Spring 2014 Inside Compton Verney

inside

Compton

Verney

Spring 2014

The Creatures 10th birthday issueAmong Us: Flora and Fauna at Compton Verney

Spring 2014

What a year for Compton Verney

Auguste Rodin, Eve, (1881 )and Henry Moore Three Piece Sculpture Vertebrae (1968 - 1969), Reproduced by permission of The Henry Moore Foundation and Musee Rodin Photo Andy Stammers

This is a watershed year for Compton Verney, and we couldn’t be more excited. With our 10th anniversary exhibition, Moore Rodin, off to a flying start, our Re-Viewing the Landscape project well underway, thanks to a Heritage Lottery Fund development grant, and a birthday party in the planning, it is an exciting time to visit, re-visit, volunteer and support.

Installing 11 magnificent and sizeable pieces of sculpture in the landscape in just over a week was always going to be a challenge. Given saturated ground and torrential rain storms, it became even more fun. We are deeply grateful to our Grounds Team, MTEC and the Henry Moore Foundation staff for their intrepid efforts, which have had such splendid results.

Contents

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Page 2

What a year for Compton Verney

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News Bites, You—The 12th Plinth

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The Creatures Among Us: Flora and Fauna at Compton Verney

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Redisplaying our Chinese Treasures

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Telling Tales; Science and Art Combine

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Happy Birthday Compton Verney

That is not to say that other aspects of the installation were not equally tricky. Through the talents of Curator Penelope Sexton and Gallery Technician John Crossley, and the in-kind paint supplied by Farrow and Ball, however, we are confident the galleries have seldom looked better.

This edition of Inside Compton Verney brings you stories of the beasts, bugs and birds that were thriving in our landscape long before we became an art gallery, and new developments that ensure that the art we display here continues to be of the very highest standard and presented in a worldclass setting. Don’t forget that when you see something underlined, you can link through to more information. Thank you for your continued support!

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Re-Viewing the Landscape; Progress Update

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Get Involved

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Behind the Scenes with Moore Rodin

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A Day in the Life with Gary Webb and Volunteer Jenny Jones

Why not consider leaving us a legacy? Just 1% of the sale of your home can make a huge difference.

News bites

Recent Grants We are incredibly grateful to the following trusts for supporting a range of activities: The Rowlands Trust has generously donated £2,000 towards our 2014 learning programmes, including our popular Face to Face and Pattern, Shape, Design activities. The Rowlands Trust has been supporting Compton Verney’s learning projects since 2010, previously aiding our learning backpacks, a grounds investigator kit, educational play equipment and an architectural trail booklet.

Vertical Rush Challenge Congratulations to Aly Grimes, Development Administrator; Sally Owen, Trainee Accountant; Harriet Lund, Events Manager and Rachel Davies, Deputy Director all of whom raised over £2,300 for Shelter by climbing 920 steps in London’s Tower 42.

Book Now! Our Opera Fundraising Gala promises to be an outstanding evening, with Don Giovanni performed by Diva Opera, an exhibition private view, and several catering options. Tickets are selling fast so book yours now!

The Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust gift of £3,000 will enable us to provide critical maintenance for the historic cedar in front of the mansion.

The Wilmcote Charitable Trust has granted £500 to pay for materials used in our collection in focus activities.

We’re Family Friendly Please help promote Compton Verney as a Family Friendly venue by nominating us for the Family Friendly Museum Award 2014.

Simply email award@kidsinmuseums.org.uk and tell them why we make your family feel welcome.

You – The 12th Plinth Stand on the empty 12th Plinth and strike a pose to create a living sculpture.

Photography was an important tool for both Rodin and Moore, so make sure to capture your pose on camera and post it on Twitter and Facebook.

www.facebook.com/ comptonverney www.twitter.com/ comptonverney

While you’re at it, why not help us spread the word by posting a review on tripadvisor?

Photo by Charlotte Gallimore (yr12) Akeley Wood School

The Creatures Among Us: Flora and Fauna at Compton Verney

Our landscape has been under constant management for many centuries, from Compton Murdak to Compton Verney.

The most enduring form, however, is the ‘natural’ landscaping completed by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown from 1768.

Naturally, a desire to utilise and make the grounds attractive for our visitors is strong, although we tread a fine line in respect of the delicate ecology of the site, which has been understood through a range of surveys completed over the last twenty years. As a long-established estate, Compton Verney features many elements that are being nurtured, protected and where possible enhanced.

As the initial restoration phase and planting settles

down, so do the grounds, which have developed a richer fabric and character.

General site information: 

Local Wildlife Site - In 2013 we were awarded Local Wildlife Site status following a long running ecological survey, and we are now developing a new working relationship with the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust. In addition to bees, bats and a wellestablished badger set, we hope to support our barn owls, hedgehogs and otters

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Parkland - Managed under Natural England’s Higher Level Stewardship programme, this has been returned to pasture and, as with our West Lawn, sown with wildflowers. New trees have also been planted in historically correct locations

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Woodland - We have several areas of woodland on site which are being enjoyed by students and families alike through our popular Forest School

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Lake - This key landscape feature supports a range of fish, aquatic plants and wildlife and the reed beds provide nesting opportunities for our Great Crested Grebes and other fowl

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Lawns - Our West Lawn and other areas are managed for wildflowers, which attract a large range of insects

Left: Red Kite 2 , Alwyn Knapton 2013; Above: Ruby-Tailed Wasp © Ed Phillips Wildlife 2013; Right: Great Crested Grebes 14

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Award - Compton Verney sponsors a Conservation Award for students at nearby Moreton Morrell, part of Warwickshire College. We have also worked alongside students on planting projects in the grounds and the college helps manage the parkland with stock and mowing

Aspirations As a team we aim to nurture all of the existing elements of the estate whilst providing the environment for appropriate flora and fauna to flourish. Our activity, whilst primarily producing a protected and accessible site, provides much opportunity to improve the content in favour of flora and fauna – a subject that is very dear to us.

With our new landscape restoration project underway, some of the opportunities we’ll be exploring include:

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Bird/badger viewing hides – One bird hide has been established and there are many other locations that could support wildlife viewing hides

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Wildlife cameras – Cameras of all kinds could offer valuable interpretation material on badgers, bats and many other species

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Nest boxes – We have recently installed two barn owl boxes in the Ice House Coppice and a wider range of feeding station equipment would be ideal

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Habitat creation – Planting and features to support water voles, nesting and possibly otters are in the planning stages

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Woodland management – A section of unused woodland could be restored to demonstrate this ancient skill

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Walks and talks – These are always popular and, with a growing band of volunteers, could become more frequent.

Brimstone Yellow Butterfly, Alwyn Knapton August 2013

Peacock Butterfly, Alwyn Knapton August 2013

Gary Webb Head of Landscape and Gardens 6-Spot Burnet Moth (Zygaena filipendulae) © Ed Philips

Redisplaying our Chinese Treasures Compton Verney’s Chinese gallery contains one of the top three collections of Chinese bronzes in Europe. The collection is designated as being of national and international importance, and consists of over 100 objects spanning over 3,000 years, dating from the Neolithic period to the Qing Dynasty.

Crafts, especially pottery making and jade carving, reached a very high level in Neolithic China, but it is the bronze vessels of the second and first millennium BC that have made the most distinctive impact in the history of world art, and their cultural significance cannot be overestimated. Bronzes were to the East what sculpture was to the West.

The vessels in this collection were produced over a period of over 1500 years under many different Chinese rulers, and date from the early Shang Dynasty (about 1700 to 1050 BC) to the Han Dynasty (206 BC to AD 220). The collection also includes pottery pieces, such as a set of twelve painted pottery equestrian figures made for placing in a tomb to guard the deceased.

level of interpretation fails to enable them to fully appreciate the significance, social and historical context, purpose and production of the collection. Additionally, gallery staff have noticed that the layout, colour and lighting of the gallery fails to attract many visitors’ interest. We are delighted to announce that £190,000 has recently been granted by the DCMS/Wolfson Fund and the Arts Council’s Designation Development Fund to enable us to make this stunning collection more accessible and engaging. It will:

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Highlight the importance of the bronzes, particularly in relationship to Western art and culture

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Improve the interpretation of the galleries by drawing out themes related to the history, manufacture and purpose of the bronzes

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Improve the lighting and display of the objects so that their beauty, intricacy and imagery can be fully appreciated

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Produce a new printed guide to accompany the re-display

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Ensure that the entire collection is made more accessible to all visitors, including disabled visitors and children

When the Chinese galleries were opened in 2004, the aesthetic value of the objects was presented beautifully, but visitors have told us that the current Left: Wine Vessel and cover, fangjia Bronze - Late Shang Dynasty (about 1550-1050 BC) Above: Heavenly Horse, tian ma Bronze Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220)

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The re-display will take place between December 2014 and March 2015, when Compton Verney is closed to the public. The collection will be relaunched when we re-open in March 2015.

Art of China Talk Tour and Tea and the chance to handle two bronzes. Thursday 18 September, 3pm. To book tickets, call 01926 645 500.

Telling Tales: Science and Art Combine The Beecroft Trust for Science and Education has a tradition of supporting outstanding projects that include the Beecroft Institute of Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology at Oxford University and the Royal Academy Science Book Prize. Founders Adrian and Jacqui Beecroft also have a life-long interest in art and artists.

Joining these interests together, the Trust's support for the forthcoming Periodic Tales exhibition is not only a ground breaking philanthropic gift for Compton Verney, it also fits with the Trust’s desire to promote science as interesting and creative.

“We have been very impressed with the way that Compton Verney has become such an important part of the local community,” says Adrian Beecroft. “This exhibition meets all the objectives of our Trust and we are delighted to be able to support it.”

Woodrow, Marc Quinn, Eduaordo Paolozzi, Tim Etchells and Roger Hiorns, this exhibition seeks to discover the cultural themes that group the elements, bringing visitors into direct contact with the chemical elements in an unprecedented way.

This exhibition also brings with it the opportunity to develop innovative learning programmes that address both artistic and scientific concepts.

Designed to extend people’s understanding and enjoyment of the exhibition and draw attention to the fact that elements are all around us, not just in ‘chemicals’ kept under the kitchen sink or locked in the laboratory, they will include hands-on activities based on the use of science in art such as an interactive periodic table, charcoal drawing and demonstrations, as well as more targeted engagement with schools at primary and secondary levels.

The Beecroft Trust has very generously sponsored the exhibition itself, the first such private benefaction. We are also delighted to announce that Paul Cooney, long-time Patron, has generously sponsored the learning programme for the exhibition.

Sponsorship is critical if we are to secure loans, design beautiful Pair of Victorian moulded silvered and lustred glass baluster candlesticks, photo by Harminder Judge exhibitions spaces and provide inspiring learning programmes.

You’d be surprised at how just a few hundred Curated with Hugh Aldersey-Williams, author of pounds can help to cover costs such as supplies for the best-selling book Periodic Tales, the exhibition a learning resource room. brings together artworks from collections across Upcoming exhibitions still in need of support the UK to explore the cultural significance of the include: British Folk Art, Autumn 2014; The Arts and chemical elements.

Crafts House, Summer 2015; Canaletto’s The elements have always inspired artists. They Architecture, Spring 2015; and Creating are the prima materia of their work, as they are Shakespeare, Spring 2016 for all that is made. Those known to the ancient If you or someone you know might like to world – gold, silver, copper, iron, lead, tin, discuss this opportunity, please contact the mercury, sulphur and carbon – carry rich symbolism to which artists continue to respond.

Development Team on 01926 645 562.

As newer discoveries like chromium and neon Periodic Tales runs from 3 October— 13 have acquired their own cultural associations, so December 2015 artists have begun to explore their meanings, too. The elements do not simply occupy fixed spaces as they do in the periodic table. From the moment of their discovery, each element embarks on a journey into our culture.

Featuring historic and contemporary works and new commissions by artists including Bill

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Re-Viewing the Landscape: Progress Update

It has been a busy few months as we develop our plans for the next phase of our major landscape renewal project, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

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The design team has now been appointed, led by award-winning architects Purcell, known for sympathetic heritage restoration and stunning new buildings in heritage settings (their previous work includes the Arnos Vale Cemetery, Crown Properties, Canterbury Cathedral and Dover Castle.) Leading on the landscape development plans are Bea Landscape and Design. Having worked on the ‘Capability’ Brown parkland at Croome Court and also the historic landscapes at Coughton Court and Spetchley Gardens, Bea is extremely well-qualified to help us restore and enhance our beautiful grounds.

the elements: historic buildings and landscape restoration, habitat conservation, the construction of a new visitor welcome centre and an extensive programme of interpretation and activities which will encourage many more people to visit and enjoy this very special place.”

We are confident that, under the able leadership of Project Manager Chris Rice - who, as Birmingham Museums’ Head of Heritage Services for 17 years, has delivered numerous Heritage Lottery Fund projects - we will not only end up with a restored and enhanced landscape, but will be able to offer visitors so much more in terms of access and services. Chris says, “It is a real privilege to be part of the team working on the Chapel and landscape restoration project at Compton Verney. What is so nice about the project is

Our next steps include:

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Undertaking all of the necessary surveys for both design development and planning purposes

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Updating the existing landscape conservation plan and preparing a new one for the Chapel

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Recruiting interpretation designers

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Continuing to fundraise toward the £950,000 match funding requirement

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Consulting with stakeholders and users to ensure that our buildings and planned activities deliver the best outcome for all

If you would like to be included in consultations, or learn more, please contact Chris on 01926 645 517 or chris.rice@comptonverney.org.uk.

Get Involved Volunteers broaden the range of services that we can offer and the efficiency and effectiveness of the organisation as a whole.

As a registered charity, we have limited resources but our ambitions and standards are high.

you’d like the opportunity to make new friends, gain new experiences and get behind the scenes at Compton Verney, take a look at these roles:

We offer a unique working environment and a variety of roles across the organisation that supports us in achieving our aims. We’re a relatively small but friendly and supportive team, with people from lots of different backgrounds and interests. Many of our volunteer roles involve working with the public, so if you love talking to people and want to make a difference, we’d love to have you on board.

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We pay travel expenses up to £11 per day and all volunteers receive a pass that entitles them to unlimited free visits to the gallery for themselves and up to five guests. You will also receive a discount in the shop, restaurant and café, as well as a chance to meet new people and experience life in a busy visitor attraction. If

To explore these opportunities, download an application form from the website or contact Emily Medcraft, Front of House Manager, on emily.medcraft@comptonverney.org.uk 01926 645 516.

Gallery Support Membership Stewards Grounds Stewards Shuttle Drivers Event Support Marketing Support Bunting Buddy Bunting Co-ordinator

Photos left and below by Gary Webb. Photo above ©John Cleary

Happy Birthday Compton Verney!

In 2014 Compton Verney’s doors will have been open for a decade, so come along and join us for our big 10th birthday party celebrations on Monday 5 May 2014, 11am—5pm.

There will be lots to do for all the family including games, music, arty activities and a look back over the past 10 years. We’ll also have information about Compton Verney’s history and future, with archaeologists and our HLF project architects on hand. So help us celebrate the past and be part of our exciting future.

The celebration will be a traditional Penny Fair with rides such as a Cascade Slide and a Mini Carousel as well as stalls including Splat the Rat, Guess the Weight of the Sculpture, Rename an Artwork, Hook-a-Duck and Tin Can Alley. Share your memories in our video booth, listen to a wide variety of live music on the West Lawn and enter our fancy-dress competition by dressing as your favourite artist or artwork.

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Birthday bunting world record attempt There are three ways you can help us achieve the world record for the longest line of bunting:  Come to the birthday party celebrations and join

in making bunting on the day  Make bunting in our first floor Discovery Room

(available until Aug 2014)  Download our birthday bunting pack and make

bunting at home. All clubs, societies and organisations who help us with this record attempt will be acknowledged on our website.

A Day in the Life Gary Webb, Head of Landscape and Gardens How many gardeners do you have? Is the most frequently asked question and there’s quite often a surprised reaction when I relay that there are only two employed staff, including myself, and three volunteers. We have plenty therefore to pack our days and keep us busy throughout the year.

It’s a swan-like skill to remain calm and controlled when so much needs doing outside!

Daily tasks are to ensure we’re ship-shape and ready for opening. We then to move on to other activity such as mowing, pruning and so on or, for me in particular, more administration-based tasks.

As a gardener by trade with a particular attraction for heritage gardens, I naturally prefer the great outdoors and I thrive on seeing, understanding and presenting them. Indeed, with my favoured period being the 18th century, I’m sometimes convinced I was born 200 years too late!

I am therefore delighted to be steering the grounds team as we turn our attention to the significant Heritage Lottery Funded project. I see it as a great opportunity for us, as custodians of the site, not only to understand its fabric more than ever before, but also to refresh some of its delicate elements. Furthermore, the prospect of representing such a diverse landscape, and in doing so interpreting its special components to a modern audience, is thrilling.

Presenting a wonderful landscape as I’m painfully aware doesn’t guarantee visitors. Indeed, what is the point of maintaining a landscape if people can’t experience and enjoy it in person? Some of my time therefore is now spent promoting our landscape, a task which is helped by the rise of digital media. To this end, we have a grounds blog that in the first year alone received over six thousand hits, and we’ve now also added a Flickr group dedicated to building a stock of engaging grounds focused images. If anyone is keen to look us up, these features can be reached via the grounds pages of the Compton Verney website – please

comment and join in!

I knew before I began this article that I couldn’t fit all the many daily happenings in, so please excuse if I failed to hit the Gary above and, with Jenny, below mark; it certainly isn’t due to a lack of daily grounds activity! I will say in my defence that no two days are the same, and offer that you’d be very welcome to join one of my monthly grounds tours where I regularly talk about our landscape, its history, ongoing management and our exciting plans for its development – tours on the first Thursday every month!

Gary Webb Head of Landscape and Gardens

Volunteer Jenny Jones: Grounded in Art Jenny Jones has been volunteering with Compton Verney for five years. First serving in the galleries, she moved into the grounds when the then oneperson “team” needed help. As she is keen on both art and gardening (she’d just finished her Fine Arts degree from Birmingham City University and has an NVQ in landscape design) it seemed like a natural step.

“It is so different from working in my own garden, and so beautiful, that it is a real pleasure.” Jenny says, “In addition, they are so generous with tickets that we can bring our friends for free.”

Jenny keeps the box in shape, weeds, prunes, plants and occasionally chops. Over the winter, she has also spent several weeks looking at 18th century accounts from Compton Verney in the Warwick and Stratford record offices. “It is interesting to see how many local trade and crafts people, as well as workers from the household, took part in the garden’s transformation. There are undoubtedly descendants of these people in the area to this day.”

Behind the Scenes at the Moore Rodin exhibition

Clockwise from below: Auguste Rodin, Monument to the Burghers of Calais, 1889; Auguste Rodin, Jean d'Aire, Monumental Nude, 1887; Auguste Rodin, Eve, 1881; Henry Moore, Seated Woman, 1958 - 1959; Monument to the Burghers of Calais.

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It took two weeks, lots strength and know-how using a crane, tractor, gantry and the odd carefully placed sling, to install the exterior works for Moore Rodin on their custom made plinths in time for opening. It was vital to place each piece correctly, an intricate process not helped by wind, rain and more rain!

All Moore Rodin photos by Andy Stammers and reproduced by permission of The Henry Moore Foundation, musée Rodin and Royal Parks.

Autumn Exhibition: British Folk Art 27 September to 2014 December 2014 As part of our 10th anniversary celebrations, and as home to one of the UKs largest collections of British Folk Art, we are delighted to be hosting an exhibition which is the first major survey of British Folk Art.

While much Folk Art is anonymous, this exhibition also presents works by a number of prominent individuals, often neglected in the story of art in Britain, including George Smart the tailor of Frant and eminent embroiderer Mary Linwood. There is also a section devoted to Cornish painter Alfred Wallis.

Exhibition organised by Tate in collaboration with Compton Verney.

Over 150 paintings, sculptures, textiles and objects have been drawn together from collections across the country in an exhibition that will celebrate folk art in the UK. Folk Art is an established subject in many countries; however in Britain the genre remains elusive. Rarely considered in the context of art history, ‘Folk art’ has been viewed as part of social history or folklore studies. This show unites an extraordinary selection of objects, exploring the threshold between art and artefact and challenging perceptions of ’high art’.

Old Man and Donkey, George Smart (photo by Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd) © Compton Verney

Thank you for your support Thank you to all our Benefactors, Patrons, Supporters and Corporate Members for your continued support. Your membership makes a huge difference to us and contributes towards all aspects of Compton Verney, from our exhibitions and collections to our grounds and educational work.

Benefactors Lady Goodhart Kirsten Suenson-Taylor Adrian & Jacqui Beecroft

Dr Catherine MS Alexander Alex & Mary Robinson Wyn Grant

Patrons David & Jill Pittaway David & Sandra Burbidge Joanne Perry Peter Gregory-Hood Roger Cadbury Lord & Lady Willoughby de Broke Mrs Susan Bridgewater Pam Barnes Dr & Mrs Munchi Choksey David & Catherine Loudon Sarah Stoten Mr & Mrs Ludovic de Walden Mrs Patricia Trahar Dr Stephen Large Prof Jacquie McGlade

William & Jane Pusey Paul Cooney Mrs Christine Archer PE Shirley Margaret Fraser Mrs Michael Markham Sir Martin & Lady Jacomb Victoria Peers The Brook Family Nicholas & Marie-France Burton Professor Robert Bluglass CBE & Dr Kerry Bluglass Bridget Barker & Simon Herrtage Richard Shore Roger Salmon and Helen Rose

Supporters Mr & Mrs Peter Kenworthy-Browne Clive Barnes Lady Butler Mr Peter Boycott Graham Greene CBE Jenny Grimstone Sarah Holman David Howells Howard & Melanie Jackson Bob & Sandy Marchant N Meades Dr James Mooney Mrs Penny Perriss

Andrew & Julia Pick Michael Robarts Bill Slora Christopher Trye Sir Robert Wade-Gery Benjamin Wiggin Matt Broadhurst Mike & Joan Broad And 40 others who wish to remain anonymous, or have not yet specified how they would like to be listed.

Corporate & Director’s Circle Members Martinspeed Ltd Bonhams Farrow & Ball Aquarelle Publishing Blackwall Green Fred Winter Ltd Goldcrest Cleaning Lightmedia Communications Ltd Mitchell Gallery Renaissance Creative

Wright Hassall Perrywell Computer Systems Ltd Larch Consulting Audley Binswood Hall Castleacre Insurance Harrison Beale & Owen James Butler Ltd Clifton Cowley Healthcare Development Services Ltd

The Four Pillars When you purchase a membership at any level and/or make a donation, you are welcome to specify an area of your own interest towards which your membership/ donation will contribute. Funds, and the kinds of things they supported in 2013, are:  The Exhibition Fund for our exhibitions

and collections helped to reinstall our Enid Marx Collection.  The Adam Fund for our built heritage

has contributed to the repair of the Adam Hall floor and plasterwork.  The Inspire Fund for art education has

supported the development of a new outreach programme for schools.  The Capability Fund for our historic

landscape has supported the maintenance and bulb planting.

lake

For further information, or if you would like to support The Four Pillars of Compton Verney, please call Aly Grimes on 01926 645 547 or donate on-line now via the Big Give.

Other ways you can help Consider leaving us a legacy, organising an event or naming a tree, artwork or room for yourself or a loved one! Call 01926 645 547 or visit the website for more information.