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Exhibitions: 2005

1 April - 8 May

The Mandaeans

Curated by Dr. Edward Crangle, Department of Studies in Religion, University of Sydney.

Exhibition presenting a photographic record (20 large format images) of the baptismal practices of the Mandaean community in Sydney.

The Mandaean religion (also known as "Sabean" religion) is an ancient pre-Islamic and probably pre-Christian minority religion of ancient baptists who hold in respect John the Baptist. They practice repeated baptisms in flowing river water, outdoors under the public view. There are probably fewer than 100,000 Mandaeans in the entire world. Based in Iraq and Iran, the Mandaeans are neither Jewish nor Christian, nor are they related to the Kurds. As a result of persistent persecution since the first or second centuries of the Common Era to the political maltreatment of present times, these people have been compelled to disperse around the world. The Sydney Mandaean Community consists of nearly 2,000 adults and children from both Iran and Iraq.

16 May - 10 July

Syria: People, Politics & the Past

Curated by Bob Snow, and sponsored by the Middle East Politics Centre in the Department of Politics and International Relations (Division of Humanities) at Macquarie University.

Photographic exhibition celebrating the history, architectural heritage, and cultural diversity of contemporary Syria.

25 July - 31 August

The Tuscany Gardens

Curated by Enrica Buccioni on behalf of Regione Toscana.

Photographic exhibition (40 mounted panels) examining some of the main historical gardens in the ten Tuscan provinces: Arezzo, Florence, Grosseto, Leghorn, Lucca, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato, Massa Carrara, and Siena.

5 September - 3 October

Selling The American Dream: Australia's Greek Café

Curators: Effy Alexakis and Leonard Janiszewski
'In Their Own Image: Greek-Australians' National Project,
Australian History Museum, Macquarie University

[Astoria thumbnail]
Click here to see full image

Every time you drink a Coke, go to the cinema, or listen to the latest popular music hit, you can thank Australia's Greek settlers. Greek cafes in Australia were a 'Trojan Horse' for the Americanisation of this nation's eating and social habits from the very start of the twentieth century. They initially introduced American commercial food catering ideas, technology and products and later influenced the development of cinema and popular music. The Greek café helped 'transform' Australian popular culture. The exhibition not only looks at how this was done, but also the personal stories of those involved.

The exhibition's curators will present a public lecture on the Greek Café role in Australian popular culture on Saturday 17 September 2005 - 1.30pm to 3.30pm - at the Macquarie University Art Gallery.
Bookings are essential: 9850 7437; 9850 6886.

Further details:
Leonard Janiszewski or Effy Alexakis:
9850 6886; 04111 93625
greekoz@hmn.mq.edu.au

5 October - 2 November

Local Painter - An Unassuming Man: George Melrose (1905-1976)

Curated by Don Melrose, Jennifer Herbertson and Stephanie Murphy.

Exhibition of paintings by Sydney artist and engraver, George Melrose, straddling the period from the 1920s until his last paintings in the 1970s.

11 November - 9 December

Images of the Sudan: From Africa to Australia

Curated by Bob Snow, in association with the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs.

Photographic Exhibition


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