Invercargill and the southern region was home to Monica Ford who was the first woman registered architect in the Southland and Otago branches of the New Zealand Institute of Architects in 1945.
From 1946, with architect husband Cecil Barham, Monica Barham practiced as an owner and partner of a successful architectural business (Barham and Barham Architects) in New Zealand. From the late 1960s, she also taught art at Southland Boys and James Hargest high schools.
As an avid artist, Monica supported local art, producing sculptures and paintings. She became chair of the former Anderson Park Art Gallery APAG in the early 1970s. Six watercolour paintings by Monica are held in the Invercargill Public Art Gallery IPAG collection.
In 2023, one of her buildings, a 1956 Medical Centre at 69 Don St, Invercargill, received a New Zealand Institute of Architects Enduring Architecture Award. This is the earliest known building by a female architect in New Zealand to receive an NZIA building award honour prior to 1967.
New Zealand architects and architecture-enthusiasts are encouraged to come along to the exhibition and seminar to gain understanding of one of Invercargill’s early leaders in architectural design. The exhibition will also appeal to those interested in local mid-century history.
Event details
- Location: He Waka Tuia, Invercargill
- Exhibition dates: 11 May–16 June 2024*
- Opening and talk: 18 May 2024 at 11 am with Megan Rue
www.hewakatuia.nz/exhibitions
About the exhibition
The exhibition will showcase Monica Barham’s multifaceted career with projects and art pieces from her art and architecture practice. The exhibits will also venture into some of the influential works, culture, and history of the time, through paintings, drawings and associated works, building models, genealogy and city heritage, to provide a rich environmental context.
In addition, a documentary film The Last Tour: Inner City Heritage Tours with Mick Hesselin (2019), will be screening over the duration of the exhibition.
*The event will coincide with the 2024 Southern NZIA Architecture Awards to be held in Invercargill on Fri 17 May 2024.
