It’s been great to be welcomed into different spaces to find new ways to share what we’ve gathered through the Withy Lore project with artist Anna Pope. Reflecting the seasonality of pot making, we chose to share stories and artworks which fitted the activities that would have traditionally taken place at that time of year. Here’s some snippets from our fascinating oral history with Nigel Legge at Cadgwith. This is illustrated with collages we made for the project…
Kresen Kernow
Following our exhibition at the Museum of Cornish Life, we travelled to Kresen Kernow, which is now home to each oral history we conducted as part of the project. The exhibition space was full of natural light and we were pleased with just how many different withy pots we could include in a small space.
Withy Lore exhibition at the National Lobster Hatchery in Padstow
The National Lobster Hatchery
Last on the tour was the National Lobster Hatchery in Padstow, where we had the pleasure of exhibiting in their newly renovated space overlooking the estuary. Now heading into Spring, we focused on when freshly woven pots would have been cast into the ocean for the first time.
A time of great anticipation and expectation. It’s hard to listen to stories of these masterfully crafted pots being lost in an early storm. Then the implications, in a time before readily available plastic pots could be purchased, would have been far greater.
Each exhibition featured our listening station, enabling visitors to listen to extracts from the fascinating oral histories we conducted on this heritage craft. What better place to sit and listen to these than in Richard Hoopers’ withy pot inspired chair, which he kindly loaned us for Truro, Helston and Padstow.
It’s been a joy to work alongside the withy pot community, artist Anna Pope and each of the venues which have hosted us. A huge thank you to everyone who has supported the project, shared with us and to the Little Parc Owles Trust and Fishmongers Company for funding this later stage of the project.
Project talk
Artist Anna Pope (L) and Sarah Trevillion (R) from Storylines
As part of the programme of events for members of Creative Kernow Associates, Anna Pope and Sarah from Storylines will be sharing their collaborative approach to place-based making, community workshops and a creative installation
Museum of Cornish Life, Helston
Monday 29th June, 1pm-4pm
Free for Creative Kernow Associates members / £5 for non-members
Limited to 12 spaces
