Developing a theme

To develop our theme of  The Shrine of the Muses for our exhibition, we decided to conduct some research into each of the muses, then using Grayson Perry's current exhibition as a model, we decided to look at Plymouth City Museum's existing collection with a view to re-mixing it utilising the museums cabinet space situated on the ground floor in the main foyer area.

We decided to use this space as it is a non traditional gallery space and provides the highest amount of footfall for visitors to the museum.

There are currently seven cabinets the this floor consisting of two large double cabinets, four single cabinets and a half sized single cabinet at the foot of the stairs.

The idea is to utilise items within the museum's permanent collection that relate in some way to each of the nine muses and re display them i.e a cabinet would be used for the muse Euterpe could display musical instruments from the collection.

We also discussed using the pillars on the ground floor to display images that represent each of the nine muses, for example:

Another idea was to introduce a performance element into our exhibition by having invigilators that would be dressed in Greek outfits, who would provide talks about the exhibit at certain intervals during the course of the exhibition.( the amount of live talks dependent on costs and length of planned event)

www.tinyheroes.net

The museum also has two TV monitors on the ground floor, between cabinets, that could be used to show a filmed version of the live talks when there is no invigilator present.

Applying for an exhibition at Plymouth City Museum

The following link provides details of how to apply for an exhibition at Plymouth City Museum.

Completed proposals should be e-mailed to exhibitions@plymouth.gov.uk, or posted, marked for the attention of the Exhibitions Team

http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/homepage/creativityandculture/museums/museumpcmag/museumexhibitionsdisplays/museumexhibitionapplications.htm

The Museum's exhibition policy provides details of how and why exhibitions are chosen.

Plymouth City Museum & Art Gallery (PCMAG)
Revised Exhibitions Policy June 2008
With reference to The Framework for an Exhibitions Policy 2000
Background
1. PCMAG recognises the vital role of temporary exhibitions in strengthening and
developing audiences, raising the profile of PCMAG as a changing and pro-active
organisation, and making a significant contribution to the cultural offer of the City of
Plymouth.
2. The long-term display of parts of the permanent collections of local, natural, human
and world history in 2008 will have considerable impact on the balance of material
presented in the building. This factor and the reduction of the temporary exhibition
spaces from 3 to 2, will need to be accounted for in the forward planning of the
temporary exhibition programme.
3. The prevailing political and economic environment in which PCMAG is operating has
a high level influence on the content and scale of the exhibitions programme. The
significant reduction in funding from Renaissance in the Regions from 2008/09 is a
current issue. Careful management of resources, increased partnership working and
external funding will be required, if PCMAG is to develop and sustain an ambition to
present a high quality programme beyond 2009.
4. When entering into agreements with external bodies, ethical issues should be
considered to ensure that the partner/funder does not have business interests, or social or
environmental policies in conflict with the ethical principles of the Museums Association
or PCMAG or Plymouth City Council guidelines.

Aims
1. To attract, educate, entertain, and inspire a broad range of new and existing core
audiences to PCMAG.
2. To present an appealing, coherent, balanced, relevant and accessible temporary
exhibitions programme, that represents and reflects the communities, collections and
regional context of PCMAG.
3. To establish a reputation for PCMAG for presenting high quality exhibitions of local,
regional and national significance.
4. To increase capacity and potential to provide a service to the wider museum
community in the South West and in the longer term, to tour nationally.
  Objectives
1. To respond to and reflect the diversity of the permanent collections; increasing access
to PCMAG collections; complementing current displays of art, history, world cultures
and nature; increasing research, publication, conservation, interpretation, and potentially
leading to collections development through acquisition (e.g. Patrick Shanahan gift 2008).
2. To enhance public knowledge and understanding of the collections and the regional
context, both historic and contemporary, through research, interpretation and
opportunities for engagement.
3. To contribute to audience development, supporting the Audience Development Plan by
sustaining and increasing existing core audiences, encouraging repeat visits and
developing audiences by attracting new visitors.
Current targets for PCMAG Audience Development are:
Home Market: A/B,CI/C2,D/E,Families,Young People, 65+, Disabled, BME, Volunteers
Visitor Market: A/B/C1 (Family and non-Family), 45-65 and 65+, Day trippers
School Visits (on-site): Plymouth City (KS3 and 4 = main growth area).
4. To use public consultation on key exhibition projects to inform their development (e.g.
Human Cargo), and to take account of visitor feedback and data to assess the popularity
and reach of individual shows.
5. To support the development of educational and family activity in association with
exhibitions, maximising the potential for learning, engagement and enjoyment.
6. To support the development of public events in association with exhibitions, to cater
for a wide range of target audiences and to add value to the visitor experience.
7. To take account of current codes and priorities of the UK Museum community, the
South West Regional Hub and Plymouth City Council, and reflect local and regional
strategies for cultural development.
8. To take account of PCMAG Business Plan and current policies.
9. To programme at least one exhibition of national significance annually.
10. To programme a family-friendly exhibition during a school holiday period annually,
preferably in the summer months.
12. To participate in local, regional and national events that mark significant
anniversaries or celebrations. 13. To engage in local, regional, national and occasionally, international partnerships, to
raise the profile of PCMAG and maintain a dynamic and innovative approach to the
programme.
14. To promote the development of best practice and skills, working with colleagues to
strive to meet approved national standards in the delivery of the exhibitions programme,
in particular, to meet Government Indemnity Standards for environment and security.
15. To develop effective procedures for the management, documentation and review of
the programme.
Planning
General principles
1. As a mixed discipline venue PCMAG has potentially a very wide remit for the
temporary exhibitions programme and this should be considered in relation to the overall
visitor offer at a particular period of time.
2. Forward planning is essential. Ideally, the programme should be in place at least one
year in advance and dates of major exhibitions agreed three years in advance.
3. PCMAG should not only respond to external factors but be proactive in devising and
delivering in-house exhibition projects.
4. A proportion of the exhibition programme is determined by topical and relevant
local/national anniversaries/events (e.g Abolition 2007, Darwin 2009, PCMAG
Centenary 2010, Scott 2012), partnerships (e.g NPG), or by the outcome of a funding
application (e.g St Aubyn Project).
5. There should be scope to respond to opportunity and to take initiative.
6. An overall balance in the programme over a 2/3 year cycle is recommended, with
reference to the following recurrent themes and priorities:
• historic art of national/regional significance – Turner/Reynolds/A Fish Sale
Explored
• cultural identity – Leave to Remain/Human Cargo
• national and regional agendas/anniversaries – Brunel/ Abolition/Darwin
• local, social or historical interest - Scouting/Millbay
• family friendly - Wildlife Photographer of the Year/Space Age
• contemporary visual art and craft -  Art of Dining/Lead Astray/Tony Lattimer
• partnership development – national - NPG, V&A; regional – Hub and non-Hub
museums; University of Plymouth, Plymouth Visual Arts Consortium (PVAC) –
Nature Collected/FamilyAlbum/Darwin/ Reynolds/British Art Show   7. Consideration of the interests and expectations of existing core and potential audiences
over a given period, referencing seasonal visitor patterns, such as families during summer
months, schools during academic year, cultural tourism etc, and target audiences for SW
Regional Hub.
8. PCMAG will aim to consider the views of communities and stakeholders in the
selection and development of the exhibition and display programme.
9. In accordance with the Code of Ethics for Museums. PCMAG will aim to consult and
involve constituencies and communities in the development of individual exhibitions and
displays and value the contributions they make.

10. Cost/benefit analysis – cost of buying in a show, developing
in-house shows, projected audience numbers and length of run.
11. Exhibitions and displays to be compliant with current DDA statement. PCMAG will
aim to implement guidance in access audit into exhibition development.
Relevance and promotion of access to PCMAG collections
Please note that examples of exhibitions to be defined with Collections Team.
Art – Balance historical and contemporary
Highlight collection strengths
Thematic displays or colony or movement (Newlyn/St Ives)
Interpretation of selected work/s (A Fish Sale Explored)
Profile raising individual artist of local, regional or national significance (Turner/
Reynolds/Deacon/ Kurt Jackson)
Connection with national events and activity (Abolition / Darwin)
National Touring exhibitions (Geometry of Fear Hayward; British Art Show)
Other touring exhibitions (Where Are We? V&A)
Partnership projects (NPG/PVAC)
Contemporary commissions (Human Cargo)
Decorative art and craft – Balance historical and contemporary
Highlight collection strengths
Develop as a regular feature in the programme
Build regional and national links with craft organisations (Devon Guild)
Profile individual practitioner (Tony Lattimer)
Small and large-scale touring exhibitions (Indigo)
Collections based interventions (Lisa Cheung)
Partnership projects
Contemporary commissions (A Close Distance, Looking In/Looking Out) History –  Balance archaeology, ethnography, local, social and maritime history
Highlight collection strengths
Thematic displays or specific subject
Local relevance (Millbay, Scott)
Social and human interest (Peoples Plymouth)
National and regional anniversary or event (Brunel, Scouting, Abolition, Darwin),
Civic or local anniversary or event ( Royal Albert Bridge 2009)
Partnership projects (Treasures from the Earth)
Nature – natural history and science
Highlight collection strengths
Geographical relevance
Major events or achievements (Darwin 200)
Collectors (Nature Collected)
Local and regional context
Profile raising opportunities (Claws)
Partnership projects (Nature Collected)
A multi-disciplinary approach should be encouraged where appropriate
Selection
Criteria
1. Quality of concept and content
2. Valid, defined purpose
3. Target audience identifiable and/or potential for audience development
4.  Education and outreach potential
5.  Profile raising potential
6.  Innovative concept and/or imaginative presentation
7.  Resources identifiable and available
8.  Deliverable in timescale
9.  Capacity to deliver
10. Relevance to collections or regional context
11. Legacies to PCMAG  
12. Hub priority/ benefit to wider museum community
Process
On average around 100 applications are received each year and proposals are regularly
submitted by internal staff.
Procedure for selection transparent and streamlined, as per flow chart attached
Exhibition Proposal Form on Public Drive and website
Ideas bank for internal proposals   Dates agreed for receipt of proposals by Exhibitions Department 3 deadlines a
year
Short-listing by ED scoring against above criteria
Draft programme presented to MMT for consideration 2-3 times a year
Approved programme published on Public Drive
Staff exhibition meetings 3-4 times a year
Related areas recommended for further action
Interpretation strategy
Contracts
Conservation
Evaluation
Judith Robinson
Exhibitions Officer
June 2008

Erato The Muse Of Erotic poetry

Erato is the muse of lyrical poetry, especially love and erotic poetry. 

She is often shown holding a myrtle and roses, and holding a musical instrument called a lyre.

Thalia The Muse of Comedy

Jean-Marc Nattier 1739
www.myastrlogybook.com

Thalia was the muse who presided over comedy and idyllic poetry.

She was portrayed as a young woman with joyous hair crowned with ivy, holding a comic mask in her left hand.

Urania The muse of Astronomy

Urania was, in Greek Mythology, the Muse of Astronomy. The name comes from the Greek word for heavenly or of heaven.

She is usually depicted with a globe in her left hand and a staff in her right which she uses to point. She is said to be able to foretell the future by the arrangement of the stars and was often associated with universal love and the holy spirit.                         en.wikipedia.org/urania/muse.

Here's a selection of images of Urania.

A list of possible expenses when planning an exhibition

Below is a list of expenses that may be incurred when planning an exhibition. This should be considered against any possible sources of income that may arise should the event be successful, such as sales of work, sales of
catalogues, sales of drinks or funds raised from sponsorship grants or fund raising events for example.
 
Rent/rates
Electricity/heating
Building insurance

Publicity;
Invitation cards
Posters
Catalogues
Photography
Listings in newspapers/magazines
Framing/mounting
Transport/packaging of work.

Private view:
Wine/beer, non-alcoholic drinks
Food
Glass hire/breakages

Hanging/presentation tools
screws/plugs/level etc

Insurance of work

Miscellaneous:
phone calls,photocopying,
stationary,travel
Help/assisstance
Documentation

Contingency:
Be prepared for unseen costs that arise and allow a reasonable contingency of maybe 10% of the total cost.

Just an idea

 This is a rough plan of an idea we had for a pillar display on the ground floor of the museum.
The idea was to produce a framed panel that would have the face and hand of a muse attached to it.
The hand could hold anything that relates to the art that the muse represents. This could be a book of poetry, a scroll or a musical instrument for example.
The background panel could also be painted or decorated to illustrate which muse is being represented, using images that respond to the museum's collection.
We discussed producing nine of these to be displayed on each of the pillars on the ground floor.(But we would produce only one in reality, as an example for the purpose of this project.)

These casts were made using mod roc molds of a hand and face which were then cast in plaster.
The face is unfinished and needs to be trimmed and polished ready for display.

Hear what the muses have to say

For Beth

Grayson Perry at the British Museum

See other related videos from the British Museum after this clip.

Interrogating non-traditional space

 This is the central floor space in the main reception area on the ground floor, and has a lot of footfall as you have to pass it to get to the reception desk,  the rest rooms, the staircase to the first floor and the cafe/gift shop.
This would be a good space to display a centre piece for our exhibition.




Click on images to enlarge.

 A view of the sky lights from the central position on the ground floor.
A great space for a hanging display.

 A view of the first stair case from the ground floor.
A good space to exploit the use of light.

 An image of the first floor balcony.
Another opportunity for hanging displays or advertising.

 A view of the museum entrance area.
Could this be used in a way that draws the public into the museum?

 Other opportunities to display advertising

 Another viewpoint of the balcony.

Inside the first entrance door.
This area could also be used to advertise or provide information about the exhibition.

 Another view showing information about the British Art Show 7. Advertised very discreetly?????

 Floor plan with museum guides.
Could we make better use of this wall space?

 All of the wall spaces between the glass cabinets on the ground floor are nicely lit from above.

 Could we utilise this TV monitor.

There is a large amount of unused space above each of the display cabinets on the ground floor.

 Maybe spaces between radiators could be utilised.

 Or the centre of the light fittings themselves.

 The cafe has three cabinets like this which could be used to display pieces from our exhibition.

This large wall space in the cafe may also have possibilities.

Classical Art: Greek Mythology 'Shrine of the Muses'

Classical is a word that has many meanings. The greeks believed that the highest aspirations of the spirit could be expressed in a perfection of human form based upon harmony and proportion; belief in humanity. In the fifth Century BC, the greeks believed that the purpose of art was to edify, to create perfect forms of men and gods, illustrate the noble themes that expressed the triumpth of greek civilisation over barbism.

The three muses that i have chosen to analyse is Melpomene= Tragedy, Calliope= poetry and Euterpe=music. Linking in with these muses, I will be looking in the Plymouth Museum, looking at the different spaces and seeing what the muse could involve in that space of the museum. So far, i have found musical instruments that are african and chinese. The tragic history of the bombings in the World Wars in plymouth when it got blitzed and the last one which is poetry; i'm still working on that one!

IDEA FOR EXHIBITION DISPLAY IN MUSEUM

As a group, we had so many ideas what we were going to display but the idea were never ending; we got frustrated on how to take it further. Last week, we sat down as a group and analyzed what we were going to do about our project. We came up with some really good ideas and decided what we were going to do. As there are 9 muses, as there's three people in the group, we picked 3 muses to choose from and write about them; something where we're all involved doing the project. We thought that we would create a caste of a face and a hand and stick it on a pillar, were planning to do all nine but that would take forever. In the hand, we would place a scroll in it that links to one of the muses so it could be about comedy, tragedy, love poetry etc, or the spaces in the museum that links in with the muses.

In the centre of the museum, there's a circle at the entrance; we were thinking to dress up the fashion students although we would have to fund them, dress them up as the muses that inspire the arts. In town, there are statues that suddenly move, we were planning to do something like that. once a person who wants to look around the museum for the day, there would be nine muses standing around in a circle with their power on them; could also be like an advertisement having information on the muse, the person would be briefed to show people around the space that is linked to the art aka tragedy for example. The muses will be dressed as greek goddesses with masquerade masks that will be homemade. I will be going to Thailand for christmas and will bring back materials such as clothing fabric, may be dye or patterned print and close it up with a clip.

DRESS DESIGNS IDEA

Here are some examples to explain about the designs:

1. This is a photograph of my sister showing that the sarong has been tied up around the neck with a clip, as its so cheap out there in thailand, i will bring back loads of these but colour wise will have to link to the muses. I can choose the colours i want to do for mine and then the rest you can tell me what colours you are going to do for yours.

2. this photograph was taken out in the field that would create a greek look, the sarong ends have been tied around the back and the material has been folded in over the clip.

3. In this photograph, i have combined two pieces of sarong on the top half and the bottom half showing abit of the body.



THE THREE MUSES: CALLIOPE, MELPOMENE, EUTERPE= POETRY, TRAGEDY AND MUSIC

The three muses that i have chosen to do is the Muse of Tragedy who is Melpomene, the Muse of Poetry who is Calliope and the muse of Music who is Euterpe.

1. Melpomene- Muse of Tragedy

- The Mousai were, in the very beginning, nymphs guarding sacred wells of inspiration. The names fluctuated as well as their number, from region to region. The Boetian worship of the Nine muses fixed in place their number. From nymphs, they became collectively the goddesses of music, song and dance. The name Melpomene literally translates to "Celebrate with song and dance". The Mousai were assigned specific artistc and literary spheres; in this guise she was portrayed holding a tragic mask and sometimes wearing a wreath of ivy and conthurnus boots.

PHOTOGRAPHIC DESIGNS AND ILLUSTRATIONS FOR THE MUSE OF TRAGEDY

Linking in with the film of 'Phantom of the Opera', i chose to create a masquerade theme combining an old background and my sister dressed up with a masquerade mask around her face. in the background, layered in with my sister; shows a fork going through the eyes of the mask. This suggests that it is a tragedy of death in a melancholy way.





Working on photoshop, i used myself to demonstrate the Muse of Tragedy, using lots of filters.

1. - the first one is me in a portrait position at the side in a sepia colour. and the second comes out in a dark portrait position. Here are the differences:

 2. The filters i have used for this is space filters, but darked to create a mask around my face, the colours are dark; this could also be the muse of

Astronomy as its got that space feature.

Also on photoshop, i created a design that shows ''lost love''. The portrait photo shows a woman expressing her lost love on a ship on the collar bone as it is showed there. The face has skull features, the dead roses in her hair parting represents death and tragedy. On photoshop, the materials i that i used was a layer of parchment paper, then using tools such as ink and watercolours combined in photoshop. This piece reminds me of Jane Austen 'Persuasion'. As its not a greek feature, it links in with the muse Melpomene with the dark and faded colours.

Muse features- In some of my photographs, i have created themes such as models posing themselves in water. The elegance and beauty that the photograph makes reminds me of the delicasy and detail of greek sculptures. This is a picture of my friend Charlotte posing herself in the water with her skirt delicately places in the water with her back face the camera. There is also a photograph that i am fond of is charlotte laid out in the water doing breast stroke. As its not sculptural or anything, it can link in with the muse of astronomy swimming through space.

 'Landscapes of Tragedy'

I have also taken photographs that are related to the muse of tragedy that shows things and of people who look abandoned, in despair, no home and generally look like it could be the setting where Melpomene could be. But, some of them may look beautiful in its tranquil background, although the things that are in result in tragedy.

1. This photograph shows an abandoned swing in the winter where it is snowing, shows a dark side as the shadows and tones are black and white. Although it is beautiful with its tree setting, the power of despair lies in within the photograph.

2. These are series of photographs of a girl looking abandoned, with a face of tragedy of being 'homeless'.

This photograph here shows a her back from the camera; which suggests that she doesn't want her face to be shown, the despair in the way she has placed her self on the skip. The black and white photograph shows it all, the despair, the agony of longing of wanting to be needed, the tragedy of being alone and forgotten about.

The photograph in the sepia format shows a girl with her face almost hidden; cuddling up to a teddy bear. This suggests that she is longing for support but the tragedy about it that no one cares. I have put it in a sepia  format because i wanted it to look old and knackered. The background shows it because of the old mouldy carboard and the foliage vining through the rubbish. The aperature in the clothing shows detail and edginess, the theme i was trying to portray was to link to the song by Evanescence 'hello'.

The lyrics are shown below:



Playground school bell rings again

Rain clouds come to play again
Has no one told you she's not breathing?
Hello, I am your mind giving you someone to talk to
Hello

If I smile and don't believe
Soon I know I'll wake from this dream
Don't try to fix me, I'm not broken
Hello I am the lie living for you so you can hide
Don't cry

Suddenly I know I'm not sleeping
Hello, I'm still here
All that's left of yesterday

In this photograph on the the left, shows a girl laying in a position as a boy would; she shows the edginess in her face features and her body. the converses, the hols in tights, the droopy shirt. The photograph looks cold, the structure of it doesn't look appealing.

CALLIOPE= THE MUSE OF POETRY

The oldest and most well known of the nine muses is Calliope. Her gift to the mortal world was the inspiration of Epic Poetry. The other eight muses were equal in responsibility even if they aren't as well known as thier sister, Calliope. Today, the influence of the Muses are still present. In astronomy thier names are used to label many new discoveries. The world ''museum'' orginated from the word ''muse'' because it is a place where art, history and astronomy is preserved. Calliope literally means ''beauty of voice''. The optical elements have a real importance in the frame of relation between speaker and audience. Calliope's voice implies the powers of poetic speech, it could suggest that she has qualities of rhythmic song, of metrical speech. Calliope's relationship is between persuasion and justice. Although Calliope is also a musical instrument, it is defined as keyboard instrument. It is similar to an organ, that creates whistling sounds via the working of steam and compressed air.

Calliope is seen holding a writing tablet in her hand, sometimes seen with a roll of paper or book and crowned in gold. A quote suggesting Calliope:

'' I am your own way of looking at things. When you allow me live with you, every glance at the world around you will be a sort of salvation''.

William Stafford- 'When I Met My Muse''

As she is the source of 'beauty in the voice', this suggests that she is the key of all sort of poetic writing. Something that is so beautiful and delicate makes up her poetic charms to create detail pieces that will be well known for centuries. The beauty of her face gave me the idea to create a masquerade face of flower that are beautiful such as roses. With a plain mask, i glued one side with white rose petals that shows simple, delicate and beautiful features and the red represents passion to Epic Poetry. Here are a few examples;

This shows half of the face, this has been done in white rose petals and herbal flowers to create texture and smell. The mask shows a hidden aspect of love and epic poetry.

 The second photograph shows the full version where the mask has been split into two with the white on one side and the red is on the other side.  

Above is the Muse of Epic Poetry and these are the two designs i have created to make reference to the muse.

A poem by Edmund Spenser that tells about 'The Teares of the Muses'  

Rehearse to me, ye sacred Sisters nine,
The golden brood of great Apolloes wit,
Those piteous plaints and sorowfull sad tine
Which late ye powred forth as ye did sit
Beside the silver springs of Helicone,                    
Making your musick of hart-breaking mone!

For since the time that Phoebus foolish sonne,
Ythundered, through loves avengefull wrath,
For traversing the charret of the Sunne
Beyond the compasse of his pointed path,                  
Of you, his mournfull sisters, was lamented,
Such mournfull tunes were never since invented.

Nor since that faire Calliope did lose
Her loved twinnes, the dearlings of her ioy,
Her Palici, whom her unkindly foes,                       
The Fatall Sisters, did for spight destroy,
Whom all the Muses did bewaile long space,
Was ever heard such wayling in this place.

For all their groves, which with the heavenly noyses
Of their sweete instruments were wont to sound,           
And th'hollow hills, from which their silver voyces
Were wont redoubled echoes to rebound,
Did now rebound with nought but rufull cries,
And yelling shrieks throwne up into the skies.

The trembling streames which wont in chanels cleare       
To romble gently downe with murmur soft,
And were by them right tunefull taught to beare
A bases part amongst their consorts oft;
Now forst to overflowe with brackish teares,
With troublous noyse did dull their daintie eares.        

The ioyous Nymphes and lightfoote Faeries
Which thether came to heare their musick sweet,
And to the measure of their melodies
Did learne to move their nimble-shifting feete,
Now hearing them so heavily lament,                       
Like heavily lamenting from them went.

And all that els was wont to worke delight
Through the divine infusion of their skill,
And all that els seemd faire and fresh in sight,
So made by nature for to serve their will,                
Was turned now to dismall heavinesse,
Was turned now to dreadfull uglinesse.

Ay me! what thing on earth, that all thing breeds,
Might be the cause of so impatient plight?
What furie, or what feend, with felon deeds               
Hath stirred up so mischievous despight?
Can griefe then enter into heavenly harts,
And pierce immortall breasts with mortall smarts?
Vouchsafe ye then, whom onely it concernes,
To me those secret causes to display;                     
For none but you, or who of you it learnes,
Can rightfully aread so dolefull lay.
Begin, thou eldest sister of the crew,
And let the rest in order thee ensew.

IDEA FOR CASTE
As a group, we decided to create a caste of a hand and a face, moulded out of mod rock and latex. I created one which i used my own hand, the others worked together in their practical. The initial idea what to put a scroll in each hand that identifies the nine muses, talking about their speciality in powers such as comedy, music, tragedy, poetry etc. I took pictures of what Beth and Paul were creating, unfortunately i took it on phone and it took forever to download, so they will hopefully be up soon.
Another idea that i thought, maybe instead of writing on a scroll and place it in the hand, i thought of writing on the hand, it could be a poem, quotes, lyrics etc, illustrations of what the muse represents.

EURTERPE: THE MUSE OF MUSIC
Euterpe was one of the nine muese, the goddess of music, song and dance. She means ''giver of much delight''. She was in possession of joy, pleasure and flute playing, her attribe was the double flute.

Here is a poem regarding the muse :

Euterpe glanced her fingers o'er her lute,
And lightly waked it to a cheerful strain,
Then laid it by, and took the mellow flute,
Whose softly flowing warble filled the plain:
It was a lay that roused the drooping soul,
And bade the tear of sorrow cease to flow;
From shady woods the Nymphs enchanted stole,
While laughing Cupids bent the silver bow,
Fluttering like fays that flit in Luna's softened glow.

- This is 'an ode to music' by Kenneth G. Persival
'All you have to do is listen' - August Rush.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hrDNGmAigU

'Listen, Can you hear it? The music... I can hear it everywhere,

in the wind, in the air, in the light, it's all around us.

All you have to do is open yourself up,

All you have to do is listen!'

HEAR. LISTEN. BELIEVE.

In the Christmas holidays, I will be travelling to Singapore and Thailand for 3 weeks and abit. For this music piece, i have going to convert a piece entirely out of things around me in the atmosphere instead of composing a piece with musical instruments. This could be the traffic, the wind, the sound of trees, people talking, things going on in the house, things falling on the ground, the waves, bubbles, splashing in the swimming pool, footsteps, anything that involves sound apart from musical instrument. I can record music that is coming out of the radio but when it involves me music. I will be using a software that can compose the music into a sheet of music which includes notes, tabrature etc.



Interrogating space

Part of the task was to investigate using non tradittional gallery space within the museum.
A copy of the museum's floor plan.

Click on image to enlarge.

The ground floor houses permanent collections in five galleries:
Bringing the world to Plymouth
This space has collections of objects from living cultures in Asia, Africa and Oceania.

Ancient Egypt
A look at life and death in a civilisation that lasted for more than 30,000 years.

Uncovered
Archaeology, including examples of local finds, from graves to tools,weapons and earthenware.

Plymouth: port and place
See how Plymouth has been shaped by the sea, military and conflict.

Explore Nature
Exhibiting specimens from the natural history collection.

The first floor houses permanent collections in three galleries.
Atrium Gallery
A large decorative collection, including examples of Plymouth and Bristol Porcelain.

The China Connection
Discover the origins of porcelain

Cottonian Collection
A collection of oil paintings, old master and English drawings, watercolours, prints and items relating to Sir Joshua Reynolds PRA.

The remaining two galleries on the first floor are dedicated to the museums rolling exhibition programme.

The non-gallery spaces are the entrance area and reception, rest rooms and shop/cafe, also the staircase leading to the first floor.

A definition of museum

A building, place, or institution devoted to the acquisition, conservation, study, exhibition, and educational interpretation of objects having scientific, historical or artistic value.
From the Greek...Mouseion ' Shrine of the Muses'
www.thefreedictionary.com/museum accessed 18/11/2011
Shrine


A place of religious devotion or commemoration.
A place where devotion is paid to a deity.
The tomb of a saint or other venerated person.
A location where an important event is thought to have occurred.
A container or receptacle for sacred relics.
www.thefreedictionary.com/shrine accessed 18/11/2011
Muse


Greek mythology, any of the nine daughters of Mnemosyne and Zeus, each of whom presided over a different art or science.
A guiding spirit.
A source of inspiration.
A poet.
www.thefreedictionary.com/muse accessed 18/11/2011

As a group we thought the idea of a 'Shrine to the Muses' would provide inspiration for the theme of our project.

costume

01 Where to start

The aim of this project is to apply, through curatorial practice, what you have learned on the module thus far.

Through developing a curatorial (art) project in response to the specific spaces and collections of the museum, you will demonstrate the relationships between artist, institution and audience.

You will demonstrate critical thinking through the working-through of your ideas into a virtual curatorial project.

Desired outcomes

A completed exhibition proposal in partnership with the Plymouth Museum & Art Gallery.

A critical rationale- to be presented as an explanatory text that is adapted (by students) to various formats including exhibition presentation (10-15mins) and catalogue text.

 A completed visual element to accompany the curatorial proposal. (Format to be decided in conjunction with the tutor but possible examples include maquette, diagrammatic presentation, photoshopped representation, etc.)

Other outcomes


Funding proposals
Artist statements
Curatorial statements
Critical review of the exhibition (e.g. for newspaper/ journal etc.)

Possible roles within the team


Manager, curator, artist, writer (catalogue)
Writer (critic), administrator.

Deadline for presentation Thursday 19/01/2012

Name, Province and Attributes

The 9 Muses

Calliope

Province: Muse of Epic Song

Attribute: Wax Tablet

Clio

Province: Muse of history

Attribute: Scroll

Euterpe

Province: Muse of lyric song

Attribute: Double flute

Melpomene

Province: Muse of tragedy

Attribute: Tragic mask, ivy wreath

Terpsichore

Province: Muse of dance

Attribute: Lyre

Erato

Province: Muse of erotic poetry

Attribute: Smaller lyre

Polyhymnia

Province: Muse of sacred song

Attribute: Depicted veiled and pensive

Urania

Province: Muse of astronomy

Attribute: Celestial globe

Hmmmm