If you don’t know Ines Ortner from your day to day Bowen life, you may know her as one of the curators behind the History of Bowen theatre exhibit at the Museum & Archives in 2008, or from the Wearable Art show at the Gallery at Artisan Square in 2014. Starting this past week, Ortner can now be found brainstorming and building exhibits at the Museum & Archives two days per week.
Ortner has been working with local fashion historians Ivan Sayers and Claus Jankers on projects in the city for more than a decade. She also has a background in theatre, and in particular costume design.
“I am a member of SMOC (Society for the Museum of Original Costume),” says Ortner. “I give talks on fashion and costume there. Most recently, I gave a talk on punk fashion, it was really fun.”
Ortner says both she and Cathy Bayly, a long-time employee of the Museum & Archives who is currently training to be the archivist, are looking forward to find new ways to harness community energy towards historical projects.
“We have so many ideas, especially given this is both the 50th anniversary of the Museum & Archives and the 150th birthday of Canada,” says Ortner. “We are gearing up for an exhibit on how Bowen Celebrates. Included in that, we would like to have more about how different cultural groups on Bowen celebrate and express themselves in the exibhits throughout the year. Some things though, will likely stay the same, like the annual Teddy Bear exhibit. That’s here to stay.”
