I live in a Pontnewydd, a small village in Cwmbran. From the moment I wake up until I go to bed my day is spent organising and coordinating the procurement of materials – mostly bedding – for my facebook group 'Cwmbran Sewing Group' to convert into much needed scrubs, laundry bags and ear protectors for the NHS and care staff in our local area.
I was a foot health practitioner and had to close my business straight away as it involves physical contact. I decided to form the sewing group to keep myself and some of my patients occupied, mentally and physically whilst benefitting front line staff.
My group have all donated a quilting square to commemorate our time in lockdown and the pandemic that brought us all together in a way that was personal to them. The quilt is being made up at this moment and will measure 91'' x 91'' on completion.
It has been a very stressful time for many but I think we have all learned a lot from this tragic event. I am happy and satisfied that I've been able to do my bit to help other people, within my group and those outside of it that had to remain in work.
In the first part of my blog I discussed a little about the role myself and two fellow volunteers undertook when completing an exhibition evaluation placement as part of the ARTIST ROOMS: August Sander exhibition at National Museum Cardiff. In this second part I would like to explain more about why I applied for this placement and how my experience highlights the significance of recording exhibition evaluation feedback.
As this placement presented an opportunity to work with a photography exhibition, I wanted the chance not only to get to know the work of Sander but to gain an understanding of photography as an aesthetic and material format. Moreover, my primary area of art-historical knowledge is based around painting, print and decorative art. So, the placement offered me a kind of prompt to discover more about how photographs can be displayed to encourage diverse public interaction.
As well, I thought that aiding my understanding of why curatorial decisions are made regarding the display of photographic material, and especially how younger audiences can be reached though utilising particular curatorial strategies, would be beneficial. Exhibition evaluation, too, is something which I think is essential to help assess what elements worked, what didn’t and how visitor feedback could point towards creating more engaging displays in the future. Just as significantly, I was keen to take on a role that involved being a presence in the gallery, watch people interact with the work and listen to what they thought about it.
During the placement, the fact that we were physically situated in the Sander exhibition certainly permitted enjoyable conversation with a variety of visitors. Many had come specifically to see Sander’s portraits, but a sizeable number stumbled across the exhibition during their museum exploration. By talking with us in the gallery space, as well as being able to record opinions on the iPad surveys, feedback could be collected through conversation and, of course, directly via online survey for the more formal collective evaluation. Furthermore, we could relay feedback in relation to how visitors experienced and negotiated the different thematic and spatial parts of Sander’s show as we spent so much time within it.
Sadly, plans to extend the exhibition evaluation placement to encompass the Imagine a Castle: Paintings from the National Gallery exhibition, which ran concurrently to Sander’s exhibition, have been curtailed for now. However, I look forward to returning to spend time with the art and interacting with exhibition audiences soon!
Many thanks to ARTIST ROOMS, the Henry Moore Foundation and The Colwinston Charitable Trust for their support of the Exhibitions Programmes at Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales.
Ian Smith - Senior Curator of Modern & Contemporary Industry, National Waterfront Museum, 28 May 2020
It’s really important that we continue to stay at home and stay safe here in Wales. During this Whitsun week many of you are getting creative and camping in the garden or enjoying a staycation in the caravan on the drive. Some of you might be reminded of camping or caravanning trips to the Urdd Eisteddfod over the years, or to some of your favourite holiday spots along our coast. So, to help us all with a little holiday nostalgia as we stay at home, here’s Ian Smith, Curator at the National Waterfront Museum with a little of the history behind this picture:
This image was taken about 1951 and features the Dodds family who lived in Cardiff. Mr Dodds commissioned the caravan in 1950 to be built and fitted out by Louis Blow & Co in Canton, Cardiff. The van cost £600.00 which was a small fortune in those days. The family toured all over South Wales, eventually though the van was left permanently on a farmer’s field near Newport in Pembrokeshire. There, the family had all their summer holidays until 2009.
The family planned the layout and it included such things as a special cupboard top that the baby’s carry cot would fit perfectly; a fold down double bed for Mother and Father and a sliding oak dividing screen which effectively formed two bedrooms. There was a small kitchen with a gas stove and a sink with a footpump tap to provide washing water. Drinking water had to be colleced in big aluminium containers – a good job for the children if they needed tiring out. The awning doubled the size of the living space and provided an area to keep things dry.
In 2009 the museum was offered the caravan by Michael Dodds, then in his 70s. Mike is the older boy at the back of the group in the picture. The caravan is on display in St Fagans National Museum of History in the ‘Life Is …’ Gallery.
I’m living at my home in the Vale of Glamorgan. I feel lucky it is a quiet area with lots of green space. I share my home with my two children, 11 and 7 and our two cats.
We’ve really missed our extended family but have got to know neighbours so much more. One is isolating as she is high risk so we do her shopping for her and chat over the garden fence daily which we didn’t do before when we were both busy with work and life. We’ve been having technology like Zoom and Houseparty to speak to my siblings and have done quizzes with family on there. My children have FaceTimed friends and written letters to post to them.
I’m a student nurse and so all of my lectures are now online rather than within the University Hospital Wales. It’s been difficult to concentrate at home but I couldn’t be prouder of my future occupation right now.
The children started off quite excited about the home schooling and it’s been wonderful to get to know them as learners and see where their strengths lie in an academic sense. But it’s been difficult to be around each other 24/7. They’ve missed social interactions and their girl guiding and football groups. They’ve adapted wonderfully though and understand why this is happening, but they are hopeful one day we will go back to a familiar sort of normal.
It’s very up and down. Obviously there’s a lot of anxiety, especially for those vulnerable like my parents. But I try to remain positive and enjoy this precious time with my children and the lack of consumerism. Some days it’s hard and I miss normality and my friends and family more than others.
I hope when this is all over, people spend their money in Wales. Take holidays in Wales, use local businesses and give back to those small companies who helped so much during the pandemic.
Rwy’n byw mewn fflat i'r henoed ac yn gwbl annibynnol yn fy fflat fy hunan. Mae 33 o fflatiau cyffelyb yn y bloc. Nid cartref gofal mohono. 'Does gen i ddim teulu agos yma yng Nghaerdydd, felly 'dyw'r sefyllfa honno ddim wedi newid.
'Dydw i ddim wedi gweld fy ffrindiau ers deufis. 'Dydw i ddim hyd yn oed yn gweld fy nghymdogion yn y bloc oni bai fy mod i'n digwydd taro ar eu traws yn y coridorau, neu wrth gerdded yn yr ardd. 'Dydw i ddim wedi mynd trwy glwyd y bloc fflatiau ers 21 Mawrth. Os bydda' i'n mynd allan o'r fflat, mi fydda' i'n golchi fy nwylo wedi dod nôl. 'Dydw i ddim wedi gwisgo masg o gwbl hyd yn hyn, ond efallai y gwna' i pan fydda' i'n dechrau mynd allan.
Rwy’ fwy neu lai yr un pethau ag o'r blaen, ac eithrio pethau sy'n golygu mynd allan, ond gan fod mwy o amser 'rwy'n teimlo fy mod i'n gwneud pethau yn fwy araf. Derbyn ac anfon ebyst, edrych ar y teledu, chwarae 'Patience' ar fy ffôn.
Mi fyddwn i fel rheol yn siopa mewn archfarchnad leol bob wythnos, a phrynu rhai pethau arbennig mewn siopau ynghanol y ddinas. Ond nawr 'rwy'n dibynnu ar garedigrwydd gwraig o'r capel sy'n prynu popeth drosta' i yn yr archfarchnad leol.
Mae'r pryder am y posibilrwydd o ddal y clefyd yn lleihau fel mae'r amser yn mynd heibio. Ond os yw wedi dod unwaith, oni all ddod eto, neu ryw bandemic arall? Mae hyn yn destun pryder. Ond 'rwy'n teimlo'n ddiolchgar na fu dim tebyg o'r blaen yn ystod fy mywyd.
