Museum unfazed by quake

TREASURED ACQUISITION: Aratoi director Alice Hutchison with the donated linen runner.PHOTOS/SUPPLIED

Aratoi art and history museum survived a major ruction earlier this year and this time it had nothing whatsoever to do with contested visitor numbers.

Speaking at an Audit and Risk Committee meeting of Masterton District Council this week, museum director Alice Hutchison said Aratoi had survived the 6.2 earthquake on January 20 completely intact.

No damage whatsoever had been caused to the collection store although drawers had opened and painting racks moved out slightly.

Aratoi staff had found that very encouraging as it showed objects were well secured.

There had been some minor movement of stone taonga in a cabinet in the History Gallery, but art works in the Wesley Wing remained upright "thanks to museum wax which does a good job of securing ceramics".

In the quarterly report to council, financial statements for the period ending March 31 show a surplus for the year so far of $7484 compared to a budgeted period deficit of $15,414 and a budgeted financial year-end surplus of $3851.

Aratoi Regional Trust said it anticipates the year-end financial report will show a surplus that equals, or exceeds, the budgeted figure.

During the quarter, 6919 visitors to Aratoi were recorded, a slight drop on the previous quarter mainly reflecting school group visits.

This drew a response from committee member Brent Goodwin who said he was "happy to see" visitor numbers were now being accurately recorded.

Among recent acquisitions has been a linen runner embroidered with the Tree of Life and birds in crewel work.

It was made in 1913 by Beatrice Coom (nee Bennett) who was born at Otuhuao, Bennetts Hill, and was donated to the museum by Shura Lindsay.

The runner is in good condition with only some slight fading of the embroidery wools .

When the Acquisitions Committee met in late February it approved the runner as becoming part of the collection along with two 1934 portrait paintings of Frank Wall and his second wife by English artist John Mansbridge, a World War I bronze plaque commemorating the life of soldier John Leybourne Grace, sculptures by Gina Jones, a watercolour by Jim Campbell, an untitled work by mixed media artist Brendon Wilkinson and an oil on canvas painted by Anne Taylor.