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Dear All, The Summer is coming to a close and we just wanted to inform you of a fantastic Symposium that is happening on 5th October 2010 at Bath School of Art & Design, sponsored by 'The Henry Moore Foundation'. (Please find more information about the speakers attached along with a Programme & Registration form) You are invited to attend: PROVENANCE A Symposium including exhibitions at two Bath Spa University sites. Symposium Date: Tuesday 5th October (Lunch & Refreshments included) Exhibitions runs from: 5th to 27th October 2010. [cid:3366704782_2806385][cid:3366704782_2819584] Symposium sponsored by: [cid:3366704782_2816064] Exhibition Sponsored by: [cid:3366704782_2765744] PROVENANCE is a dual site exhibition with work from both established and emerging artists: Julie Anderson, Mat Collishaw, Angela Cockayne, Tessa Farmer, Laura Ford, Jochem Hendricks, Melanie Jackson, Mariele Neudecker, Martin Thomas, Gavin Turk, Jack Williams, Viktor Wynd, House of Fairy Tales Exquisite Trove. The theme of this International exhibition, symposium and publication was initially based on a response to a rediscovered natural history collection, which originated as specimens for drawing classes used for teacher training at Bath Academy of Art in the fifties. The collection has recently been relocated back to its original 'home' at Corsham Court, Wiltshire. The Wunderkammer or wonder-chamber is a non-hierarchal collection of curiosities, natural specimens, miraculous objects, obscure, whimsical, and the wonderful, which defy categorical boundaries. The exhibition and symposium explores a relationship with the history and ethics of collecting natural specimens, and the implications of a sense of collective conscience. It addresses questions posed by a collision of the past, present and future of such collections. Provenance also examines the act of 'reading' a collection in the absence of the original collector, and the extent to which one's interest in a collection re examines any curatorial or objective agendas. In the 21st century the camera has replaced the gun in archiving nature through photography and film, consequentially natural history has never been more popular or readily accessible. What is strangely interesting is the resurgence in collecting specimens through taxidermy in an age of animal rights, where it could be seen to be unethical to do so. Although all the specimens made with animal parts used in this exhibition have been found or donated from natural and unpreventable deaths, there are still implications in finding fascination in these collections, knowing that many such specimens were killed for preservation and curation. As a collection the cultural patrimony of such objects is very ambiguous, they cannot be returned to their countries of origin, so they remain as objects for our education, curiosity and wonderment. They are also a place for solace, retreat and contemplation of what it is to be part of this system. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. Many thanks & Kind regards Viv Kenchington Research Development Officer Bath School of Art & Design Bath Spa University ------ End of Forwarded Message