Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Dreams and Nightmares Exhibition Review

The Dreams and Nightmares exhibition has launched and will be showcased up until 22nd March 2020 at The Higgins Bedford. Working in partnership; Victoria Partridge - Keeper of Fine and Decorative Art at The Higgins and Christiana Payne – Professor of History of Art at Oxford Brookes University – has organised this event.

Co-curators; Victoria Partridge and Professor Christiana Payne

In this exhibition chosen from the highlights of the Cecil Higgins Collection the dreams and nightmares ranged from happy dreams to troubling nightmares where fears and desires were a key part in telling the story of the paintings. The paintings had different themes which included dreamscapes; sublime and spiritual visions; sleepers; spectral images; romantic dreams and daydreams; fairies and witches; manifestations of the unconscious; and nightmares becoming realities.


Max Klinger (1857 - 1920) - On Death Part Two, Dead Mother, 1898

I had the opportunity to view this exhibition on 10th October 2019 and as a young person attending, I found it fascinating. The creation of the different interpretations constructed a vivid image and brought the paintings to life, particularly the nightmare On Death Part Two, Dead Mother, 1898 by artist Max Klinger (from the nightmares become realities section). In the painting, a baby is sitting on top of the mother, who is dead. The baby doesn’t think this is a nightmare because in front of them is their mother laying asleep. It’s deeply saddening as they just want their mother to wake up. It really makes you connect with the picture and the story being told and really touched my heart. The black and white painting really hones in on the loneliness of the baby child who has no one to turn to. The blackness of the woods in the background traps the baby from the outside world, where one lone tree is used to signify that they are all alone.

This exhibition is well worth the visit and in addition there will be gallery tours, lunchtime lectures and a study day with Christiana Payne and Victoria Partridge. For further details visit the website: http://www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk/exhibitions-1/dreams_and_nightmares.aspx

Written by a member of Higgins Young People's Panel (HYPP): Isma, aged 14

Monday, November 25, 2019

Museum Shop Sunday


Get into the festive spirit at The Higgins Bedford with a cultural shopping experience offering unique, creative and special gifts in the run up to Christmas, made by independent suppliers, artisans and charities.

The Higgins Bedford shop has a range of products inspired by the museum’s collections and exhibitions, including cards, postcards and books. The ever-popular advent calendars by Angela Harding and Emily Sutton are stocked alongside Christmas cards and wrapping paper designed by Eric Ravilious. Shoppers can also expect to find a tempting range of chocolate, festive felt decorations, printed tea towels, handmade soaps by New Ewe and more.

Christmas shop stock at The Higgins Bedford; felt ornaments, Emily Sutton advent calendars,
Angela Harding teal towels and Eric Ravilious wrapping paper.
There will also be a variety of stalls offering an opportunity to discover more about Bedford’s creative community as well as a bespoke range of locally crafted items including knitwear made by The Higgins Knitting Group.

At The Higgins BedfordMuseum Shop Sunday will run from 2-5pm and offers the perfect opportunity to purchase a unique Christmas gift for that special someone.