The textile collection is now in its new home.
Originally, the collection, which is made up of costumes, fashion and textiles from around the world, was stored upstairs from the studio. The room in which it was kept was once the secretary’s room, just outside the general manager’s office, as was the norm back in the day. The problem with that space though is that it has been damp at some point in the recent history and as it has dried out so the plaster has peeled, paint has come off and dust has settled. In addition to that, the windows are single-glazed and when the barber, the strong foggy wind that sweeps down the Grey River valley and out to sea, is running it is cold. In the summer it is hot; not ideal for storing textiles.
The room downstairs is away from the windows and enclosed. The temperature is much more even and with a dehumidifier running the humidity is much better able to be controlled. There are good shelves for the pieces, and space for hanging rails, and for a table. It is a Much Better Situation. The photograph shows the current state of the room but it will get tidier and more usable as we progress.
By coincidence a new person has just volunteered to help with conservation and cataloguing of the collection. It could not have come at a better time. With more pieces being added, and with the space allowing us to open up to the public and to do the work necessary to keep this collection vibrant and accessible, it is definitely the right time to be doing this work.