Behind every great museum and gallery is an enthusiastic group of supporters. At the Museum of Art and Culture Lake Macquarie, yapang (MAC yapang), this is the MAC Society, which supports the development of the museum’s permanent collection through its fundraising efforts.
Recently, these efforts led to the purchase of a new item for MAC yapang. This time, it’s not an artwork, but rather an exceptional art catalogue documenting the work of Brett Whiteley. The exciting addition and purchase of Brett Whiteley: Catalogue Raisonne: 1955-1992 has now launched the museum’s new Reference Library, a space dedicated to providing deeper insight into current art exhibitions, artists, and broader periods of art history to interested visitors.
It took art historian Kathie Sutherland seven years to compile Brett Whiteley: Catalogue Raisonne: 1955-1992, which provides a definitive guide to the famous Australian artist’s works. “Brett Whiteley is such an important Australian artist. We wanted to have that reference there for people to perhaps see some of his lesser-known works and to be able to follow that artistic journey and see just how prolific he was,” says Dr Martina Mrongovius, Lake Arts Producer.
Set within the lounge area, the new Reference Library invites people to linger a little longer in the art museum and read more about art within a comfortable setting, looking out over the surrounding parklands.
In future, more catalogues and art books will be added to coincide with exhibitions at MAC yapang. “We'll curate the books held in the reference library so that visitors can dig deeper into current exhibitions,” says Mrongovius.
She anticipates that the library will become a valuable resource for year twelve students in the region who are working towards the annual First Class exhibition. “Part of that curriculum is a research project. And so, we really hope that those students will come and use the reference library to do some of their research.”
