The Volunteer's Biggest Nightmare?

I’m holding an object that was turned off a potter’s wheel when the big game in town was Athens v Sparta, and Plato and Socrates were living celebs. This ancient Greek vase survived the Romans, the Vikings, the whole of the medieval period, Shakespeare, two world wars and the British Empire. 

When I wrap my fingers around its body and lift it up, oh my, what a weight! This vase has lasted for thousands of years intact. I feel the tiniest twinge and the premonition of a loud crash and a hundred tiny pieces scattered all over the floor. Dropping and breaking an irreplaceable antique – the volunteer’s biggest nightmare! Gently, gently, into the glass case, lower, and… breathe.

Why move it at all? Shouldn’t this vase stay in one place to be safe? One of the remarkable features of any museum is the “behind the scenes” part of the work, looking after the objects securely packed away in our stores. Why not put it all out? Well, we’d need a humungously big museum to have everything on view at once.

There’s a case for treating the museum as a shop window – we can ring the changes, refresh what we have to offer with new exhibitions and make sure that there’s always something different for visitors to see. Some of our galleries are “permanent”; others alter on a regular basis.

But what of our Greek vase, newly brought out of the archives, dusted down and mounted in the Collectors Gallery for all to see? Well the vase will be photographed and catalogued and then the fun part of discovering its story will begin. The who, the why and when of any good mystery!

Written by Derek Niemann, Collections Volunteer.

Home and Abroad Exhibition Coming to an End

Closing Sunday 26th January, this is the last week to visit our current Edward Bawden exhibition; Home and Abroad. 

Edward Bawden (1903—1989), Castelo Blanco from ‘Edward Bawden in Portugal’, 1962 ©The Edward Bawden Estate

A keen observer of the world around him, Edward Bawden visited many places around the world. He embarked on his first trip abroad to Italy aged 22. This was an experience which he recalled, 'gave me the biggest shock of my life'. He returned to Italy while serving as an Official War Artist in the Second World War, travelling to many parts of Africa and the Middle East. In later years he taught at the Banff School of Fine Art in Canada and visited Portugal in 1962, which resulted in the 'Edward Bawden In Portugal' lithograph series depicting Portuguese towns and were printed in Motif magazine. 

Edward Bawden (1903—1989), Covent Garden from 'Six London Markets', 1967 ©The Edward Bawden Estate

Bawden also found inspiration in the places he visited in England, particularly London where he spent much of his working life. He first came to London while studying at the Royal College of Art where he formed a friendship with the artist Eric Ravilious. Many of London's landmarks, parks, gardens, bridges and stations are portrayed in his work. The most popular being the prints in the ‘Six London Markets’ series from 1967.

Edward Bawden (1903—1989) Ives Farmhouse, Great Bardfield, c.1956 ©The Edward Bawden Estate

However, it wasn't just Bawden's adventures abroad or the rush of city life that was the subject of his work. Born in Essex and living in Great Bardfield for over 40 years, Bawden often found inspiration in the surrounding countryside, churches and farmyards for his watercolours and prints. He was an important member of The Great Bardfield Artists, a community of artists and designers famous for their open house exhibitions from the 1930's to the 1970's. While artistically diverse, the group shared a love for figurative art and was pivotal in influencing Edward Bawden's distinctive style of art. 

Edward Bawden: Home and Abroad is closing on Sunday 26th January and is free to visit. 

The Edward Bawden Gallery at The Higgins Bedford will be closed from 27th January to 7th February while the new Edward Bawden exhibition is installed. Architectural Elements opens Saturday 8th February.