MUSINGPLACE GLEANINGS

 

Dear Mr. Fitzgerald, QVMAG

You might recall me writing to you Feb 6 seeking collection data relevant to bamboo and Kellie Wells has responded. Interestingly, as I responded to Kellie the “spread sheet is very enlightening albeit for what it doesn’t say but actually says because it doesn’t if that’s not too convoluted” and there appears to be a pattern emerging.  A search of thePOWERHOUSE COLLECTION is enlightening in that it reveals with hints of cultural context “564 OBJECTS FOUND”[LINK].

 

Similarly, the QVMG SPREAD SHEET is enlightening in that what appears to be the case is that in these two cases and as likely as not in many others, is that what finds its way into the collections is the miscellaneous personal detritus (exotica!?) settler cum colonial Western society – albeit with exceptions. Thus, it seems to be the case that bamboo is a useful lens through which to look at where we have been, where we are, and where we might be heading as a ‘culture/s’ that make and shape places.

 

See this yesterday –https://taswegianbamboo.blogspot.com/2025/02/bamboo-vs-plasticsb-in-china.html

 

This is starting to look like a thesis for a publication of some kind – exhibition, book, documentary, whatever. I/we would be interested to know if QVMAG could/would be interested to engage when/if this eventuates.

 

Regards,

 

Ray Norman

For and on behalf of Institute 43

& Taswegian Bamboo”

 

For further context see

• https://taswegianbamboo.blogspot.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572795051398

Ray Norman

From: Ray Norman <raynorman7250@gmail.com> 

Sent: Thursday, 6 February 2025 12:22 PM

To: QVMAG Enquiries <enquiries@qvmag.tas.gov.au>
Cc: Shane Fitzgerald <shane.fitzgerald@launceston.tas.gov.au>; Contact Us <contactus@launceston.tas.gov.au>
Subject: BAMBOO

……………………………………

“To whom it may concern,

 

Currently we are engaged in research for a project, rather a series of projects, that relate to bamboo in the Tasmanian cultural landscape. Given that lutruwitaTasmania does not have any endemic examples of bamboo in its landscape, any bamboo found here has arrived on the island from elsewhere – colonial settlement, garden development whatever. Therefore, our literature searches relevant to bamboo take us everywhere except lutruwitaTasmania.

 

Consequently, key questions in our current research are:

·       Which species of bamboo currently exist on the island and via what source; and

·       What was the vector for the particular species now found in lutruwitaTasmania being on the island; and

·       How is bamboo understood in lutruwitaTasmania by whom and what context; and

·       Is there any ‘official data’ held anywhere and collected in lutruwitaTasmania that assists in contextualising bamboo in the island’s cultural landscapes, placemaking and civic landscaping?

 

Regarding the QVMAG collections, it occurs to us that given the extent of the collections, and given:

·       The timeframe within which they have been assembled; and 

·       The cultural contexts within which they have been assembled; and

·       The collections’ socio-political political cargo; 

they will almost unavoidably throw some light on the significance or insignificance of bamboo in the lutruwitaTasmania’s placemaking and the cultural landscapes to be found on the island – and in particular the kanamaluka TAMAR/ESK region.

 

Any information that your institution can provide will be of considerable assistance and should it be possible for there to be an ‘indicative’ response by Friday FEB 14 that would be very much appreciated.

 

Regards,

Ray Norman

For and on behalf of Institute 43

& Taswegian Bamboo”

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