March Talk: Ann-Rachael Harwood on the Antarctic explorer Edward Wilson

 I was not able to attend the talk, so am including the information about the talk and then some photographs kindly taken by our Treasurer, Brigid Harkness used to illustrate the talk.

Ann-Rachael is a passionate Antarctic historian with a special interest in the life and work of Edward Adrian Wilson. She is a museum curator by training and had a varied career working at the Tower of London cataloguing cannon balls, to time at the old prison at Northleach, the Corinium Museum in Cirencester and lately at The Wilson in Cheltenham. Here, she encountered the work and writings of the naturalist, doctor, artist and Antarctic scientist Edward Adrian Wilson and became fascinated by the frozen southern continent. 

About the talk...

Edward Adrian Wilson (1872 to 1912) was born in Cheltenham, and spent his childhood roaming the hills and fields around the town, totally absorbed in the natural world when he was not at school. He pursued that love throughout his life, training as a Doctor but still sketching every living creature he came across from ant to elephant.  Wilson went on two expeditions with Scott to Antarctica, painting and drawing the landscape, mapping the coastline and mountains, capturing and dissecting natural history specimens and starting us off on our love affair with Emperor Penguins. He led a trip in the Southern winter to find out about the Emperor Penguins' breeding habits, now referred to as 'The Worst Journey in the World'. He was one of the 4 men picked to go to the South Pole with Scott but died on the return journey in 1912. His legacy lives on through the Wildlife and Wetlands Trust, the World Wide Fund for Nature and the Scott Polar Research Institute as well as the many amazing scenes he painted in Antarctica.....and Penguin biscuits!

The Wilson, Cheltenham's art gallery and museum was named after Edward Adrian Wilson.

The Crippetts in Leckhampton was somewhere Wilson used to go to immerse himself in nature and draw.

'That God should lay such beauty at our feet' is what the writing accompanying the drawings done one imagines from observations in the field.

Below a great photos of those on the expedition. They don't appear to be wearing very much clothing considering the conditions

This presumably is one of Wilson's paintings.

I'm sorry I missed the talk, Wilson sounds like a fascinating person who died at the early age of 40 in the Antarctic.

Private View 14 March

 It was wonderful to attend the Private View celebrating the opening of two exhibitions, Seriously... and A Very British Art Revolution, at Museum and Art Swindon on 14 March. The Friend's exhibition called Seriously... runs from 25 February until 13 September is something I am very proud to say I have been involved in helping put together, along with other members of the Friends. Friends who curated the exhibition will be giving a talk on the exhibition at 7.30pm on 24 April. The other exhibition, A Very British Art Revolution runs from 11 March until 5 July, it was curated by Katie Ackrill and Kirsty Hartsiotis, and is a great exhibition of works from the Swindon Collection, with a focus on the first decade of the twentieth century.

I took a few photographs of the event and have also used some photos taken by Claire Parsons and will indicate when this is the case, although it's fairly obvious.

We started downstairs at the Civic Offices with drinks provided by the Friends and served by them as well. After a bit of mingling and drinking, there were speeches, starting with Kirsty Hartsiotis, Collections and Exhibitions Officer seen above.

Next we heard from Andrew Cross, Chair of the Friends about how pleased he was with both exhibitions. Below you can see there was a quick shot of the audience. I'm not sure howmany attended, but it seemed pleasantly full.

Finally Frances Yeo, Museums Manager talked about how pleased she was with the turnout and the exhibitions.

We then went upstairs and looked at the two exhibitions and chatted. I took a few more photos

It was lovely to see so many people enjoying the exhibitions and chatting to each other

You will recognise some people. It was lovely to see Barbara Swann, who was Deputy Chair and writer of the newsletter, among other things had travelled from Swansea to be at the PV.

The following photos are much less 'point and see what you get', and are by courtesy of Claire Parson,  one of the curators of the Seriously... exhibition and part of an unlocking collections team and also member of the Friend's committee.

Above setting the scene

Below Barbara looking at the Robert Priseman's.

and below, Jeremy Lune appreciating a painting.

So there we are, a great evening celebrating lots of the Swindon Collection being on display for the first time in 5 years.