The History Laboratory
They Told Me a Tale, 2015
Photos: Field Notes
The History Laboratory was a programme of events ran by Field Notes in conjunction with They Told Me a Tale, a project responding to the collection at Penryn Museum and new commissions by artists Matthew Benington and Richard Baines, as part of New Expressions 3.
The programme launched at Penryn Arts Festival with a commission from Falmouth University to work with 6 students from their BA Fine Art and Contemporary Craft students: Finbar Conran, Agatha Lowndes, Polly E. Maxwell, Henry S. Moore, Tabitha Tohill-Reid and Samantha Veitch. Supported by Field Notes, each artist tested out a different approach to making work inspired by Penryn’s past; from bizarre newspaper clippings, to a dysfunctional fire service and a unique loving cup. These came together in an exhibition held during Penryn Arts Festival, the show then toured to The Compass at Penryn Campus.
Events also included a series of artist talks, a historic tour of Penryn town and a zine making workshop, run at Howl Coffee House by Alice Mahoney, where participants made their own hand bound book inspired by images and stories from the museum collection.
The programme launched at Penryn Arts Festival with a commission from Falmouth University to work with 6 students from their BA Fine Art and Contemporary Craft students: Finbar Conran, Agatha Lowndes, Polly E. Maxwell, Henry S. Moore, Tabitha Tohill-Reid and Samantha Veitch. Supported by Field Notes, each artist tested out a different approach to making work inspired by Penryn’s past; from bizarre newspaper clippings, to a dysfunctional fire service and a unique loving cup. These came together in an exhibition held during Penryn Arts Festival, the show then toured to The Compass at Penryn Campus.
Events also included a series of artist talks, a historic tour of Penryn town and a zine making workshop, run at Howl Coffee House by Alice Mahoney, where participants made their own hand bound book inspired by images and stories from the museum collection.
The History Laboratory at Penryn Town Hall, exhibiting works from Falmouth University students
Zine making workshop led by Alice Manhoney
Tour of Penryn with Blue Badge guide Diana Smith
FUNDERS AND PARTNERS
In 2015, Field Notes worked with Penryn Museum on They Told Me a Tale as part of New Expressions 3, a national Arts Council England pathfinder project aiming to unlock the creative potential of museums by enabling them to work collaboratively with and commission new works by contemporary artists. We invited two early career artists, Richard Baines and Matthew Benington, to make new work for the museum in response to its historic collection. Richard followed the travels of a narwhal tusk from Penryn to Canada and back to Penryn whilst Matthew’s journey into the collection focused on discovering the stories and faces of the town. During the project Field Notes also ran the History Laboratory, a programme that responded to the museum’s collection and the new commissions, with events including an exhibition, artist talks, a historic tour of the town and a museum zine workshop.
Penryn Museum and The History Laboratory were supported by a New Opportunities Award as part of New Expressions 3, a national Arts Council England pathfinder project, and delivered in partnership with Penryn Museum.
Penryn Museum and The History Laboratory were supported by a New Opportunities Award as part of New Expressions 3, a national Arts Council England pathfinder project, and delivered in partnership with Penryn Museum.
GET IN TOUCH:
info@fieldnotes.org.ukThe development of this website was supported by Cultivator Cornwall
