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Through Swainson’s Lens: Highlights From the Joseph Swainson Collection

Tue 05 Aug 2008

A nationally significant photographic exhibition showcasing the legacy of New Plymouth’s iconic Swainson’s Studios opened at Puke Ariki this weekend.

Through Swainson’s Lens: Highlights from the Joseph Swainson Collection is a priceless visual record of the social history of Taranaki, celebrating the work of New Plymouth photographer Joseph Swainson (1891-1976).

Through Swainson’s Lens features a selection from the 255,000 images in the Swainson/Woods collection gifted to Puke Ariki in 2005.  Exhibition highlights include photographs from Newton King’s funeral, Sir Kingsford Smith’s visit to New Plymouth, and images of Taranaki World War II military personnel whom Swainson photographed for free prior to their departure for active service.

Established in Devon St in 1923, Taranaki residents turned to Swainson’s Studios for more than 40 years to record the important and memorable occasions in their lives: Family weddings, portraits, sporting triumphs and even family pets.

Through Swainson’s Lens also celebrates the work of the Puke Ariki Swainson Project Technicians, who - with the support of the New Zealand Lotteries Commission - have spent the past 20 months cataloguing, cleaning and re-housing the collection of Swainson’s Studios images. This three-stage project aims to conserve, catalogue, re-house and digitise about 255,000 negatives from both Swainson’s Studios and Bernard Woods’ Studios.

Through Swainson’s Lens exhibits in the Lane and Wall Galleries of Puke Ariki until Sunday 12 October. Exhibition curators Paul Brobbel and Cameron Curd will discuss Through Swainson’s Lens at Puke Ariki at 2pm on Sunday 10 and 28 September.

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