Welcome to your latest e-news from Dales Countryside Museum. This month we're bringing you:
New Exhibition – Nature, Skin And Bones
'Spear' at Semerwater
New Exhibition - Nature, Skin and Bones
Until 21st December
Nature, Skin and Bones is a sensory experience exploring our deep rooted and changing relationship with nature through the use of light, sound and sculptural installation.
The exhibition is an exciting collaboration between the sculptor Sarah Smith, sound engineer/artist Caro C and light artist Elisa Artesero. The artists involved have been inspired and intrigued by Victoria cave in Settle and the prehistoric bones discovered there, some as old as 125,000 years. Examples of these have been loaned by archaeologist Tom Lord and are on display alongside a film which features the artists involved and explains the thinking behind the exhibition.
One element of the exhibition is the 4ft drum made with animal skin which symbolises life. The drum comes alive with a drumming sound resembling a heartbeat. The artists hope it will inspire visitors to give greater consideration towards our experience of nature and our role within it.
The ‘Nature, Skin and Bones’ exhibition is funded by Arts Council England and the National Lottery.
'Spear' at Semerwater
Friday 28 and Saturday 29 October
For two days and two nights Lake Semerwater in the Yorkshire dales will play host to a new public artwork designed by sculptor David Murphy in association with the Dales Countryside Museum.
Spear will see an architectural – scale copper spearhead installed on Semerwater, which will be illuminated over two nights. The installation will reach 40 metres across the lake and be connected to the shore by a floating walkway. This gives visitors a chance to fully explore the artwork and to view the landscape from a unique position on the lake itself..
David was inspired by the Bronze Age spearhead on display in the museum. The spearhead was found on the shores of Semerwater in 1937. Large spearheads like this one were probably items of parade and prestige rather than true hunting or fighting weapons. This fine example may have been deposited in the lake as some sort of votive offering to appease or ask favour of some sort of spirit worshipped at the time.
It has lozenge loop-plates for tying the spear to the wooden shaft and a band of incised decoration around the base of the socket. Dating to the later Bronze Age (2499-500 BC), it is an example of what is known as the Hotham Carr Phase bronze industry whose products are found widely distributed along the flanks of the Pennine Dales.
Will Lord will be creating a replica of the spearhead in his demonstration of bronze casting that will take place at Semerwater on Saturday 29 October.
David’s installation also reflects elements of Sir William Watson’s The Ballad of Semerwater, which recounts the tale of the lost city and makes a physical link to treasures bestowed on the area by the lake.
David says “In a way we’re returning the spearhead to the lake where it was discovered and where it may, thousands of years ago, have been given as an offering”.
So join us for an evening of poems, performance, fire, food and drink. Free shuttle buses every 30 minutes on Friday and Saturday, 16:00 – 21:00 between Dales Countryside Museum and Semerwater. Cash Bar Only. No tickets or reservation required.
The Museum and Firebox café will be open late so you have chance to see the bronze spearhead, take in the Nature, Skin and Bones exhibition and get refreshed for an evening trip out to Semerwater.
