Erewash Museum

I visited the Erewash museum today for the purpose of researching the exhibition space, the exhibit and the local surrounding area / town centre.

 The main themes that came up for me today in the museum were of industry and work. Whether that be working in the home in efforts of cooking and cleaning and traditional female roles. To the sweet shop /general vintage shop. There were also exhibits about the industry of metal making, coal mining and lace making in the area.

 As an extension of that industry there are the canals and the railways that were used to take the products and produce out of the town, the most notable relic of this transportation system is the Bennerley viaduct also known as The Iron Giant. Its a a huge Victorian structure which was erected in the 1800s, it's unique structure was created to get past the problem and the soft marshland where the land had already been mined so they had to take it higher and make the metal bridge to get the train over that area of land. The Bennerley viaduct is now a protected structure and Heritage site, oddly it was almost demolished before a society came together to preserve this piece of local history. Its had a lot of renovation work on it recently to make it structurally safe. It's a beautiful view point and is home to lots of wildlife, specially wild birds. I visited in the summer and thought it was a really beautiful place.

The town itself was pretty quiet for a Friday lunch time. on the main square there is a church, town hall, library, war memorial and a few pubs. the town, shops are down the hill away from the square. lots of vape shops, cash converters, betting shops, charity shops, pubs and bargain stores.

Its a town still damaged by a loss of industry and very similar to many ex mining towns in the area including where I grew up.

Victorian kitchen

points of interest in 20s illustrative posters

The museum sweet shop

Bennerly viaduct

lace industry

information on local industry

local relics

A local woman who campaigned for better treatments for prisoners of war 

"Death pennys" among the exhibit about the local effects and stories of war.

Outside views of the museum

The museum garden

Relics from industry in the museum garden

another outside view of the museum looking at the outside structure along with natural structure of trees in the garden. I like the shape of this small climber in the walled garden escaping up to the winter sky.

Views from the top of the hill into the town centre

Details from the church. I liked the black and white doors along with the stone carvings.

A few contrasting images, war memorial, England supporter with Christmas decoration, the promise of free money, illustration from the local library of war time woman.

Local structures, I like the different shapes of these building in the town centre, grand/ neglected.

Rag rug in the Victorian kitchen. Gives me ideas for a textile piece for the project, a structure/ collage of salvaged fabrics.

My Initial areas of interest for subject matter are the physical structure both of the town and the  viaduct and linking these two areas by the industry past and present :the historical layers of structure in the area.

Initial ideas for materials and approach; I'm thinking to experiment with mixed media, print and textiles to symbolise these layers of structure. I also want to look at re claiming and  re purposing materials such as fabric and paper to symbolise the re claiming and repurposing of history that you find within the museum and also the idea of working with what you have. This is an ex mining town that isnt wealthy. The idea of making art from things you find is serendipitous as well as thrifty.

Its very similar to where I grew up and my parents had no money, it made us all more creative with what we did have. I was very happy as a child and always making stuff out of odds and ends.