Co-ordinates set for East Fortune Airshow

A guest post by Norm Webster, Flight Display Director for the Airshow at National Museum of Flight, East Fortune on Saturday 27 July 2013

Book your tickets before 27 July and save 15% - find out more here

Scotlands National Airshow is a spectacular day out for all the family. Aircraft old and new take to the skies for an afternoon of breathtaking aerial displays. The RAF’s supersonic Typhoon display team will take centre stage, with a Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. We welcome back the breathtaking Breitling Wingwalkers, the P51 Mustang and the Sea King helicopter amongst others.  

Another year has passed and here we are again preparing for the Airshow at National Museum of Flight -  this is therefore part 1 of my ‘East Fortune 2013’ story.

Last week a meeting took place at National Museum of Flight, East Fortune to discuss the coming show and to ensure coordination between the National Museum of Flight team, the emergency services and other interested parties.  I always look on this meeting as the start of the display planning ‘proper’, as it’s the first time all those involved get together to talk about our aspirations and plans.

A Sea King SAR helicopter will be appearing at the Airshow, National Museum of Flight, East Fortune on Saturday 27 July 2013.

The display planning involves quite a number of different agencies including the police, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Scottish Ambulance, East Lothian Council and St Andrews First Aid for emergency planning and support, the AA, Traffic Scotland and BEAR Scotland for road and traffic management, and various companies dealing in security, marshalling and car parking, as well as the usual agencies and the museum staff involved with actually delivering the show on the day.  I am pleased to say that the meeting was successful on all counts, with everyone satisfied with their place in the plan and all the changes from last year understood.

The Grob 115E, known by the RAF as the Tutor will form part of the air display at the Airshow, National Museum of Flight, East Fortune on Saturday 27 July 2013.

This meeting was only the start of a busy couple of days for me, so from East Fortune It was back in the car to Edinburgh Airport to speak with the Airport Authority, Air Traffic Control and the aircraft Handling Agents.  It would be impossible for me to organise the flying display without the help and assistance of these three organisations as Edinburgh is a busy airport, and the coordination plan for getting aircraft in and out on display day can be quite complex.  With this in mind, a face to face meeting with all concerned is always a good idea, and also helps build good working relationships.  I shall be parking several aircraft at Edinburgh for the display, and as always the Edinburgh authorities were helpful and understanding which gives me a warm fuzzy feeling about the developing plan.  It was also a fine opportunity to sort out display day domestic issues for the crews – even pilots have to eat!!

The RAF Tucano team will be part of the air display at the Airshow, National Museum of Flight, East Fortune on Sat 27 July 2013

After all these meetings I always try to find a little ‘me’ time while I’m up here, as it’s such a beautiful part of the world.  This time it took the guise of a flight in a pre-war biplane.  It was lovely to fly over the Bass Rock, and to check out all the golf courses along the Forth, especially Muirfield, with the stands in place ready for the Open.  I picked the right time as well; although the weather was glorious for the flight, an hour after we landed it was throwing it down with hailstones!!  I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to Scottish weather.  Then it was back in the car for a relaxing (?) drive back to Gloucestershire.

It’s always a good feeling to have these initial planning meetings under your belt and some decisions made.  Even at this early stage, the more things I have decided the easier the planning process becomes.  I already have numerous aircraft planned and allocated to the display – you can find out more about the display highlights here. Suffice it to say that I think we’re going to have an excellent display this year, and I’m looking forward to another brilliant (and hopefully dry) day at the Airshow in July.

 

Ilana Halperin: the artist in the museum’s store

By Bryony Bond, Contemporary Art Consultant

Glasgow-based artist Ilana Halperin has been researching and developing ideas for a contemporary art exhibition inspired by National Museums Scotland’s collections. The exhibition, The Library, is open from 24 May-29 September 2013. Over the past few months, she’s been looking through National Museums Scotland’s collections, finding out about minerals, fossils, molluscs and rocks and uncovering some fascinating stories. In this series of blog posts, we share some of the fantastic things she’s found.

Born in New York, USA, in 1973, Ilana Halperin was fascinated by geology and museums at an early age.

“As a child, one of the main places that I went exploring and adventuring was the American Museum of Natural History, specifically the Harry Frank Guggenheim Hall of Minerals. In 1976 the Hall had just been redeveloped and reopened. It had been built to mimic the interior of a cave and all of the rocks and minerals were spot lit. So, even before I started carving stone there was an unadulterated, primary experience of being in this beautiful space where all these beautiful, incredible mysterious things were glittering in the dark.

“In the Hall you could explore and discover things, clamber over huge chunks of copper and jasper. The Hall was actually designed to make you want to climb all over it; the Museum wanted children and adults to interact with the geology. In an article I found about the reopening of the Hall, they even said they wanted people, ‘to touch these specimens, put their arms around them, fall in love with them.’ OK, very 1970s, but I guess you could say that I’m a case study for a success story. Because that incredible feeling of encountering these rocks and minerals, and having access to them like that, definitely had a huge impact on my development as a human being.”

In 1998 Ilana moved to Scotland to study at the Glasgow School of Art, and since then she’s gone on to make exhibitions in museums and galleries all over the world. While she’s working at National Museums Scotland, she’s also making a permanent display of geology for Shrewsbury Museum – not many artists get invited to do that! So why does Ilana like working with museums?

Ilana Halperin, installation view of STEINE, Berliner Medizinhistorisches Museum der Charité, Berlin, Germany, 2012.

“I encounter ideas or objects I haven’t come across before, because every collection is completely different. You never know what you’re going to find out about, and what totally unexpected routes you might take. Certain objects, and conversations with the people who know about the collections, can open up a whole new world, or a completely new way of thinking about things.

“For example, at Manchester Museum I came across a cave cast, which was an object formed in a cave, and by a cave, over a period of one year. That object sparked off a whole new direction in my work, within my thinking about time and our relationship to geology. Then in Berlin, I was introduced to a collection of body stones, gall stones and kidney stones, and this was a huge revelation that the body could produce geology. I wasn’t aware of that until I was put into contact with that particular collection.”

Ilana Halperin, Physical Geology (new land mass/fast time), 2009, still from Super 8 film, 3 min 48 sec.

Ilana Halperin, Physical Geology (new land mass/fast time), 2009, still from Super 8 film, 3 min 48 sec.

You can visit Ilana’s website here.

 

Keeping your spirits up with wartime favourites

A guest post by Emma Kaye-Hudson and Elizabeth Morrissey, aka The Blitz Sisters

The Blitz Sisters will be performing Second World War songs at Wartime Experience on Sunday 12 May 2012 at National Museum of Flight, East Fortune. Book your tickets in advance here.

We are a 1940s singing duo who met at university whilst studying for performing arts. After graduating we decided to create some work together and after realising that what we both enjoyed most was singing, we created The Blitz Sisters! That was two years ago now and we have loved every minute.

The Blitz Sisters will be appearing on Sunday 12 May at Wartime Experience, National Museum of Flight, East Fortune.

All our songs are from the 1940s and 1950s, however we have also arranged a few modern songs to fit the sound of the era, so there is something there to suit everyone.

The Blitz Sisters will be appearing on Sunday 12 May at Wartime Experience, National Museum of Flight, East Fortune.

Before a show we try and get a good night’s sleep and then have a honey and hot water in the morning to help look after our voices.

At the Wartime Experience you can expect to hear songs from artists such as Vera Lynn, George Formby and The Andrews Sisters. We are really looking forward to returning to Scotland after a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe last August and we hope you have a great day!

 

When dads rocked the Museum

A guest post by David Marshall of playgroup Dads Rock

We congregated in our masses on a lovely sunny and warm April Saturday morning outside the National Museum of Scotland. Our kids and dads (30 kids and 25 dads) were all eager to get into the building to commence our morning of mask making, dinosaurs, stories and singing.

Outside the National Museum of Scotland.

We were welcomed by Alison Rae, Family Learning Officer, who has been amazing with the logistical arrangement with the run up to our visit, and today she didn’t disappoint. Alison and the Enabler team ensured we all moved to the Learning Centre and around the Museum with ease.

Once we had dropped off our buggies and all other child related “artefacts” we moved both in groups and in pairs around the Museum. The kids, in fact, led their dads around the Museum! Some explored the craft table set up in the Grand Gallery with a multitude of masks and various art/craft accessories at hand, and some, like my three-year-old daughter, lead me straight to the Earth in Space section, followed by what I can only explain as a kids’ haven, the Imagine gallery (weird mirrors and some lovely snug type spaces for those who would like a read).

Left: Mask-making in the Grand Gallery. Right: Reading a story in the Imagine gallery.

Before long, once the masks were all made and paraded around the Museum with pride, all of the small feet were wearying slightly so we retired up to the Learning Centre for a deserved lunchtime snack.

Then… it was into the usual Dads Rock session… oh yes… this was our time to give something back to National Museums Scotland for having us. Our resident storyteller and co-founder Thomas Lynch told two amazing stories, which we were all enthralled by (I think some parents more than the kids). Then it was time for me, David Marshall, fellow co-founder to get my trusted axe of wood and six metal strings out for a rendition of all of our favourite children’s rhymes and tunes, not forgetting our penultimate house rocker, Queen’s ‘We Will Rock You’, which happened to draw in a large crowd who were spectating from afar, surely wondering what was going on. Well, I can answer that: 55 dads and their wonderful kids had an amazing morning to remember at National Museum of Scotland. We came, we conquered, and we ROCKED!!

Storytelling in the Learning Centre.

Rocking out to the Dads Rock anthem.

Dads Rock run free playgroups for dads and their kids (0-5) in Scotland.  It is a fun, positive and rocking place to come together, play and learn. There are currently two groups in Edinburgh and one starting in Fife and they hope to expand westward soon.

For more information email dads.rock@yahoo.co.uk or visit our blog or Facebook page and follow us on Twitter @DadsRockEdin.

 

Colouring the Nation: uncovering the history of Turkey red

A guest post by Dr Sally Tuckett

Dr Sally Tuckett is postdoctoral researcher on Colouring the Nation, a two-year collaborative project between the University of Edinburgh, School of History, Classics and Archaeology and National Museums Scotland. Colouring the Nation is directed by Dr. Stana Nenadic of the University of Edinburgh and is funded by the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Scottish Government under their Major Research Grants in the Arts and Humanities scheme. The project researches the Turkey red dyeing and printing industry in the west of Scotland in the nineteenth century.

The last Scottish Turkey factory closed within living memory, so we knew there would be an interest in rediscovering the importance of the cotton printing and dyeing industry that once dominated the Vale of Leven. But since Colouring the Nation started in 2011 we have been overwhelmed by the positive response we have received.

Turkey red patterns featuring animals and birds.

Last year on the Feast Bowl, Graeme Yule showed some of the images we had taken of the Turkey Red Collection so far – and more of these are now available in the online exhibition. Digitising part of the Turkey Red Collection was a huge part of the project (we wish we could have done it all but with an estimated 40,000 textile samples there simply wasn’t the time!). However, another significant element has been meeting all the different people who have an interest in the industry – whether from a design perspective, from knowledge gathered working with textiles or from an interest in local history. We held a number of workshops, each with a different focus and each shedding new light (for us at least) on the Scottish Turkey red industry.

In November 2012 we met with a group of quilters from the Quilters Guild of the British Isles and it quickly became clear to us how important quilting is to the survival of Turkey red dyed and printed cottons. Quilts in America and Britain were often made with Turkey red printed cotton as it was a bright, durable fabric and lent itself well to the colourful designs. Surviving quilts are perhaps the largest body of evidence showing us how Turkey red cottons were actually used.

We have also enjoyed investigating the world of quilted garments – sadly, given the current climate, a trend which is not as popular as it was in the nineteenth century! This quilted petticoat, for instance, has survived in excellent condition. It was made by McLintock and Sons in the late nineteenth century and although we cannot say for certain the fabric was dyed and printed in Scotland, the pattern is very similar to those in the Turkey Red Collection.

Quilted petticoat by McLintock and Sons, private collection. Photo by Graeme Yule.

Stana Nenadic (left) and Crissie White, formerly of the Glasgow School of Art (right) with a nineteenth-century quilt made of Turkey red fabric which was brought along to the ‘Show and Tell’ session in Alexandria, December 2012. Photo by Graeme Yule.

In December 2012 we held a ‘show and tell’ workshop in the Vale of Leven, hoping to create an atmosphere of The Antiques Roadshow meets Who Do You Think You Are? The response was incredible. Not only did more quilts come to light, but we were also shown some of the tools used by the hand block printers at the turn of the century, as well as pieces of machinery which had been recovered from the River Leven since the industry and factories had closed.

A particular highlight was meeting with people who had worked in the factories before they closed in the early ’60s. We met Annie Hussey, née Lacey, who started working at the Craft in the 1920s, and James Howard and Hugh Toole who worked for the UTR after the Second World War, all of whom were willing to share their stories.

Sally Tuckett (left) and Stana Nenadic (right) with a length of Turkey red dyed cloth which would have been cut into handkerchiefs.  Brought in by Robert Friel to the ‘Show and Tell’ session in Alexandria, December 2012. Photo by Graeme Yule.

Most recently we held a workshop at the Edinburgh Science Festival. Richard Ashworth of the Society of Dyers and Colourists in Bradford gave us an insight into the history of natural dyes and then we had the opportunity to do some natural dyeing of our own with turmeric, helping to put into perspective just how much effort would have been required to produce natural dyes on a large scale.

Richard Ashworth of the Society of Dyers and Colourists in Bradford explains the effect of turmeric on natural and synthetic fibres at the workshop at the Edinburgh Science Festival.

Adding an acid or an alkali solution can completely change the appearance of a natural dye.

Thanks to everyone who has participated in our various workshops, who has given us tips on sources to follow up, or has shared their experiences and knowledge of the Turkey red industry. We have thoroughly enjoyed this project and hope that others out there are inspired to find out more!

More information about the project and some its results can be found at www.colouringthenation.wordpress.com. You can see the online exhibition at www.nms.ac.uk/colouringthenation.

 

On manoeuvres with Freya the fledgling Wingwalker

Guest post by Freya Paterson (A.K.A Princess) Breitling Wingwalker appearing at the Airshow, National Museum of Flight, East Fortune on Saturday 27 July 2013

Book your tickets before 27 July and save 15% – find out more here

Scotlands National Airshow is a spectacular day out for all the family. Aircraft old and new take to the skies for an afternoon of breathtaking aerial displays. The RAF’s supersonic Typhoon display team will take centre stage, with a Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. We welcome back the breathtaking Breitling Wingwalkers, the P51 Mustang and the Sea King helicopter amongst others.  The Breitling Wingwalkers last appeared over the skies of East Fortune in 2011, when Danielle Hughes (A.K.A. Bird) wrote a guest post for the Feast Bowl, see what Danielle had to say in 2011.

I have wanted to be a wingwalker for as long as I can remember. When I saw the Breitling Wingwalker display for the first time the excitement I felt was indescribable – the girls looked so graceful, the aircraft engines roaring and the biplanes looping and rolling through the sky; it gave me goosebumps and a burning ambition to be part of the team.

Freya Seymour aka Princess Breitling Wingwalker with Stearman display aircraft © Richard Seymour

Everything about wing walking appealed to me as I adored gymnastics when I was younger and couldn’t think of anything better than doing a handstand on the wing of a Boeing Stearman biplane! I had a fitness background and I was always told I was strong for my size which I would soon learn would come in handy. Most of all I wanted to perform and entertain the crowd and the audience due to my love of performing arts.

Breitling Wingwalkers appearing at the Airshow, National Museum of Flight on Saturday 27 July 2013 © Tokunaga

I persevered with my dream and eventually my dream came true last year when I was selected to join the team. I was on cloud nine!! I started my training in April and realised how hard the girls work to look as graceful as they do against winds of up to 160mph. I have never felt more alive climbing up onto the wing for the first time in flight, I loved it! My first display was in France and it was an amazing feeling achieving my dream of performing to an audience on the wing.

Freya Paterson and Danielle Hughes, Breitling WIngwalkers appearing at the Airshow, National Museum of Flight on Saturday 27 July 2013 © Richard Seymour

Working as part of the team is so rewarding, I particularly enjoy dancing in formation with Danielle Hughes while the pilots are also performing their routine.  My favourite manoeuvre is the ‘Mirror’, when myself and Martyn the pilot fly inverted above the other plane and Danielle and I try to touch hands!

I had a wonderful season last year travelling and displaying in countries I had never been to before; China, Australia and Switzerland were particularly amazing.  If I had to pick a highlight from last season it would be the Farnborough International Airshow when I wing walked in my first ever four ship display.

Display formation with the Breitling Wingwalkers, who are appearing at the Airshow, National Museum of Flight on Saturday 27 July 2013

I am really looking forward to my second season and especially displaying at the Airshow at the National Museum of Flight, East Fortune !  It will be my first display in Scotland and being half Scottish I might even wear a tartan wing walking suit!

 

Travelling north: loaning objects for the John Rae exhibition in Stromness

By Ross Irving, Assistant Curator Oceania, Americas and Africa

This year will mark the bi-centenary of the birth of Arctic explorer and collector Dr John Rae, who was born on 30 September 1813. The John Rae 200 celebrations, organised by the Orkney Natural History Society, include an international conference, community events and an exhibition in Stromness Museum.

Poster for the John Rae 200 celebrations.

This exhibition was created in partnership with National Museums Scotland and contains important objects from both collections, focusing on John Rae’s relationship with the indigenous communities he encountered on his journeys.

Born and raised in Orkney, Rae learned how to live on the land and survive as part of a remote community. His legendary physical fitness as well as his love and knowledge of the land undoubtedly contributed to his success as an explorer. This exhibition focuses on his early career in the 1840s-50s, when he was largely engaged with the Hudson Bay Company and in searches to discover the fate of the Franklin Expedition.

Objects on display include Cree/Metis, Arctic and Northwest Coast material collected by John Rae alongside material collected by others to contextualise Rae’s collection and give a fuller sense of the peoples he encountered.

Woman’s comb of walrus ivory, Inuit, collected by John Rae, likely 1848 or 1851. On loan courtesy of the University of Edinburgh Collections.

Model canoe of birchbark, Mi’kmaq, collected by John Rae, possibly 1860s. On loan courtesy of the University of Edinburgh Collections.

The team at National Museums Scotland, including loans, conservation and curatorial staff, worked closely with the Orkney Natural History Society to arrange the exhibition.

After months of hard work the exhibition opening loomed and a date was set for installation. As intrepid explorers ourselves, Conservator Charles Stable and I set off northwards one frosty Sunday morning, with over six hours of driving ahead of us.  The collections were securely packed into crates by our conservation team, using layers of plastazote and tyvek cushions. With the long drive as well as the notoriously turbulent ferry crossing ahead, it was especially important that the objects were well packed.

Objects for the Rae exhibition securely packed up.

We made good time on the way up, feeling fortunate that the difficult conditions caused by snow a few days earlier had cleared. Thankfully the ferry crossing was almost smooth, getting us into Stromness on time at 8pm. Stromness Museum was only a short drive away, through the narrow winding streets (thank goodness we didn’t meet a car coming in the other direction), where we were greeted by Honorary Curator Janette Park, husband John (the local butcher, who kindly agreed to help us lift crates!) and Technical Manager Bart.

The morning revealed the spectacular views from our accommodation over to the island of Hoy and along the coast up the Mainland. Stromness Museum was only a ten minute walk away and with such fantastic scenery one of the nicest commutes I have ever had.

Spectacular views of Hoy.

Stromness Museum.

At Stromness Museum, Exhibition Curator Tom Muir and committee member Bryce Wilson were on hand to help with installation. With around 30 objects to install we hoped to be finished in one day.

Each object was unpacked and checked against a condition report written by our conservation team. This is done to make sure that nothing was damaged in transit, and also gives us a reference point to ensure that any change to an object’s condition while on display can be identified. After each object was checked it was placed in position under Tom’s direction.

As with all the best laid plans, we inevitably had to make a few changes on the day. After putting our heads together and doing a bit of re-arranging we managed to fit everything in. A few last minute (and very creative) mounting solutions helped to really show the objects off.

Display of Inuit material with items from the Stromness Museum’s collection.

Display of Northwest Coast material and a leister (on the bottom shelf) John Rae made himself to demonstrate his lectures.

Charles preparing a mount.

Installation in progress (from left: Charles, Bryce, Janette and Tom).

Cree/Metis bag collected by Rae and Cree/Metis coat collected by Andrew Graham.

On Tuesday we moved the empty crates into storage. Janette Park gave Charles and me a tour of Stromness Museum which surveyed its wonderful natural history, maritime and ethnographic collections. This also left some time for some sightseeing. The Orkney Islands are rich with sites of archaeological and historical significance, so one afternoon was definitely not enough!

Ring of Brodgar, one of the many sights of Orkney.

We also had time to visit the memorial to John Rae in St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall. This memorial is prominently positioned within the cathedral, sitting opposite a memorial to William Balfour Baikie, a fellow Orcadian and explorer.

Memorial to John Rae in St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall. Photo by Rebecca Marr.

It is a touching tribute to an individual whose achievements were not fully recognised during his lifetime. It is hoped that 2013 will be a moment in which to re-evaluate the legacy of John Rae, his role in Arctic collecting as well as his historical significance in Arctic exploration.

To find out more about Rae’s bi-centenary,visit the John Rae 200 website. You can also download a pdf file detailing the bi-centenary events.