School pupils have become curators at The Wallace Collection (above). Courtesy the Wallace Collection
News: we don't often get to write about exhibitions curated by pupils. The Wallace Collection's Shhh...it's a Secret exhibition has been put together by pupils from St Vincent's Catholic Primary School. They've even sent us a press release alongside the official Wallace Collection one. We've got our Culture24 preview for you first, then read on for the pupils' version. If you and your class are able to get along to the exhibition - why not send us a review? Get in touch - we'd love to hear from you!
Exhibition: Shhh…it's a Secret, The Wallace Collection, London, February 4 - March 28 2010
Twelve primary school pupils have turned their hand to curating for this innovative interactive exhibition at The Wallace, London's revered townhouse full of art collected by successive Marquesses of Hertford and their offspring in the 19th and 18th centuries. The exhibition explores the secret symbols, compartments and stories behind some of the most enigmatic pieces in the Wallace Collection.
Working with experts from the Collection, the children from St Vincent's Catholic Primary school have picked an immaculate gold snuffbox owned by 18th century philosopher Voltaire and an oak writing desk which morphs into cupboards and book spines among a wealth of revealing objects.
Their investigations have also unearthed a few secrets behind the selection, including interpretations of mystery engravings and the volatile life of Madame de Sérilly, the it-girl of 18th century French creativity who survived three husbands and the threat of execution, depicted with a white marble profile cast in the Collection.
The children have chosen the displays and themes of the galleries, labelling pieces and playing an instrumental role in marketing the exhibition and ensuring it remains on budget.
A special trail focusing on other "magical pieces" in the Collection will accompany the show, as well as three free drop-in workshops for families under the guidance of the young curators.
Here's the St Vincent's Catholic Primary School pupils' press release:
We're Curators
We are 12 really fortunate children, we are curators. We have been working with the world famous Wallace Collection in London. At the beginning of our quest we didn’tKnow many professional museum words like "curators". Over the months we have had to select objects and decide whether it is suitable or not. History has flown right into us, boy was it great missing school but we still learned many interesting things. The exhibition has been a life changing journey and is full of dead cool secrets. My favourite object is the parrying dagger, it has a button and then it turns into 3 daggers. Imagine that! Also there are many other cool objects like the HP gauntlet belonging to Henry Prince of England. We have many objects, from paintings to furniture, from armour to household objects and many more. There is only 1 name of an exhibition that you need to know, "Shhh…it's a Secret". So come with your family and enjoy the show in February.
What piece did you prefer? Here at Culture24, we very impressed by the pupils' press release and frankly feel like we've got competition on our hands. Please do get in touch if your pupils have been to a museum, gallery, archive, science centre or heritage site and would like to email us a review.
The sumptuous Wallace Collection (above). © M.Chonan, Wikimedia Commons
Shhh...it's a Secret exhibition programme
Artist-run workshops:
Invisible Writing and Hidden Symbols: February 18, 10am-12.15pm and 2pm - 3.45pm
Letter writing in invisible ink and personal emblem design, sealed with wax. Age 6+
Transformer Furniture: March 6, 2pm - 4pm
Choose and draw a piece of furniture from the Collection, pretend it has a special power and change it. Age 5+
Cracking the code! Uncovering Secret Tales at the Wallace Collection March 20, 2pm - 4pm
Uncover the mysteries and secret stories behind some famous objects with story making and detective work. Age 5+
Booking not required for workshops. Call 0207 563 9500 for further details.
