Invercargill and the southern area was house to Monica Ford who was the primary lady registered architect within the Southland and Otago branches of the New Zealand Institute of Architects in 1945.
From 1946, with architect husband Cecil Barham, Monica Barham practiced as an proprietor and associate of a profitable architectural enterprise (Barham and Barham Architects) in New Zealand. From the late Nineteen Sixties, she additionally taught artwork at Southland Boys and James Hargest excessive colleges.
As an avid artist, Monica supported native artwork, producing sculptures and work. She turned chair of the previous Anderson Park Artwork Gallery APAG within the early Seventies. Six watercolour work by Monica are held within the Invercargill Public Artwork Gallery IPAG assortment.
In 2023, considered one of her buildings, a 1956 Medical Centre at 69 Don St, Invercargill, acquired a New Zealand Institute of Architects Enduring Structure Award. That is the earliest identified constructing by a feminine architect in New Zealand to obtain an NZIA constructing award honour previous to 1967.
New Zealand architects and architecture-enthusiasts are inspired to return alongside to the exhibition and seminar to realize understanding of considered one of Invercargill’s early leaders in architectural design. The exhibition may even enchantment to these taken with native mid-century historical past.
Occasion particulars
- Exhibition dates: 11 Could–16 June 2024*
- Opening and discuss: 18 Could 2024 at 11 am with Megan Rue
In regards to the exhibition
The exhibition will showcase Monica Barham’s multifaceted profession with tasks and artwork items from her artwork and structure follow. The reveals may even enterprise into a few of the influential works, tradition, and historical past of the time, by means of work, drawings and related works, constructing fashions, family tree and metropolis heritage, to offer a wealthy environmental context.
As well as, a documentary movie The Final Tour: Internal Metropolis Heritage Excursions with Mick Hesselin (2019), will likely be screening over the period of the exhibition.
*The occasion will coincide with the 2024 Southern NZIA Structure Awards to be held in Invercargill on Fri 17 Could 2024.