With Jarrod Haberfield - Tuesday 8 November 7:30pm

The notion of the Gesamtkunstwerk – the total work of art – was devised in the mid-1800s by composer Richard Wagner but quickly became synonymous with an approach to interior design in which built-in and decorative elements of a room combine to create an autonomous whole. In the many years since, our adherence to this ‘ideal’ of autonomy has, with fashion, waxed and waned in popularity. In the parallel world of museology, we saw in the early twentieth century the birth of the ‘white cube’ gallery idiom that remains prevalent to this day – an idiom that presents each artwork not as part of a cohesive whole but instead as a pristine, standalone entity that we are taught is best enjoyed in the total absence of distraction.

This talk will see architect and scholar Jarrod Haberfield sharing his ruminations on how we engage with art in the highly personalised and visually distracting world of the house-museum, compared with the rarefied, distraction-free world of the institutional art museum. Where does the art look best? And which offers an optimal mode of engagement? Jarrod’s thoughts, drawn from his doctoral research and extensive travels, may surprise you.

Presented by Professor Anne Marsh - Tuesday 23 August 7:15pm

Professor Anne Marsh is a contemporary art historian and Professorial Research fellow at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA). Anne was Professor of Art History and Theory at Monash University. She has written extensively on contemporary art and her latest book, published in 2021, Doing Feminism: Women’s Art and Feminist Criticism in Australia, is the most comprehensive publication on women and art in Australia. Anne's illustrated lecture at JAHM will explore Women's Art and Feminism. Refreshments will be served after the lecture.

Presented by Jeremy McLeod - Tuesday 31 May 7:15pm

Jeremy McLeod is the co-founder of award winning Breathe Architecture, one of Australia's leading practices in sustainable and socially responsible design. He is also the instigator and co-founder of mutli award winning Nightingale Housing which is revolutionizing the property development process in delivering cost effective sustainable living.

Jeremy will explore the role of the architect at a time when we are beginning to understand the truth of colonisation and also examine the role of the architect in the 21st century in a time of climate crisis and global inequality.

The talk will be followed by refreshments and drinks in the apartment.

Presented by Penelope Davis and Stephen Haley

Thursday 7 April 7:15pm

Stephen Haley and Penelope Davis are artists who are partners in life. Their works have been paired as part of JAHM’s ART & GENDER exhibition. Both are multi-disciplinary artists with separate and distinctive art practices. Stephen and Penelope will discuss their respective art practices, what has influenced what they do, how they influence each other’s art practice and if or how gender has impacted on their professional trajectory.