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 to make new work for the museum in response to its historic collection.
CONTEXT
Penryn Musuem is located in the historic market building, in the centre of the town, located on it’s own island between Lower Market Street and Higher Market Street. It is a small volunteer run organisation lead by the ever dedicated Shirley Richards. It has an intriguing and eclectic collection ranging from remnants of Glasney College – a centre of ecclesiastical power which stood in Penryn from 1265 to 1548 – to locally donated kitchen utensils from the last century. Other collection highlights include a ‘mummified plague rat’ and parts of the archive of former Penryn resdient Violetta Thurstan b. 1879, who was a front line nurse, linguist, master weaver and dyer, author and at one time Director of the Bedouin Industries for the Egyptian Government.
COMMISSIONS
Richard Baines and Matthew Benington were the two artists selected to make new work in response to Penryn Museum’s 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.
Penryn Looking South, Matthew Benington, 2015
A large scale etching based on an old photograph of Penryn Town Hall and Museum. Photo: Field Notes
Narwhal L∞p, Richard Baines, 2015Installed in a Penryn Museum display case alongside the Narwhal walking stick that inspired it. Photo: Field Notes
ENGAGEMENT & EVENTS
During the project Field Notes also ran the History Laboratory, a programme that responded to the museum’s collection and the new commissions.
The programme included a mentorshio scheme for six Falmouth University students from BA Fine Art and Contemporary Craft. The six students who participated were 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. Field Notes developed interpretation, including a small booklet, and supported the artists to present their work in an exhibition in Penryn Town Hall held during Penryn Arts Festival, the show then toured to The Compass at Penryn Campus.
The History Laboratory also encorporated public events including a series of artist talks, a musical performance by Viv Robertson, a Blue Badge guide 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 also encorporated public events including a series of artist talks, a musical performance by Viv Robertson, a Blue Badge guide 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.
FUNDERS AND PARTNERS
They Told Me a Tale 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. The History Laboratory was also supported by Falmouth University and Pernyn Arts Festival.
GET IN TOUCH:
info@fieldnotes.org.ukThe development of this website was supported by Cultivator Cornwall
