a recent Council meeting the Mayor responded to a question about the level of city's rates saying something like 'well Launceston has things like the museum, stadium and the aquatic centre' that people outside the city use and pay nothing towards'. Hello!

Well in the last 7 years Launceston's rates have increased by 24% an average of 3.5% a year. Out there in voter land "the punters are hurting and some really feeling the pinch". The big question hanging in the air is all about "what might have been the driver for all this". On top of all this the city's debt – rather the ratepayers' – has grown extraordinarily to something in the order of $20million.

A number of the city's older residents looking ahead have been suggesting it is to do with the city "maxing out on the city's presumed borrowing capacity", Many are saying that the city's General Manager in cahoots the with the State's Treasurer selling the alderpeople the proposition that "Launceston must develop at all costs and whatever it is". So, these ratepayers are in a pickle with the prospect of their rate demand increasing exponentially and with no sight of any relief at all. 

Interestingly, it has been reported that Launceston's population is shrinking while the state overall is growing, and significantly, after a longish period of stagnation. And yes, Hobart's population is growing along with its burgeoning student numbers. Concerningly, Australia's population is growing so fast that it's growth rates get a mention in all kinds of planners' journals etc. So, why is this so? Are, as has been suggested, young people moving away because Launceston has less and less to offer? Or, are we looking at serial failures going on Launceston's Town Hall?

At Council's next meeting the city's alderpeople will slink off yet again behind closed doors to consider the lease of Albert Hall, at the very least to not let anyone know who said what or how they voted. It does look a lot like they regard 'accountability' as being discretionary. As for 'transparency' that too is a standard it appears these elected representatives are quite willing to walk past.

But as they say "nothing to see here"!!