National Museums Liverpool Blog

Photo opp for the conservation of historic wedding dresses

It is a bridezilla's heaven over at our decorative arts department at the moment. Some gorgeous wedding garments from National Museums Liverpool's collection are undergoing expert conservation work ahead of a new exhibition opening this summer at Sudley House.

The exhibition Hitched: Wedding Clothes and Customs runs from 23 July 2010 - 20 February 2011 and explores the history of marriage in the UK and the customs surrounding it, from Victorian times to the present day.

Our curator of costume and textiles Pauline Rushton tells us a bit more about the conservation work required for this kind of exhibition:

Some of the dresses featured in Hitched are more than 150 years old and quite fragile, so it's important that we carry out this conservation work to help them look their best for the exhibition. They have to be carefully cleaned and even re-stitched in some cases to make them strong enough for mounting and display. After conservation, the dresses are mounted on mannequins that are padded out to their individual shapes, and that can be quite tricky and time-consuming. Before they go on display in the gallery the conservator will steam some of them to lift creases out of the silk and make their trimmings stand out. It can be a time consuming job but very satisfying when the end result looks right.

Dancer, Fen Fen at the International Slavery Museum's, Celebrating Women event

Our Head of Communities, Claire Benjamin, tells us more about the Celebrating Women event:

Following the news that the first woman ever in Oscar history has won the directing award, I thought it quite fitting to highlight further female achievement at the International Slavery Museum.

Last week we marked International Women's Day with Celebrating Women, an event during which we unveiled three new plaques on the Black Achievers Wall. Aretha Franklin, Diane Nash and Andrea Levy now have pride of place on the wall, joining a growing list of esteemed great Black achievers.
 
A plaque for Aretha Franklin, who achieved a total of 45 'Top 40' hits, is now on display near by Barak Obama’s plaque, who she sang for at his presidential inauguration ceremony in 2009. She is joined by Andrea Levy, award winning British author whose book Small Island was the centre of the biggest mass-reading initiative ever taken place in Britain back in 2007.

Diane Nash is the third new plaque. I had the great pleasure of meeting Diane at last year’s Slavery Remembrance Day memorial lecture, where she delivered an amazing lecture on her life during the non violent student sit-ins in 60's America, and her continuing fight for human and civil rights. I promised Diane that I would read out the following during the unveiling:
 
I believe there was no invention of the 20th century more significant than Mohandas Gandhi’s social invention of a way to wage war without killing and maiming fellow human beings.  His invention, nonviolence (agapic energy), uses power generated by love rather than power generated by violent weapons.  Gandhi’s movement was a model for the American Civil Rights Movement and the American Civil Right Movement of the 1960s left to the world a legacy that we can use now and into this young century.  Nonviolence (agapic energy) provides us an opportunity to evolve into an improved species.
 
Inspiring words indeed, though it is perhaps interesting to consider that she is less known than her male counterparts from that period in American history. Her non-violence message gives food for thought in a time where war and conflict appears to be on the increase and human rights are being violated the world over.

The event was also an opportunity for the museum to look at the darker side of women's history, exploring the sexualisation and violation of women's liberty today. Artist Rachel Wilberforce talked about her exhibition Missing, currently on display at the International Slavery Museum. The photographs of urban and suburban Britain depict sex-trafficking and prostitution through the interior and exteriors of brothels and massage parlours, exposing us to modern day forms of slavery.

We also heard from Nadja Middleton, a representative of the Olive Morris Collective, who talked passionately about the work of Olive Morris, an inspiring community leader and grass roots activist from Brixton. She achieved so much, in a life that was tragically cut short, which certainly made us wonder, 'what more could she have done?' if she were still with us today.
 
The evening was brought to a graceful end by dancer Fen-Fen (pictured above), who beautifully performed a piece depicting women's liberation in China.

A fabulous collective experience, for all the women, and men, in the audience that night.

After a couple of entries bustling with activity, for this week's highlight from the Liverpool's Chinatown: Through the lens Flickr competition I've chosen an image almost completely devoid of people: this 2009 photo of Liverpool's iconic Chinese arch, added to the pool by Mark McGowan.

Foggy Chinese arch © Mark McGowan

Taken just before the Chinese New Year celebrations, there is a sense of expectation and mystery to the image, the sunlight just glinting off the brilliant gold of the arch and the viewer imagining the crowds that will be filling the ghostly streets.

The different architectural styles contrast but compliment each other; there are no absolutely horizontal or vertical lines, but various angular perspectives which draw the eye in different directions. At once the viewer is invited in through the arch by the receding buildings and flags of Nelson Street, but at the same time to the top of the image: neither the square pillars of the arch nor the round pillars of the Black-E Centre to the left are straightforwardly vertical, both tapering up towards the shrouded sun and pulling the viewer's gaze with them. The result is a constant shifting of perspectives, never settling, like an MC Escher print. See the photo in a large size.

To celebrate our photography exhibition China: Through the Lens of John Thomson 1868-72 at the Merseyside Maritime Museum we want you to submit your photos of Liverpool's Chinatown to our Flickr pool - our favourite photo submitted by 24 May will win a banquet for two at Yuet Ben, with two runners-up winning exhibition catalogues. Find out more on the competition page.

Museum staff met Linford Christie at the ceremony

Rush has been developed in response to concerns from teachers and youth leaders about the growing impact of drugs misuse on young Merseyside people and their families. Young people observe a commissioned theatre piece presenting an account of a girl who faces choices relating to experimenting with ecstasy and are then given the opportunity to question characters in the play which opens up discussions around the topic of drug use and its consequences.

A simulated drugs box is used to raise awareness of what different drugs looks like and their likely effects, while 'booze goggles' illustrate the effect of alcohol on perception and decision making. 

Since it was launched 15 years ago almost 30,000 young people have taken part in Rush, including groups from Merseyside schools and organisations working with hard to reach young people such as Progress Sports and Shaw Trust.

Linford Christie said: “It’s an honour to be part of such a great initiative. All of the winners this evening are champions in their own right and Rush is an inspiration to others, both young and old.”

Kids Count Chairman, Richard Stephenson, said: “The judges were all incredibly impressed with the nomination we received for Rush.  We know how important it is for young people to be educated about drugs and the dangers they pose. Working with young people from across Merseyside, Rush has helped thousands to understand more about drugs and given them the confidence to make their own choices and to avoid peer pressure and bad decisions when it comes to drug use.  We are delighted to name them the winners."

The Kids Count Inspiration Awards recognises those individuals, young and old, and organisations that have been responsible for inspiring young people in their communities. A record number of nominations were received this year for individuals and groups who are addressing issues that affect the lives of children by creating initiatives that are grounded in practicality and realism, make a positive difference, and afford greater freedom to young people to determine their own futures.

Curator, Ann Bukantas gives Korean curators and writers tour of the contemporary collections

Last week a group of Korean curators and writers visited the Walker Art Gallery. A trip organised by Visit Britain, they had come to discover more about the UK’s contemporary art scene.

As host to the John Moores Contemporary Painting Prize, the UK’s best known painting competition, the Walker was a must-see. They were treated to a tour by curator of fine art, Ann Bukantas and explored the history of the prize and the impact it has had on lives of its entrants. They were pleased to see work by the likes of Peter Doig and David Hockney as well as photographs of previous entrants such as Sir Peter Blake, a juror of the prize in 2006.

With almost 3,000 entries for this year’s prize it looks set to be another exciting competition. The first stage of judging will take place in London next month. Keep an eye on the website for exclusive interviews with the judges.

To follow the judging progress join our Twitter account.

HM Rescue Tug Storm King in March 1943, from the Merseyside Maritime Museum. Image courtesy of the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo.

I was surprised to discover that tugs sailed with convoys of merchant ships bringing vital supplies to Britain during the Second World War.

The role of the tugs was to assist stricken vessels after they were damaged by enemy attacks. Their vital work boosted the war effort by saving hundreds of warships and their crews,

The Royal Navy’s Rescue Tug Section was set up at the beginning of the war to provide suitable ocean-going tugs to save torpedoed ships. This was dangerous work requiring the greatest skills to ensure that ships were brought to safe havens despite bad weather, the presence of U-boat submarines and enemy aircraft.

At the start there were only four Royal Navy tugs and eight civilian requisitions available for deep-sea work. However, these inadequacies were remedied by concerted action. By the end of the war, due to newly-built additions from British and US shipyards, this number had grown to more than 80.

The rescue tugs were largely manned by Merchant Navy crews serving under Royal Navy orders. From 1941 they were based at Campbeltown, Scotland, and from 1943 a rescue tug was attached to every transatlantic convoy.

By the end of the war the 'Campbeltown Navy' had helped to save more than three million tons of Allied shipping, over 250 warships and hundreds of Allied seamen, mostly in the North Atlantic. Twenty rescue tugs were lost on active service.

A photograph in the Merseyside Maritime Museum’s Battle of the Atlantic gallery shows HM Rescue Tug Storm King in March 1943 (pictured).

When the war started, the Royal Navy with the help of Canadian, French and other Allied navies took on the job of defending British and Allied merchant ships from German attacks.

As in the later stages of the First World War (the years 1917 – 18) the main method of defence against such attacks was the convoy system. This involved groups of merchant ships sailing in close formation under the protection of one or more escort warships.

On display is a silver salver presented to Pay Lieutenant Commander Richard Rankin RNR by the commodores of the North Atlantic convoys about 1942. The square salver is engraved with about 50 facsimile signatures. Rankin, an officer of the Naval Control Service, was based throughout the war in Liverpool’s Royal Liver Building. His main job was liaising with convoy commodores – a key role which he fulfilled with great success.

A new Maritime Tale by Stephen Guy appears every Saturday in the Liverpool Echo. A paperback – Mersey Maritime Tales (£3.99) – is available from the museum, newsagents, bookshops or from the Mersey Shop website (£1 p&p UK).

It's been a fun start to the weekend for 17 members of the Wirral Ancient Egypt Society who visited World Museum this morning. Blue gloved hands reached across tables to carefully pick up ancient Egyptian artefacts. It was great to see so many people enjoying coming up close with the physical remains of an ancient civilisation. The society is dedicated to the furtherance of the knowledge of the history of ancient Egypt and is open to all that share an interest in Egyptology.

The society has been a good supporter of Egyptology in Liverpool through their annual bursary which is awarded to a Liverpool University Egyptology postgraduate student each year. I was more than happy to give a lecture to the society about 3 significant artefacts of the collection and bring out 21 objects from our the reserve collection for a handling session. The reserve collection consists of the 15000 or so Egyptian artefacts that are in storage. Like most museums we do not have the room to display all our collections but by appointment the reserve collection is actively used for teaching and research by scholars from around the world.

The objects we looked at today varied from the hands and feet of stone carved statues from the royal city of Amarna (where Tutankhamun may have spent time as a child) through to small glazed figurines of gods once worn as amulets which offered protection to the owner. One particular object that caught everyone's attention was a tiny carved green stone figure of a frog, which I believe to be about 5000 years old, but I still have to do some more research to be sure!

To learn more about the Wirral Ancient Egypt Society please visit their website.

See if you can guess - but don't worry if you can't, all will be revealed next week.

Update 15/03/10: Well done to Rich, who has correctly guessed where this is - and what the small round skylight at the top right of the photo is. Click on Comments to see his guess if you're still not sure.

The good news if you want to have a look round yourself is that tours will be available soon - watch this space for details.

The job of a National Museums Liverpool press officer is a varied one. With such a diverse family of museums and galleries, there are many opportunities to highlight our exhibitions and events within the press, but not all as exciting as yesterday…well, for me anyway!

Here I am with my one of my favourite little characters from the sessions, a gorgeous Pigmy Hedgehog

As a life long lover of Meerkats (yes, I even liked them before those well-known price comparison adverts hit our screens) I was chuffed to bits to be invited along to a press opportunity ahead of some fantastic Meerkat-tastic events that are taking place at World Museum over the next couple of weekends as part of National Science Week.

These gorgeous little creatures will join other live desert and rainforest creatures such as snakes, reptiles and spiders (I’ll be steering well clear of the creepy crawlies!) for free close encounters sessions this weekend and next. You’ll even get to see some weird and wonderful African and Egyptian hedgehogs! Beware of cuteness overload!

Come along to World Museum for sessions held at 11am, 12:30pm, 2pm and 3pm tomorrow, Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 March, and at the same times on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 March 2010 for your own close encounter.

The sessions last an hour, and are free when you collect a ticket from the museum’s information desk on the day to secure a place.

For more Meerkat pics, theres a gallery on the Liverpool Echo website.

Today is the anniversary of a momentous event for football fans in Liverpool and beyond. It was on this day in 1892 that Everton Football Club split in two, with half of the members leaving their home at Anfield and moving to a new site a few hundred yards away at Goodison Road, and the remaining members staying to form Liverpool Football Club.

The Everton Collection website features the actual minute book from 25 January 1892 that describes the members' final offer to Mr Houlding, the owner of the ground they were currently leasing, and the resolution to move to Goodison Road if the offer was not accepted. The rest is history. There's more on the Anfield Split as it came to be known, including the politics and personalities that contributed, in a special feature on the site.

I know I've mentioned The Everton Collection on this blog before but it really is a fantastic resource for fans of Everton, football in general or social history - it's the world's greatest collection of football memorabilia. There's an exhibition of some of the highlights from the collection - Everlution - at Liverpool's central library until Sunday 18 April. The Easter break is just around the corner and there'll be tours and children's trails over the period. And if you can't make it to the exhibition there's either the fascinating Everton Collection website, or objects from the collection will be featured in the new Museum of Liverpool. COYB!

Mother's Day is this Sunday and there's nothing nicer than going out for a scrumptious meal in a stunning setting, so why not treat your mum to a delicious lunch at the Maritime Dining Rooms? There’s a special offer of four courses with tea and coffee for just £17.95. Visit our website to see the enticing menu in full.

Treat your mum to a delicious lunch this Mother's Day

You can also go for the full afternoon tea for two with a bottle of Astoria Lounge Prosecco for just £25.00. To make a reservation call (0151) 478 4056 or pop up to the Maritime Dining Rooms.

Take a look at our great range of Mother's Day e-cards - send a work of art this Mother's Day, or send our Mummy to yours!

For this week's highlight from our Liverpool's Chinatown: Through the lens Flickr competition I've chosen this intriguing image by Alan Cookson, which captures Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral in amongst the vibrant colours of the flags of the Chinese New Year celebrations.

Chinese New Year © Alan Cookson

The Cathedral and gold dragon's head are neatly framed in the centre of the image, drawing the eye over and past the crowds, but they are also an integral part of the photo as a whole: though it is a landscape photo the image is made up of a series of vertical elements - a row of flags, the Cathedral tower (331 feet, 1.5 inches tall!) and an onlooker at the right side, these different elements combining seamlessly to give a natural flow to the picture. See the photo in a large size.

To celebrate our photography exhibition China: Through the Lens of John Thomson 1868-72 at the Merseyside Maritime Museum we want you to submit your photos of Liverpool's Chinatown to our Flickr pool - our favourite photo submitted by 24 May will win a banquet for two at Yuet Ben, with two runners-up winning exhibition catalogues. Find out more on the competition page.