Las Vegas Studio: Images from the Archives of Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown and John Gollings: Learning from Surfers Paradise (a pair of exhibitions)

RESEARCH BACKGROUND: The exhibition Las Vegas Studio: Images from the Archives of Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown presented the images and films that were taken during the legendary 1968 Las Vegas research trip. Originally developed by the Museum im Bellpark, Kriens by curators Hilar Stadler and Martino Stierli, Watson curated it specifically for the Design Hub site in Melbourne. The design studio Searle X Waldron was commissioned to design the exhibition environment. Las Vegas Studio also inspired the project, John Gollings: Learning From Surfers Paradise (developed and curated by Virginia Rigney, Gold Coast City Gallery), which was exhibited together at the Design Hub. RESEARCH CONTRIBUTION: Watson's curatorial role involved the selection of works and development of new content that was presented alongside the Archival material. These included a series of video interviews, objects and ephemera collected from leading Melbourne architects that traced Venturi and Scott Brown's influence on the local architectural culture. Alongside the John Golling project, the project examined the relationship between Melbourne, Las Vegas and Surfers Paradise. It demonstrates Watson's ongoing investigation into curatorial practice specifically in architecture and design, in the context of local practice. RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE: The significance of Watson's curatorial project is evident from the partnership with Museum im Bellpark and the Gold Coast City Gallery. The Melbourne exhibition received extensive media reviews: Fairfax Media (2 articles), Architecture and Design magazine and Architecture Australia.