Cultural Heritage
Cultural Heritage 2019, the College’s 150th anniversary, was a spectacular year when our heritage collections took centre stage. The Archive in particular was showcased throughout the year as we reflected on the achievements of the College. Archival collections featured prominently on the 150th timeline website, the exhibition banners examining the College’s early years, and the self-guided tour of the College buildings. Additionally the Archive underpinned many other 2019 projects, illustrating the importance of documenting our history. It was also recognised beyond the College: numerous items were loaned to Cambridge University Library’s exhibition, The Rising Tide: Women at Cambridge since 1869. On display from October 2019 to March 2020, it explored the lived experience of women at Cambridge, the fight for equal educational rights, and the careers of some of the women who shaped the institution and the wider world. The Lawrence Room also enjoyed a high profile this year with the publication of The Lawrence Room at Girton College. This collaborative book delves into the story of some of the objects in the museum and the changing ways in which they have been displayed and curated. ‘Secrets of the Lawrence Room’, a panel discussion hosted during the Girton150 Festival weekend, explored the book further. The panellists, Professor Dame Marilyn Strathern (former Mistress), Dr Dorothy Thompson (Life Fellow in Classics) and Frances Gandy (Life Fellow) spoke about their individual chapters. A spirited question session followed, with audience members expressing the hope that the Lawrence Room could develop further outreach activities and continue to make curatorship as transparent as possible. The Lawrence Room also featured in The Rising Tide exhibition lectures hosted by the University Library: Dr Hazel Mills (the College
12 Girton Newsletter
|
Spring 2020
Artist in Residence 2018-19, Simeon Barclay’s end of year exhibition ‘Poetic Dissonance’ Historian), Imogen Gunn (Girton College Museum Consultant) and Dorothy Thompson spoke about the women in and behind the collections. The Girton150 Festival saw the unveiling of a new portrait in the People’s Portraits exhibition—‘The Boxer’ by David Caldwell. David spoke engagingly about his subject, Anthony, who at the time of the portrait was keen to return to peak physical fitness and get back in the ring. This was followed by a powerful and thought-provoking talk by Simeon Barclay, Artist-in-Residence 2018–19, about the portrayal of black men, particularly in sport, in the media. Portraiture was also explored generally
at the Festival with the panel discussion, Representing People: Portraits of all kinds. Chaired by Frances Gandy, the panellists were portrait painter Daphne Todd; photographer Ingrid Pollard; sculptor Paul de Monchaux; and political cartoonist Martin Rowson. The session aimed to compare and contrast different approaches in methodology and purpose in the art of depicting people. The audience was intrigued to learn that you don’t have to like your subject to depict that person successfully. Celebrations continued at the September 2019 Roll of Alumni weekend. The Library talk was given by Dr Ben Griffin (History Fellow), who spoke
