The minerals and mineworkings of North East Cumbria have inspired 'Hand Over Hand', a new exhibition at Penrith and Eden Museum of artwork by Jane Foale. The artist's fascination with geology and mining history is reflected in the work, much of which responds to Silver Gill Mine in the Caldbeck Fells.
The project came about after a visit underground at Silver Gill with Warren Allison of the Cumbria Amenity Trust Mining History Society and has involved the cooperation of the Lake District National Park Authority. Also on show are some of the area's spectacular, but rarely-seen, mineral specimens from the collections of Penrith Museum and Tullie House Museum in Carlisle.
The workings at Silver Gill go back to Elizabethan times and were made by miners who originated from what is now Austria. The marks of their painstaking work driving tunnels through sheer rock with only hand tools can still be seen on the walls. 'Touching the original marks made by miners 450 years ago was a decisive moment for me', says the artist. 'The cumulative outcome of these repeated actions has inspired some of the processes used in making the works'.
Jane has worked on a number of projects inspired by her interest in mineralogy, including Residencies at Killhope Lead Mining Museum in the North Pennines and Cliffe Castle Museum in West Yorkshire. She will shortly be starting work towards an exhibition at The Ruskin Museum, Coniston during 2012.
The 'Hand Over Hand' exhibition runs until Friday 1 July 2011.
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Should you wish to loan, donate or bequeath any objects to the Museum the curators will only be to happy to receive them.
Museum Curators
Penrith and Eden Museum curators are available to answer questions on current and future exhibitions as well as any other questions concerning the museum and its collections:
- Contact: Dr Sydney T Chapman or Mrs Judith Clarke, MA AMA, Joint Curators,
- Address: Penrith Museum, Robinson School, Penrith CA11 7PT
- Telephone: 01768 865105
- Email: museum@eden.gov.uk
