A history of Otago — page by page

Posted: Friday Sep 08, 2023

A university professor is putting out a call to craft a page of history.

A history of Otago — page by page | Otago Daily Times Online News (odt.co.nz)

Inspired by medieval manuscripts, University of Otago Prof Simone Marshall is putting together a "Book of Otago" and is inviting groups and individuals across the region to contribute a leaf to history.

Prof Simone Marshall said she had the idea on a "whim".

She had seen versions of this created elsewhere in the world, most notably at the Bodleian Libraries of the University of Oxford.

With Dunedin holding one of the largest collections of medieval manuscripts in the country, she thought it would be a good project to do locally.

"We have got this amazing, unique collection here in Dunedin."

Dunedin Public Libraries hold the Reed Collection of medieval and renaissance manuscripts.

There are also a large number of books and manuscripts housed in the University of Otago special collections library.

Books as artefacts, as objects, and as repositories, were something to celebrate, Prof Marshall said.

Manuscripts such as the Lindisfarne Gospels or the Book of Kells are important books of their time in a particular location.

"They really reflected the place that they are from."

"I thought, what if we have the Book of Otago, what if we have a thing that says what we are, here, right now."

Prof Marshall hoped the book would comprise a variety of approaches, reflecting different styles, cultures and communities such as school groups, multicultural groups, former refugees, local rūnaka and more.

The contributions could be artistic works, writing or poetry, and each leaf could include surprising elements such as pop-ups elements, fabrics or other materials.

The only restriction is entries need to be arranged in portrait orientation, and to be A3 in size.

An exhibition of the pages will run from November 16 to December 3 at the Otago Art Society.

When the exhibition closes the pages will then be bound into a book that will become a permanent record of this moment in time.

- The Book of Otago entries are open until September 20.

Entries to be portrait A3, can be in any medium but suitable for inclusion in the bound book.

For information or to submit an entry email simone.marshall@otago.ac.nz