I was at the Outsiders exhibition at @stalbansmuseums.bsky.social for quite a while yesterday, quietly observing the interactions with the work. The level of engagement was surprisingly high, with people reading all of the labels and stories and it stimulating a lot of conversations among visitors. - ThreadSky

marcdavenant.bsky.social • 1 day ago

I was at the Outsiders exhibition at @stalbansmuseums.bsky.social for quite a while yesterday, quietly observing the interactions with the work. The level of engagement was surprisingly high, with people reading all of the labels and stories and it stimulating a lot of conversations among visitors.

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andyburke.bsky.social•1 day ago

Planning to visit next week, and I’ve been going through the book again in preparation.

marcdavenant.bsky.social•1 day ago

It’s a great museum, well worth visiting the exhibition in the basement as well.

stalbansmuseums.bsky.social•1 day ago

I can't tell you how many conversations happen in 'Outsiders', everyone has an opinion, a story and a lot of empathy ❤️ @marcdavenant.bsky.social

marcdavenant.bsky.social•1 day ago

That’s great to hear

marcdavenant.bsky.social•1 day ago

Dwell times in the exhibition were high and there wasn’t a lot of fleeting interaction with the work. It’s a lesson for me in how to design the next exhibition in order to drive engagement with the work at a deeper level. Lots to think about.

marcdavenant.bsky.social•1 day ago

The next exhibition is Rebellion! an exploration of protest as part of the cultural identity of Britain. It’s a more polarising subject and unlikely to generate the sympathy that Outsiders has. The interpretation and design need to be just right to challenge preconceptions and get people thinking.

tamarphotography.bsky.social•1 day ago

Not offering advice here but I've long thought of a project around 'neo-liberalism' & its effects. Worth reading 'The Spirit Level' by Kate Pickett and Richard Wilkinson. https://equalitytrust.org.uk/the-spirit-level/

marcdavenant.bsky.social•1 day ago

There’s a lot of potential for a project like that

tamarphotography.bsky.social•1 day ago

I'd argue that neo-liberalism (as a former political economist) lies underneath both your projects. No idea how to make a photographic project out of it... beyond my skill level. I'd probably start with Pickett & Wilkinson for inspiration - plenty of visual graphs in it. Got me thinking though.

marcdavenant.bsky.social•1 day ago

That’s very true

tamarphotography.bsky.social•1 day ago

An exhibition I'd love to see but there's nothing scheduled for west of London. Devon & Cornwall are in some ways more forgotten than the north particularly with holiday and second homes. Cornwall has the highest no of rough sleepers outside London https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/apr/01/everyone-wants-a-piece-of-cornwall-locals-up-in-arms-over-second-homes

marcdavenant.bsky.social•1 day ago

Yes we were going to include Cornwall in the project but Covid scuppered that. I’d love to show the exhibition there but there’s been zero interest from museums or galleries in the South West.

tamarphotography.bsky.social•1 day ago

The south west (Cornwall especially) can be very introvert. Have you tried https://www.theploughartscentre.org.uk/

marcdavenant.bsky.social•1 day ago

I haven’t. We stopped pitching the exhibition as nobody ever replies. All of the bookings have come from people approaching us.

tamarphotography.bsky.social•1 day ago

I see :-( I'll mention it to them.

tamarphotography.bsky.social•1 day ago

Resorted to emailing them - someone named Grace. Hope they contact you. Entirely selfish motivation on my part not being able to travel to St Albans but Great Torrington is easy!

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