Currently on show in Auckland is 'Picturing History: Goldie to Cotton' at the New Gallery. (You should go - it's free!) Featured is "one of the most significant albums of late 19th century New Zealand photography, the Burton Brothers' Wonderland Album" (ref: On Show June-Sept 2009). The album, in fine condition is encased, but ingeniously a digital photo frame flicks through the images on screen above it. These photographs are engaging and show a New Zealand long lost to modernisation.
Ron Brownson, Senior Curator of New Zealand and Pacific Art, provides some background to this album on the Auckland Art Gallery's Blog 'Outpost': Part One and Part Two.
In 1981 a film was made about the Burton Brothers. It is entitled 'Pictures' and I can only find a copy on video tape at Videon in Balmoral, so have not bothered to hire it again. Perhaps TVNZ would be kind enough to rescreen it soon.
[[Image credits: The Wonderland Album – New Zealand circa 1898-1899Auckland Art Gallery Toi o TamakiThe Ilene and Laurence Dakin Bequest, purchased 19991999/18/1-184]]
