3 minute read
Social Fabric
By Madeleine Murray
THE TWEED Regional Museum is throwing open its wardrobe doors to present ‘Social Fabric’, a fascinating history of the area.
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The curators have delved into the museum’s textile collection and unearthed all sorts of treasures from the luxurious to the humble. Drag queen gowns, mermaid costumes, military uniforms, lacy corsets and other textiles chronicle the social history of fashion and dressmaking in the Tweed, and each piece has an interesting story behind it.
These textiles weave together our social fabric, telling stories of who we are, and how they have shaped our identity.
“We are thrilled to bring this exhibition to life and share with our visitors the rich history of the Tweed as shown through these garments,” museum director Molly Green told The Weekly.
“We believe our textile collection is a reflection of who we are and where we come from, and this exhibition will showcase that in a unique and engaging way.”
The exhibition features The Dressing Room, an interactive space that allows visitors to explore and wear a collection of real vintage fashion from the 1940s to the 1990s.
There will also be a series of investigative public programs that explore contemporary industry and culture regarding production, sustainability and attitudes towards fashion.
Social Fabric’s red carpet features a changing selection of Tweed-based textile designers, seamstresses and businesses such as Hastings Handmade, Elke, and Nine Lives Bazaar. Accessories and homewares from these suppliers are in the new museum shop.
Social Fabric is now open and runs until 15 July.
For more information visit museum.tweed. nsw.gov.au
HOW ABOUT those OSCARS!? Apart from the amazing fashion stylings and incredibly-crafted musical performances, brilliant films shone through, with many worthy nominees, and we’re proud to have featured them at The Regent –they’re all winners to us!
We’re particularly pleased that the outlandishly quirky sci-fi film Everything Everywhere All At Once scooped seven awards, and it feels like we’re living in the right dimension!
Admittedly, I teared up during Ke Huy Quan’s direct-to-camera acceptance speech, pointing straight at the viewer, Uncle Sam style, urging everyone watching to “Never give up on your dreams!”
We all loved his screen debut in Indiana Jones as the kid taxi driver. He was amazing as a child actor, and has waited a long time for recognition of his talents.
Starting life as a refugee, he acknowledged the sacrifices his mother had made to get him to the USA – the land where the wildest dreams can come true, with his real-life story mimicking Hollywood happy endings. Michelle Yeoh’s dedication to all mothers, “For they are the true superheroes!” was another heartfelt moment, echoing the sentiments of her charmingly emotional co-star.
I wholeheartedly agree, having a supreme Super Hero of a Mum myself, and a keen understanding of the heroic efforts required to juggle three kids and three businesses in my own experience nowadays.
What keeps me going in those moments of sheer exhaustion, when I catch myself wanting to give up on the dream, is the smiling faces I see coming out of exciting live gigs, such as the 23rd’s collaboration between musical maestro Lior’s and sweet siren, Domini, and of course, William Crighton and Liz Stringer on the 31st as another outstanding double bill!
Also inspiring to me is seeing the connections made through the impromptu chats that happen after a film comes out... hearing how it’s touched someone, and their insights gleaned through the big screen.
Speaking of cinematic conversations, I am pleased to announce that Film Chat will be back on April Fool’s Day – no joke!
I have chosen The Whale, for one last chance to see Brendan Fraser in his Oscar-winning role.
One-time screening for Evicted!
EVERY PERSON deserves the dignity and the human right of a safe and secure abode at every stage of their lives.
In the Northern Rivers, the existing crisis has been amplified following last year’s tragic floods.
A year later, many people still wait for emergency accommodation to be provided.
The filmmakers of Evicted! A Modern Romance, have tapped into the well-known rite of passage of young people in a share house.
Australian cinema does this scene well, with comedy and pathos, and the laconicism we are known for.
In this film, four housemates, on the verge of eviction, trawl Sydney’s dire rental market in search of a new place to call home. As the group embarks on a seemingly futile hunt for an affordable house, their mishaps, coincidences and hook-ups gone awry are punctuated by highly questionable toilets, attic kitchens, and an alleged haunting.
Producer Sophie Saville and writer/director Rowan Devereux have cast a critical, irreverent eye over the job and housing market in a funny and biting tale about everyday challenges at one of the most important times in our lives.
Don’t miss this special one-off screening of a highly entertaining movie about the struggle for the basics of life, and the surprises that can happen along the way.
Join Devereaux, Saville and lead actor Amanda Maple-Brown at 5pm this Sunday, March 19, for a special one-off screening plus Q&A panel to discuss the inspiration and making of the film, and the broader issues of the housing crisis around the country and here in our region.
