At Storylines we’re always exploring new ways to showcase stories creatively. For the Withy Lore project this saw us sharing extracts from the project’s oral histories through both a listening station and series of collaged stories. Using found imagery and old postcards, these collages illustrate sections of the stories we heard, presenting them as open books.
Listening Station and Story Collages
We wanted the stories to be as accessible as possible, so as well as QR codes for each story, we created a listening station within the exhibition. It’s lovely watching people of all ages use the player. At this listening station people can sit and choose a story, simply placing the corresponding card into the audio player to listen. All the audio stories we have made are now on our vimeo channel, linking the collage images with the audio. Here’s one from Barry from Mullion…
Film Loft
As well as a listening station we’ve also created our own cosy net loft. Inspired by the net lofts and fishing stores we’ve spent the last year visiting, this provides a place to watch the project films we’ve made. Each is different and provides a personal reflection of someone’s connection to the craft.
Sensory and story prompts
We knew from the outset that we wanted the exhibition to be as immersive as possible. With this in mind we created a series of circular text panels which encourage visitors to engage with the exhibition using all their senses, as well as share their own stories with those close by. The panels also emphasise key nuggets of information that link to the stories and artworks on the wall.
The exhibition runs until 30th June 2025 so we hope you get along to enjoy it.
This project has been made possible with thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, FEAST Cornwall, Cornwall Community Foundation, the St.Aubyn Foundation and the Fishmongers’ Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust.
This is the most charming and interesting exhibition I have seen in a long time. Cleverly varied in its display, and everything so well made – from the withy pots installation to the collaged illustrations and the beautifully crafted jewellery and prints. The stories, in film, text and audio, are a treasure trove of memories. Deserves wide recognition and an award. Thank you for all the thought and care behind this.
I have been trying to show my students who are making withy pots, the storylines films and oral histories that were recorded for this fantastic exhibition ie all the different makers. I can find no direct way of accessing the individual stories and films, which is frustrating for the casual observer or researcher, especially as it’s such a fantastic resource. Could some CDs be made ,I guess that’s old school now, but actually a good gift or archive.
Hi Sue, Brilliant that you can share the films with your students. Sorry you’ve found this tricky to access… the best place to find all the films and extracts from the oral histories would be here… scroll down through the photos and they’ll all be there.
https://www.storylines.org.uk/project-media/withy-lore/
We always used to make project CD’s but now find most people don’t have a means of playing them. All the oral histories are archived in full though so can be accessed through Kresen Kernow.