The Museum of Water at Somerset House
is exactly the reason why I write about visiting museums,
it brings together my favourite things,
objects and stories,
especially stories told by members of the public.
is exactly the reason why I write about visiting museums,
it brings together my favourite things,
objects and stories,
especially stories told by members of the public.
I begin with the origins of the exhibition, a most important story about water.
Two years ago, Amy Sharrocks began the Museum of Water in Soho, London, opposite the John Snow pub to celebrate John Snow's discovery of the source of Cholera,
collecting and displaying publicly donated water.
John Snow's work led to the saving of hundreds of thousands of lives.
collecting and displaying publicly donated water.
John Snow's work led to the saving of hundreds of thousands of lives.
I love to tell stories about objects in museums and in this exhibition
every jar, bottle, tub of water comes with its own personal story.
every jar, bottle, tub of water comes with its own personal story.
Every donation has been carefully considered, chosen and collected.
Entering the exhibition, you wonder how different one bottle can be from another.
But when that water represents stories and ideas from over 300 people,
they can be very different,
yet also alike
as people share similar life events,
the good and the bad.
Pond water... ...a thinking place.
Defrosted ice from a London freezer.
Washing up water... ...'an act of devotion'.
Grief expressed.
But when that water represents stories and ideas from over 300 people,
they can be very different,
yet also alike
as people share similar life events,
the good and the bad.
Pond water... ...a thinking place.
A melted snowman.
Holy water.
Defrosted ice from a London freezer.
Washing up water... ...'an act of devotion'.
Grief expressed.
If you turn up without water to give to the museum,
there is still space to tell your story,
'what you would have brought'.
write on a piece of parchment and peg it up here.
underneath the courtyard fountains of Somerset House.
They leak.
She is asking people to consider water,
to think about their connections to it and the memories, ideas and emotions it evokes.
You can still donate,
chose water that is special to you,
give it to the museum and tell them why it is special to you.
Details here.
This is a brilliant democratic exhibition, every donation is accepted, recorded and kept,
building a collection 'for future generations to enjoy'.
The Museum of Water is on at Somerset House underneath the fountains,
open until Sunday 29th June.
The collection will continue to grow and the exhibition is set to tour,
keep an eye on their website for details, here.
The water I would have brought
I didn't take water when I visited and when I was there I couldn't think what water I would have brought. Now having time to think, I know what I would have donated. Water from the Thames near HMS Belfast. Having been at home looking after four kids, it has taken quite a while, many job applications and a fair bit of volunteering and studying to move from teaching in schools to learning in museums. I started working again, nearly eleven years to the day that our youngest two were born. And my first day was on HMS Belfast. I was, and am, elated, it is a brilliant museum. I still spend a fair bit of time at home, so I think I would go with the 'act of devotion' above and mix the Thames with a little washing up water.
open until Sunday 29th June.
The collection will continue to grow and the exhibition is set to tour,
keep an eye on their website for details, here.
The water I would have brought
I didn't take water when I visited and when I was there I couldn't think what water I would have brought. Now having time to think, I know what I would have donated. Water from the Thames near HMS Belfast. Having been at home looking after four kids, it has taken quite a while, many job applications and a fair bit of volunteering and studying to move from teaching in schools to learning in museums. I started working again, nearly eleven years to the day that our youngest two were born. And my first day was on HMS Belfast. I was, and am, elated, it is a brilliant museum. I still spend a fair bit of time at home, so I think I would go with the 'act of devotion' above and mix the Thames with a little washing up water.
