Life seams better with you
Keren Nicholson stitches together the story of the NGA’s favourite volunteer sewer.
Behind every public art gallery, there is a group of culturally hungry and enthusiastic volunteers.
At the NGA, 165 volunteers work with Public Programs, the Research Library and Archives, and the Curatorial team as guides and researchers.
Just one cheeky and gifted soul works with the NGA’s Conservation crew.
Enter the wickedly funny Gudrun Genée: an outstanding knitter (and champion whistler) who puts her gift with needle and thread to good use protecting the NGA’s collection of delicate fabrics.
Gudrun immigrated to Melbourne from Germany when she was 22 years old. She learned English in a six week crash course, excelling to the point of being accused of cheating. After spending many years working as a nurse, she moved to the small town of Mulwala with her husband. Desperate for something to do, Gudrun began knitting sock a day, using the skills her grandmother taught her as a child.
‘I’ve used needles since I was born. My grandmother taught me to knit and crochet when I was four. I’m addicted to knitting. And I know a little bit about painting.’
Upon moving to Canberra in 1986, the talented knitter and sewer rediscovered her love of art.
‘The first thing I ever did when I came to Canberra was go to the gallery,’ remembers Gudrun. ‘I spent a lot of time in my youth in Germany in galleries. And I went on a tour with someone who I learned was a very good guide.’
She chuckles. ‘I thought I could do better.’
After working as a Guides Coordinator with the NGA’s Education team for eight years, Gudrun decided to pursue her passion for textiles and offered her services to Debbie Ward, Head of Conservation.
‘Debbie looked at me very curiously, and gave me needle and thread. She said ‘If you can do a metre in two hours, that’ll be alright.’ I could do a metre in one hour, and had a job for life.’
16 years after this fateful conversation, Gudrun now sews padding and packing for the storage and transport of the NGA’s textile collection, including exhibition display models. She has padded and packed the entire NGA Ballet Russes collection, and most of the fashion collection.
‘When we travel to take costumes overseas, other galleries are so amazed by the packing. We impress people worldwide with Gudrun’s skills,’ says Micheline Ford, NGA Senior Textile Conservator.
Gudrun works closely with Micheline. ‘Every stitch I did for the first year had to be approved. But Micheline eventually relaxed 15 years ago.’
‘We couldn’t do without her,’ laughs Micheline.
Over the last year, Gudrun has sewn hundreds of metres of fabric to protect precious works of art. In this time, her fellow volunteers have taken over 40,000 school students and 18,000 adults and families through the NGA, leading them in meaningful encounters with the collection and special exhibitions.
The knowledge and skills of volunteers enrich the tapestry of the NGA — in Gudrun’s case, literally as well as figuratively.
