I headed along to LATE at the Museum last Thursday to check out what was happening this season. I knew a few tweeks had been made to the format this year and was interested to see how it was going.
Very well is the answer to that question.
LATE at the Museum happens on the first Thursday of the month throughout winter. This year it’s running from May to November, so you still have four chances to get along. Every season has a theme which inspires the topic of each session. This year, the theme ‘Of Gods and Men’ has seen sessions inspired by Zeus + Hera and Hermes.
Last Thursday, Demeter was the goddess of choice. As she was the goddess of the harvest, we were asked to think about what she might make of the the state of food today. The increasing populations and the food insecurities, the vast food production factories and more broadly, the state of our food producing environment. The breadth of the questions, combined with Wallace Chapman’s laissez-faire (in a good way) MC style meant the discussion went everywhere. We talked sustainability, clean water ways, meat, moa, colonialism, fishing quotas and more. It felt like sitting around the dinner table with lots of super smart friends talking about smart things.
The panel was made up of 2013 New Zealander of the Year, Professor Dame Anne Salmond, Professor Paul Tapsell of the University of Otago, and Professor Michael Walker of the University of Auckland. With brilliant brains like theirs at the helm, they could really have tackled any topic and it would have been fascinating.
A clever addition to LATE this year has been the catering provided by Dawsons, because who has time to eat between work and the 6pm start time? I was a little skeptical that it might not work that well, that we’d be left standing somewhere eating overpriced sandwiches, I was happily corrected. I ate delicious Beef Cheeks & Kumara Mash and my friend had a delicious smelling Smoked Fish Pie. We shared a yummy Hazelnut Gateau also. There was plenty of space to sit and the service continued throughout the Smart Talk session which seemed to work quite well.
After Smart Talk wraps up, people traipse slowly downstairs. At this point in the evening there are always a couple of options on offer for entertainment and the chance to check out the downstairs galleries.
We spent ages in the Moana-My Ocean exhibition. I was really impressed with it. It uses technology to create really beautiful experiences. A personal highlight was the 3D screen showing footage of New Zealand Coastal waters. It made me feel like I was snorkeling at my bach. But with more close ups of crayfish. It was so clear and crisp, it was just like being in the water. Another was the circle of screens which shows schools of fish circling you, like you’re scuba diving right inside it. It was also very informative. Did you know sharks are covered in little teeth-like scales all pointing in one direction which make them swim faster and these are called denticles? I didn’t. Now I do. This will definitely be a popular school holiday option.
We were treated to the ambient sound stylings of DJ Kina Cuts of Base FM in the atrium and a collaboration between Louise Potiki (Choreographer, Dancer & Video Artist) and Paddy Free (Composer). What I could see of it was stunning. That would be my only little gripe about the evening: there’s not quite enough space in the Maori Court for everyone to fit in. I don’t think this is always a problem though as often the shows are done in the Grand Foyer which is much bigger.
LATE is the perfect option for midweek entertainment when you want to do something nice and interesting but there is nothing on at the movies and you don’t want a super big night. There is no pressure to dress up fancy, but you can have a nice glass of wine and some yummy food. You will be entertained but in a much more stimulating way than what watching Police Ten 7 in your onesie might offer. Great with any number of friends, as a date night or even if you’re riding solo. Also there is something about pulling up to the Museum at night when it’s all lit up and looking stunning that makes you feel proud to be an Aucklander and stoked that you’re out and making the most of being in this beautiful city.
The next one is on Thursday 1st August, when Tangaroa is inspiring talk about our Oceans with Wallace Chapman, Dr Rochelle Constantine, Don McGlashan and Dr Tom Trnski, with music from Don McGlashan after. You should go.
