Erewash Museum Visit

Visited the Erewash museum in Ilkeston - it is a local history museum with exhibits focusing on social history, archeology and fine art-  Set in a very pretty Georgian town house. we'll be basing the next project on Ilkeston - so as I was walking round I was o the look out for anything particularly  interesting that might inspire a body of work. 

                               

I found this wire cage contraption thing - I think it is some sort of rodent trap - when I held it up created these intricate shadows - I took some pictures thinking that I could make some drawings or sculpture that would produce the same effect.

                                         

This is a section of stain glass window salvaged from St Bartholomew's in Hallam Fields. The church was destroyed by Zeppelin attack in 1916. I'd never really seen stain glass this close up or thought about it's complexity much - I'm more used to seeing it as a pretty thing that decorates churches. Usually when you see it it's light up - and it's beauty comes from the glow and intensity of the colours.. Here it was interesting to see how each small piece of glass fits together and close up you can better appreciate the quality of craftmanship. 

                            

Some close ups of other objects found around the museum.  

                                           

There was also a little drawing station for visitors to write or express their feelings towards the exhibits.  Loved this drawing - incredibly expressive - the geometrical shapes - modern stain glass - similar to a cubist style - intriguing - what was this a response to? 

Then we went to St Mary's- unfortunately it wasn't open so we wandered around the grounds. Found these grotesques or foliate heads, usually found on medieval churches. They are full of character, with leaves sprouting out of their mouth the green lichen and weathering had rounded their edges, they look like they've grown onto the building like they've sprouted there. It's speculated that the grotesques are carved onto the exterior to churches to protect the building and church goers by fighting the devil with his own evil creations .

                        

I also took some quick rubbings on some of the grave stones in the church yard and some of the decorative details on the building- not the best quality as I didn't bring any equipment just did these in the back of my note book- but saying that it was really fun - especially watching as the image is slowly  revealed- and in seconds you have a physical copy - a fragment of the place you can take with you.