Daily News
Marriage: Love and Law exhibition
From: Benjamin Harmer
Valid from: Thursday 30 January 2020 to Friday 28 February 2020
Marriage: Love and Law explores the laws, beliefs and social attitudes that have shaped and reshaped marriage in Australia over three centuries.
Stories of marriage are told through case studies of people, places and events—including the 1981 wedding of Prince Charles and Diana Spencer. Letters, Acts of Parliament, convict records, court documents, photographs, films, plans and reports sourced from the State Archives Collection will be on display, many for the first time.
For Marriage: Love and Law, NSW State Archives has commissioned works by four of Australia’s most exciting visual artists. Danie Mellor, Blak Douglas, Raquel Ormella and Freya Jobbins, have each responded to stories and records about marriage sourced from the State Archives Collection. Specially commissioned pieces by writers Tara Moss, Kiera Lindsey and Judith MacCallum, and baritone Simon Lobelson—who performs of Governor Lachlan Macquarie’s 1810 proclamation encouraging ‘lawful marriage’—contribute to the colour and variety of perspectives that make up the marriage history narrative.
Also featured are creative and documentary works by 16 current and 12 past film and photographic artists. Many of these works are presented through large-scale ‘marriage album’ encompassing documentary photographs of marriage ceremonies and celebrations over 140 years. A public program of talks, workshops and events plus an exhibition catalogue, will accompany the exhibition.
The exhibition will run from 14 February - 24 April, Wednesday - Friday, 10am - 4pm. In addition, the exhibition will be open on Saturday, 7 March and Saturday 4 April between 11am – 4pm.
The exhibition will take place at the Whitlam Institute in the Female Orphan School building (Parramatta South campus).
The exhibition is free, however registrations are essential. Please visit https://www.whitlam.org/events/2020/2/14/marriage-love-and-law to reserve your spot.