The Doc Rowe Archive And Collection – important news

New exhibition to celebrate and interpret traditional British folk culture

Doc Rowe
Planting The Penny Hedge

The Doc Rowe Archive And Collection is delighted to announce an exhibition of artworks inspired by the archive, following confirmation of Arts Council support. Two fine artists and a photographer – Natalie Reid, Anna FC Smith and Bryony Bainbridge – are set to work with folklorist and collector, Doc Rowe, to explore his archive and collection, amassed over decades of documentation of British folk culture and customs.

Following three days of research and development at the archive, based in Whitby, in January 2017, the artists will create new, original artworks which explore the meaning and content of the archive, as well as contemplating Doc Rowe as collector. The new artworks will be displayed alongside a curated selection of pieces from the archive chosen to reflect customs found in the area local to the exhibition or selected in order to complement the themes explored through the new artworks.

Project manager, Stephanie West, says:

“Doc Rowe’s archive is of national importance and significance. The sheer volume of audio and video material documenting British folk culture is unmatched by any other collection in the country, and for the first time, we have the opportunity to understand its continuing relevance by opening it up to artist interpretation.

“The exhibition will allow us to explore the role of the folklorist and collector in the present day, and how intangible traditional customs can be ‘preserved’ for future reflection and artistic contemplation.”

Research and development is underway, with the exhibition opening in two locations in 2018. The project has also launched a Justgiving campaign to raise funds to support the archive’s overheads during the forthcoming year. At the time of writing, the total is just over halfway of the £4,700 target.

For more information and for future developments including exhibition venues, please visit the project blog at any of the following:

http://docrowearchiveandcollection.blogspot.co.uk/ @docrowe_archive

https://www.facebook.com/docrowearchive/

Doc’s website: http://www.docrowe.org.uk/


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