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Come and handle 17th and 18th century botany books from the Harris Museum collection in a free event open to all. You will get the chance to see some incredibly beautiful botany books up close and books that show dandelions. You will also get the chance to try and discover all the dandelion objects, books and artworks that have been placed within the collection and galleries for you to find.
The event at the Harris Museum, Art Gallery and Library in Preston
5.30 - 7.30 on Wednesday 26th September 2018
and is FREE!!
Look what I got!
I've known for a while that Crayola do a Dandelion crayon, but never managed to get my hands on one. However, I am currently in California and while browsing the stationary section in the supermarket I saw the different Crayola packs and opened a box to see. And what a gorgeous colour it is! It is named 'dandelion, diente de leon, pissenlit' and is in a pack of 24 crayons.
The pack states " Made with solar power! Starting Spring 2010, solar panels provide enough power to make a BILLION crayons each year!"
When I return home the Dandelion crayon (along with the others) will go into the Dandelion Archive.
One of the books selected for inclusion in my exhibition Dandelions: Rustic Oracles at the Harris Museum, is The Herball or Generall History of Plantes by John Gerard from 1636. It is from the Dr Shepherd's Library Collection at the museum.
It is a large volume with absolutely beautiful illustrations throughout of different plants. It is currently on display in a cabinet in the reference library at the Harris Museum in Preston, and is of course open on the page listing dandelions.
The Herball will remain on display until the end of the exhibition on 7th October 2018.
Here are some more objects from my Dandelion Archive in the exhibition Dandelions: Rustic Oracles at the Harris Museum, Art Gallery & Library in Preston.
Shown here are examples of dandelion tea and coffee and also a beautiful cup and saucer from Russia that have been placed in the display about Teetotallism.
Teetotalism was first started in Preston and is the practice of total abstinence from alcohol. There is a display dedicated to the movement in the Harris Museum, so the dandelion tea, coffee and cup & saucer seemed to fit quite well.
The exhibition runs until 7th October 2018.
Here is one of the cabinets in my Dandelions: Rustic Oracles exhibition at the Harris Museum, Art Gallery & Library. I spent time looking in their special collection of books in the library and chose a number of really beautiful books to go on display in the exhibition.
Alongside this book I have put a packet of dandelion seeds from China and also a box of weed killer (with an image of dandelions on the box), both from the Dandelion Archive.
What a contradictory relationship we have with this beautiful plant!
The exhibition runs until 7th October 2018
www.harrismuseum.org.uk
My archive intervention at the Harris Museum, Art Gallery & Library continues until 7th October 2018, so there is still plenty of time to go and discover all the dandelion related objects within the collection.
I have put dandelion items from my Dandelion Archive alongside items chosen from the Harris collection and also their library too. However, you have to discover them yourself by exploring the museum, as i've not detailed where each item is. You might not find them all...
A leaflet / poster has been produced and is available for free at the Museum. The image about shows the poster side. Go and collect one now!
