Southland Museum & Art Gallery
Welcome to my blog on the Southland Museum and Arts Gallery. The site is permanently closed following an earthquake assessment in 2018, deeming it to be structurally unsafe and is most likely to be demolished for these safety reasons and possible reopened in an entirely new location to meet regulation standards.
So, why am I doing a blog about this? Well, I am hoping to showcase all the details regarding work of art that was accessible within the museum and art gallery before it was closed due to forces of nature.
This will be an interactive blog that will share with you the artwork that featured, special exhibitions that took place and lay out some of the history of the site that famously stood out from the landscape with its pyramid roof.
My Blog and Passion for Art History
My blog is not a direct link with the actual museum, as it is shut there in no business to be associated with. This is purely done out of the passion and respect I have for the art and artifacts that were housed inside of the establishment that brought may years of joy and wonder into my life seeing as I literally have nothing else to do, thusly making this blog which is my nineth one so far, having already discussed my enthusiasm for ants, cotton candy and the all things shaped like a circle to name a few.
History of the Southland Museum
Located on Gala Street, Invercargill, the Southland Museum was originally constructed in 1942, the infamous pyramid roof being added in 1990.Unbeknowst at the time the whole entire site resided on a fault line that would be susceptible to earthquakes.
The site provided the online observatory in Southland, which was run by members belonging to the Southland Astronomical Society, which was a regular feature for local school groups.
The site also had built a Tuatarium facility in the 70s. This held up to 50 Tuatara by the 90s and became a hotspot for children with a fascination to reptiles.
The gallery touched on many everyday aspects of life pre-contact of the Southland area, looking at the indigenous ways of living and the art that was created at the time. The gallery also featured a 130 million year old terrified forest reconstruction that originally laid out on the Curio Bay.
The art that existed came in as shows as personal collections. These would relate to local areas to further highlight the history of the pre and post settlements of New Zealand.
Fate of the Museum
It was Monday the 9th of April in 2018, the council of Invercargill announce the site was to be closed indefinitely because of risk to the public and it being on the fault line. The building was less than 34% structurally safe should an earthquake it. The same measures were taken with the Invercargill Public Arts Gallery based in Anderson House which closed in 2014.
How, I’m fully aware that what I have written thus far may not make any sense but should you be looking to venture out to the Southland Museum and Arts Gallery, these are the reasons as to why you will be met with a closed sign on the door when you arrive.
Click the posts to read more about Southland Museum and Arts Gallery and find out about the art inside and how the future looks bright for the new Southland Museum and Arts Gallery that is being planned as we speak.