Adult Learners Week
During Adult Learners Week 2009 outreach staff delivered two sessions in a local prison. The sessions aimed to explore the museums collections, looking into the stories behind some of the objects. Five museum staff selected a favourite object and were video recorded talking about the objects. In the short films, the staff talk about acquisition, preservation and interpretation of these objects. The prisoners produced their own written or illustrated responses to the stories they had heard.
The Witch Molly By John Curry
The Witch Molly is a portrait of John Curry’s mistress. Its different from his earlier style with a lot more angular features. She is playing with her hair, which is a flirtatious pose. John was an artist from Newcastle under Lyme he was an extremely jealous man he later shot her and himself because she found someone else he died at the age of 31 from his wound.
*Sketch and writing in response to the paintings ‘Head of a Girl’ and ‘The Witch, Dolly Henry’ by John Curry
The Stafford Spitfire
Worshipping daytime eyes departed, the boys with grey locks, backs bent, head homeward, trapped in amber yesterdays as evening closes.
Yet still the smell of oil and tyres and aluminium rivets creeps back to cradle, cosset and protect.
The dull shined leather, tight-strung, string-wrapped, still, to stop their slipping, sweat-wrung fingers.
Decades-starred plastic bubble, shrouding dials and cotton covered wires, all connected.
Buffed-edged brass push-buttons, rotor wheels and handles, bakelite brown trim and casings, hiding switches, all turned off.
A skin as thin as your master’s chances, tight pinned to wafer rafters and balanced back from silenced thunder, wizard’s namesake, New World’s lease lend, oiled and waiting, coiled and waiting, endless waiting.
Under glass and in memoriam slumbers sweet Spitfire.
*Written in response to the Mark XVIc Spitfire
Spitfire
Wings outstretched and tail held proud, you patrol the sky for prey. One is sighted, the chase is on.
Twisting, turning, soaring high, you spin and swoop down upon the tasty morsel, devouring to satisfy the hunger within, and you watch its remains fall to earth.
Once more your keen eyes search for those intruders who dare to threaten this land of ours.
Go back to whence you came, dare not return, lest you wish to feel my wrath again,
Oh how I wish too gaze upon your beauty once more, to hear the cry of triumph and see your dance of victory.
The generations to come will never understand the sacrifice you made to keep our homeland free.
*Written in response to the Mark XVIc Spitfire
Spitfire
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1. Spitfire flying high above the land so small, protecting all below.
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2. You were made for war to kill, kill, kill, so that we could be free.
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3. Free from evil, free from domination, free from persecution.
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4. This is the freedom you gave us all.
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5. We owe you the pilots who gave it all.
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6. We remember you all those who survived and those who didn’t.
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7. You will never be forgotten.
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8. You sacrificed yourselves so that we could be free.
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9. You flew amongst the angels, now you are amongst them once again.
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10. You will never know the pride I have for you all.
I end now with a BIG THANK YOU
* written in response to the Mark XVIc Spitfire
The Ivory God Boat
The Chinese god boat made of ivory
Is sitting there for all to see
The joy it gives to those who look
Looks much better than copies in a book.
The gods sit round a table laid
The hours that it to took, to be made
The intricate carvings of every one
It catches all the rays of the sun.
To be modelled at the museum here
Bring from the Chinese, a silent tear
To see their ancient sculpture there
Brings so much happiness to those who care.
The curator put it in pride of place
For those to see from every race
They look on with sincerity
At the boat and their Deity.
*Written in response to the Ivory Ship of Fortune
