William Robert Johnston was a Melbourne based antique dealer and a
collector of beautiful things from the age of eight, when his grandmother gave him
a little teacup. As his collection grew, Johnston wanted to share these unusual
and visually arresting items with the wider community. Upon his death in 1986, the
not-for-profit museum, The Johnston Collection was established which comprises
of 1,400 objects of mostly 17th century English furniture,
paintings, ceramics and objet d’art.
Part of the charm of the Johnston Collection stems from its revolving door of guest curators over the years which has included
The Australian Ballet's Artistic Director David McAllister, milliner Richard
Nylon, interior design studio Hecker Guthrie, and Barking Spider Visual Theatre
company. Thse curators are offered the freedom to express their personal connection and response to what they display and how it is set up, giving people the chance to view these objects from different perspectives and ensures a great rotation of the collection.
Presented by The Flying Xamels as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival, 4 + 4 = 4 is a surrealist circus
experience looking at four different lives, how the co-exist together and
individually and who they are finding their way around. Four circus artists with four ropes perform as
individuals and as an ensemble as a poignant metaphor on trying to fit in with life and
following the right path.
There is much to take in and analyse in 4
+ 4 = 4, as the way these themes are explored can take on different
and personal meanings for everyone in the audience. Fortunately the cast are all too aware
of this and ensure that the tricks we see on stage are performed in a
meditative and dream-like state. When you consider the technical aspects to
some of the tricks, to be able to appear that calm actually requires great
skill and confidence, which these artists possess to a high degree.
William Robert Johnston was a Melbourne based antique dealer and a collector
of beautiful things, and he wanted to share these unusual and visually arresting
items with the public. Upon his death in 1986, the not-for-profit museum, The Johnston Collection was established.
The Collection has had a rotation of guest
curators including The Australian Ballet's Artistic Director David McAllister,
milliner Richard Nylon and design studio Hecker Guthrie, who were given the
opportunity to explore, regard and share the curiosities within the collection.
With its current exhibition, House of
Dreams, guest curators Barking Spider Visual Theatre - a Melbourne-based
multi-art form company – have spent the last 18 months designing the nine
spaces to create a highly evocative and imaginative environment to be experienced.
Led by Artistic Director Penelope Bartlau, the theatre company is known for its
exemplary productions and varied methods of creating and sharing stories with
audiences.
