UCL Geology Collection: December's #hipstermuseum

A few days ago people across Britain and the world watched Tim Peake shoot into space on his mission to the International Space Station. At the same time, we were investigating some 'out-of-this world' objects a little closer to home, that is, at the UCL Geology collection. From meteors to dinosaur fossils and even previous metals, UCL houses an extensive collection of all things geological, as well as the UK's only NASA archive. And unlike the other cool rocks n'stuff collections you might see in London ( we are living the NHM's recent redisplay) here you can actually touch the stuff! We met curator Nick Booth to find out more about what they've got and how you can see in in this edition of #hipstermuseums.

UCL Museums always seems like a bit of a mystery. Aside from the few collections that have publicly accessible gallery spaces like the Petrie Museum and the Art Museum, you'd never really know how extensive their object holdings are. Although the rotating displays in the Collonade go some way to bringing together the amazing collections that each university department holds; the current one on industry, making and dangers is particularly interesting. While it once occupied a much larger dedicated space, the Geology Collection is confined more or less to one room in the South Colonnade, and several hall displays. The room is always open to Earth Science students who use it for teaching and socialising, and is available to the public from 1-3 on a Friday afternoon.

While timing might sound restrictive, it's because the Geology Collection is UCL's own cabinet of curiosities. Since rocks are well, rocks, to most observers anyway, its really much more interesting if you can pick them up and have someone there to talk them over with you. Without all our new fangled labelling, the geology collection calls for a much more personal approach. 

Nick shows of a meteor slice from the early nineteenth century

People say they don't know anything about geology, but actually people can be surprised how interesting and relevant it is, Nick Booth tells us. From ammonites to fossils, meteors and crystals, geology is, well, surprisingly cool. The natural world comes up in all sorts of strange ways- the materials Old Masters used to make their paints, the components of our smart phones, the building stones of our city, and the basis of industry. Who doesn't love space and fossils? 

Pieces of the Giant's Causeway

I'll level with you, I know absolutely nothing about about geology. Or rather, I thought I didn't - but as Nick revealed you'd be surprised how everyone has their geological interests. While I tried to ask some intelligent questions, really I had no idea about ancient algae, or even the exciting meteors. But actually I found out while we were there, museum people think about geological issues all the time. While we were there, we met a few conservators who were using the university's SEM to analyse paint fragments, which brought to mind the National Gallery's recent exhibition. What about radioactivity? Radioactive elements turn into glassware, paints, and a load of other things that we deal with in storing, handling and displaying collections.

But if there was one thing that really got my attention, it was all the asbestos. Any museum collections person (I suppose unless you are dealing purely with fine art) knows something about asbestos, and its many hazards. More importantly, we have to get good at identifying it. Amongst my friends, we like to play a game of going into antique shops and spotting the asbestos - because we are cool like that. So I get a little too excited about their collection of interesting asbestos and asbesoform from around the world (don't worry, in properly sealed boxes).

Check out the fibres on this blue asbestos

Huge sample from Asbestos, Canada on display in the Colonnade

I did promise you some space as well. Since Nick looks after all the Science collections, he also works with the Centre for Planetary Sciences at UCL, famously founded by NASA in the 1970s and containing prints and copies of images from space from the last 30 years. Most famously, the Centre looks after images and maps of Venus taken during a Russian expedition, the last time man visited the planet. 

So while the 2 hour a week opening time is a pain, a visit to UCL Geology is definitely worth the effort. If you wanted to have a poke around outside those hours, you could always contact Nick and see if something could be arranged. UCL also runs some great public events with evening open hours, and from the sounds of it there could be a pop up exhibition in the works- and what is really more hipster than that?

Beard @ Somerset House

If you're looking for something a bit more highbrow than Fifty Shades of Grey to lust after this March then perhaps Beard at Somerset House will fill the more acceptable void of popular culture porn. 

Fitting neatly into the Terrace Rooms at Somerset House Beard is just what you'd expect from a portrait photography show with the phenomena of beards as the central theme. There are of course the handsome bearded men like Gavin Turk and Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard thrilling many visitors. However the more unconventional beard is also celebrated with the beautiful British bearded woman Harnaam Kau who has been growing her facial since the age of sixteen due to her polycystic ovaries. 

The photographic prints are interesting and with pastel backgrounds they could almost look like paintings however I was disappointed that there was little information on the printing process and the visitor assistance knew not of it it either. 

The main drive to Mr Elbank’s project was Jimmy Niggles to familiar and incredibly handsome lead image of the campaign that leaked onto social media last year. Niggles a now prominent Australian charity campaigner grew his beard after the loss of a close friend to skin cancer. Niggles claims that he grew his beard with the aim of it becoming a conversation starter, using it as a platform to raise awareness of preventable diseases.  Inspiring photographer Elbank, this story prompted the #Project60 Campaign to raise awareness of Niggles’ Beard Season through social media and since Niggles has been the face much lusted after by beard-lovers. 

Social media is key to this show and its success. You are allowed to photograph the images and it does almost feel as if you have stepped into Elbank’s instagram feed. It is certainly a nicer way to view the portraits but for a show at Somerset House incredibly small and I left wanting to know so much more about the sitters, the photographic processes and the photographer. However, there are some great events on this week - it's last week!

Beard can be seen: 

Daily 10.00-18.00 (last entry 17.15)Terrace Rooms, South WingFree admission

Beards: Art Macabre Death Drawing Special

Wednesday, 25 March 2015, 19.00-21.00

£18.00

Sketch bearded bare models with Art Macabre at a special themed life drawing salon. Inspired by Mr Elbank's exhibition Beard, draw your own stylish bearded portraits as we celebrate the cultural phenomena of the Beard.

Captain Fawcett’s Grooming Parlour Talk

Thursday 26 March 2015, 14.00-14.40

Courtyard Rooms, South Wing, FREE Limited places

If you have been inspired by Beard but are a tad unsure on how to keep your own facial foliage in tip top condition, then why not join us along with the much esteemed Captain Fawcett for an informal chinwag that may go some way to answering your questions whilst offering tips on how to maintain a stiff upper lip regardless. With a battle cry of ‘All hail the hirsute’, Fawcett is the kind of chap you’d want on your side if ever you (and/ or your beard for that matter) were found wanting in the face of a sticky wicket. The Captain will be dispensing his wisdom with characteristic style and panache on all things needful for the well-turned out gent about town. A fine range of Captain Fawcett’s First Class Gentlemen’s Grooming Requisites will be available in the Rizzoli shop throughout the exhibition.

November's #hipstermuseum: Museum of the Order of St John

Dearest followers and friends! It seems an age since we last revealed to you one London's hidden heritage gems that we call our #hipstermuseums. Well we think you'll like what we have in store for you this time. It's got art, it's got armour, it's got Shakespeare, a history of violence and a Crypt. What, you haven't heard of the Museum of the Order of St John in Farringdon? Let us illuminate you...

At some point or another, most Londoners will have ended up wandering (like drunk) around Farringdon on the hunt for the station, and run into this elaborate medieval looking gate structure. It looks pretty out of place in the world of Clerkenwell bars and offices, but hey, this is London and London is weird like that. But this fascinating building (part of a former priory completed in 1504) is a testament to the long history of the Order of St John (of St John's Ambulance fame). 

I think it needs to be said that of the many small London museum's we've visited, the displays have been very high quality. This one was no different, having been completely redeveloped in 2010 and looking up to date with its floating ship models and dense display show cases. The museum (free to enter) only actually consists of three galleries, including the 'Link Gallery' which is essentially just an interactive timeline. Their 'Maltese Gallery' which contains some of their oldest and most impressive pieces relating to the Knight's of St John's time on Malta is the most impressive, featuring archival documents from the 16th century, furniture, art and more. 

But maybe we are getting ahead of ourselves. Who are the Order of St John and why are they at all of my festivals and gigs? It's a long and complicated answer since the original Order of St John Hospitallers was founded in Jerusalem in 1080. Although they were technically Knights, the brothers of St John were more interested in peace, and healing specifically, as they looking after the medical needs of those going on pilgrimage to the Holy Land. In the 1140s a Priory for the English arm was set up in Clerkenwell, and actually the crypt from this original building still exists and is open to visitors! Most of the building though dates to the 16th century- although the changing whims of the royalty meant it was used for a variety of things after the dissolution of the monasteries. The contemporary St Johns was revived the late nineteenth century with the goal of providing medical care for ordinary people, and actually teaching them to look after themselves through first aid courses. Their mission has been pretty much the same ever since!

But like most museums attached the larger institutions, all the best stuff (the silverware, the paintings) is used to decorate the building. And actually in this case it's not so much the museum galleries but the building itself that's so interesting. For example, in the 16th century the building above the gate was the office of Elizabeth the I's Master of the Revels, who was in charge of approving all plays performed in the city. That means Shakespeare would have had to come here to perform all his works before they were seen by the public! Woah man, woah. Fortunately, you can get into all the fun hidden bits on the tours the museum offers twice a day (again free of charge!)

So there you have it, not wanting to give away all the secrets of the Order of St Johns. It's medical history all tied up with London history with a good dash of crusaders, priors and angry peasants. All for free! So next time you stumble across that famous gate, take the chance to look inside!

For more information about the Museum of the Order of St John visit:  http://www.museumstjohn.org.uk/index.html

#hipstermuseums: Beating the heat at the Fan Museum

When you are sweltering in the London summer, a cool serene museum or gallery can seem like just the place to idle away the hot days. Well, that is until you try and squeeze yourself into a blockbuster exhibition and find yourself trapped in a sea of tourists and school children. There couldn't be a more opportune time to get out there and explore some of London's lesser-known museums. So in celebration of the sunny weather, we have picked Greenwich's Fan Museum as our next #hipstermuseum.

You have probably heard of the Fan Museum before - it's one of those places everyone seems to know about and rarely make the trek to. I mean, Greenwich is a bit far out from Central. Or so I thought- really it's only about 15 minutes on the DLR from Bank, so no excuses. If you have been to the Fan Museum, you were probably bringing your granny to tea in the Orangerie. And to be fair, just look at their tea room. Why haven't you brought your mum here on Mother's Day?

But the Fan Museum is far more than just a destination for ladies who lunch. We have to admit after a trip around their galleries, we emerged with the realisation that fans are actually pretty cool. No pun intended.

Are you a Gauguin fan? Hah, I crack myself up.
No but really this is a fan by Gauguin, Whut.

First of all, fans are seriously like... art. Honestly. The first galleries contain examples of painted fans from the 17th century, helpfully displayed next to the paintings or prints which inspired them. These painted scenes were then laid on to a structure to create a decorative fan. Pretty high culture for a fashion accessory. The downstairs is pretty much what you might expect something like the Fan Museum to be like. Historic fans, displays about the cultural significance of fans, fan production and even a few contemporary fans just for giggles.

Obsessed with these cases. So stately, so cute. 

Upstairs brings you to the temporary exhibition space, which is easily as big if not bigger than the permanent displays downstairs. If you thought the first few cases seemed old fashioned, the upstairs certainly does not. Beautifully kept and fitted with state of the art cases, the temporary exhibition proves that the Fan Museum is not to be scoffed at. Most small museums would sell their curator to get their hands on display materials this nice. And filling them is an absolutely fascinating exhibition about fans, advertising and fashion in the Art Deco era.

Tip top standard for such a tiny museum!

Seduced! Fans and the Art of Advertising explores the big brands who were making use of this fashion accessory in the 1920s and 1930s. Luxury brands from champagne to fashion houses, hotels and shipping lines made sure their messages were heard via the fan. We particularly enjoyed the Moet & Chandon fans which made use of the age's most popular commercial artist to produce unique designs.

When you think about it, it's actually relatively recently that fans stopped being an essentially part of our wardrobe. Really into the 1920s and 30s, fans would have been an important accessory in a noble tradition dating back to 3000BC. There's no surprise then that fans seem to be making their own come back in the sweaty Tube cars of London - a new hipster trend perhaps? Well if you are feeling behind the times, you can always pick yourself up on in the Fan Museum gift shop!

Seduced! Fans and the Art of Advertising is on at the Fan Museum until the 28th of September. http://www.thefanmuseum.org.uk/ 

A very #hipstermuseum Christmas (festive jumpers recommended but not mandatory)

It’s that time of year again- the Christmas season is upon us and London you are looking absolutely gorgeous! To celebrate this festive time of year we have picked the most Christmas-y little museum as can think of to be our #hipstermuseum for December: the Charles Dickens Museum in Bloomsbury.

It might be a bit of an overstatement to say that Dickens invented the modern celebration of Christmas, but come on, a Christmas Carol? The snowy streets of ye olde Londontown complete with boisterous street urchins, hard-working clerks in top hats, women in their bonnets and bustles picking up ingredients for Christmas dinner? It’s Dickens all the way. And old Charlie’s home knows just what to do to celebrate the season synonymous with their namesake.

The Dickens Museum is the great author’s only surviving London home, now turned into a house museum full of paintings, furniture, and the all-important Dickensian relics from his book collection to his writing desk. The whole Regency-era family home vibe is given a Christmas gloss by way of holly, mistletoe and a subtly placed tree (see below). There’s just something about the old books, bright wallpaper and wood paneled rooms that feels oh so right this time of year.

Of course the Museum is not just about Christmas. Well really it’s not about Christmas at all. The rooms have been recreated to how they would have been during Dickens’ lifetime, and tell the very personal tale of his family life interwoven with facts about his literary career. The displays in the bedroom about Dickens’ very public divorce from his wife are particularly touching.

Following the winding stairs all the way to the upper floors you reach the recently refurbished areas which have made way for more exhibition space in the former servants quarters. Fear not lovers of domestic history, the basements makes a pretty good attempt at incorporating some aspects of service in Dickens’ home. Yet we can’t help but feel that maybe they let the designers go a little bit crazy. Surely this room would have been more interesting shown in period style like the rest of the house?

What has also come with the refurbishment is a beautiful little education area which is actually much much nicer than my flat. Plus my flat does not have free access to all of Dickens’ journal articles online. Or any exposed brickwork. (wistful sigh)

And in case you failed to notice our enthusing on twitter, the shop is looking absolutely gorgeous and full of all kinds of Regency and Victorian themed Christmas goodies. Plus, the entire place smells amazing as a result of being decked out in dried oranges and spices.

To make the most of their Christmas connections the Dickens Museum has gone all out with a smorgasbord of festive events to attend, including ‘A Very Dickensian Christmas’ held on the 24^th, 25^th and 26^th of December complete with film screenings, readings and plenty of mulled cider. So what are you waiting for Christmas lovers? 

Visit http://www.dickensmuseum.com/ for more information on events and visiting.

#Hipstermuseums Leighton House Museum

In this series we are exploring London’s smaller, offbeat museums. Unlike the big players (*Nudges* BM and V&A) the little guys may not be slamming visitor figures with blockbuster exhibitions but they are fascinating, often beautiful and inspiring places that you just have to see. So this season #hipstermuseums are freaking sick. Lad.

Of course he has a beard.

Leighton House museum situated just off of Kensington High Street is the former home of the infamous Victorian painter and sculpture Lord Frederick Leighton and it’s totally exclusive as the only purpose-built studio-home open to the public. Only one bedroom occupies this house with numerous impressive studio rooms and exhibition spaces filling up the large plot of Land in Holland Park. Leighton had dreamed of a purpose build studio house but it wasn’t until he acquired the land in 1864 and collaborated with his close friend and architect George Aitchinson that this dream could become reality. Like every wealthy Victorian Leighton was inspired by his travels across the expanding empire and further afield in the Middle East, resulting in thirty years of redesigning and remodelling with the help of Aitchinson to create the hugely characteristic home.

The house provides on of my favourite singular collection displays in London, the extraordinary Arab hall is the main attraction of Leighton House, added to the house in 1877 – 1871 it is a pure example of how Leighton’s travels inspired his interior décor. The design was inspired by La Zisa in Palermo, Sicily a 12^th century Norman Palace and his collection provided the decoration. Visiting Turkey, Egypt, Syria and Damascus across in mid-19^th century he collected Arabic tiles and with the help of his friend Ethnographer and explorer Sir Richard Burton, Leighton was able to line the walls of the Arab Hall with his impressive hoard.

Can I tile my bathroom with these beautiful ceramics? 

Not only is Leighton House a perfect example of a #hipster museum (down the off beaten track past Kensington High Street) he was the Victorian answer to a hipster. He was from a wealthy medical family he was supported financially and able to explore his biblical and classical work, build a fabulous house and start a movement. Leighton’s move and purpose built studio house inspired a whole group of artists to do the same combining a domestic home with a studio resulting in the Holland Park Circle Including infamous painters like George Frederick Watts and Valentine Prinsep the Holland Park Circle became the leading group of Victorian Artists with the majority becoming royal academia’s. His notoriety and influence was a key part of the Victorian art movement and his works even inspired the rebellious pre Raphaelites.  Months before his death the ‘Silk Room’ was completed, a purpose built exhibition space the room’s walls were lined with green silk upon which works by the pre-Raphaelites like Millais, Sargent and Alma-Tadema are hung.

An Athlete Wrestling with a Python.
On display at Tate Britain

Like every good hipster home the studio became the place to party and Leighton’s gatherings were notorious - Queen V even popped over once. The studio space dominates the rear of the first floor, with huge windows bringing in streams of sunlight and deep Victorian red walls you can see why he chose this plot and this size. The walls  are now adorned some famous pieces and photographs of favoured sculptures sit on the window ledge. My fav Leighton Sculpture currently on display at Tate is ‘An Athlete wrestling with a Python’ because it’s like so homoerotic, sexual and like… progressive.

Leighton’s role on the Victorian art scene was honoured in 1878 when he became President of the Royal Academy of Arts, a leading figure both academically and socially he was regularly consulted on matters of art and culture, however his personal life remained closely guarded and he never married. Rumours and debates over his sexuality and illegimate children are still rife, however having left no personal letters or diaries all that is left to interpret is his home and collection.

I hope he tidied it up for the Queen's visit. 

The Museum is open daily except Tuesday from 10 -5pm and costs £5.

Find out more: http://www.rbkc.gov.uk/subsites/museums/leightonhousemuseum1.aspx

Art installations and dangerous ice cream at the London Canal Museum

Happy October everyone! It’s a new month, and that means it’s a new edition for our #hipstermuseum series. This is particularly appropriate as the museum we have picked is holding a pop-up art exhibition for all of October, and really what is more hipster than that? So with no more ado allow us to introduce you to the London Canal Museum.

Trendy Kings Cross location

The first thing to say about this #hipstermuseum is that is says its a museum about canals, but really it appears to be mainly about ice cream. The museum is set in a building which once served as one of the many warehouses for Carlo Gatti, a Victorian baron of ice imports. Yes back in the day before ice makers in your fridge, ice had to be imported from Norway and stores in underground cellars so that rich people could have their ice creams in the summertime. The ice trade was also called the ‘death trade’ because of the number of people that died trying to bring enormous chunks of ice from Norway to London on the winters seas. The Canal Museum focuses on this history in a big way and features ice-cream themed displays and objects. We particularly enjoyed the story of the ‘penny licks’- small glass containers which the Victorians used to sell small amounts of ice cream to London’s poor for just a penny. The only thing was that they never cleaned them and ice-cream is a pretty good carrier for bacteria. Oh you dirty Victorians.

Measuring up the ice blocks

So once you get your fill of ice cream downstairs, you can head upstairs for some displays which are actually about the canals. The museum is incredibly small but features all of the things you remember from going to museum-trips in school: canal boat models, old-timey videos of the canal, and even a model canal horse. Personally I quite enjoyed the ‘how locks work’ interactive, which is probably the only ‘interactive’ thing in the entire museum. You know what thought? I liked it. This is the kind of old fashioned museum that reminds me of being a kid. Also, there is something incredibly hypnotizing about those historic canal videos.

But I did promise you a hipster art installation and the London Canal Museum does not disappoint. Until the 20th of October, you can go to visit ‘Superposition’ an artistic collaboration between the museum and the Physics Society. Done a hard-hat and climb down to ladders into the museum’s Victorian ice well where you will discover a brightly lit glass installation inspired by neutrino experiments. There is something really striking about the damp old ice wells and the electric coloured glass which brings to mind something high-tech and alien being dropped into the completely wrong time period. Your trip down the well even comes with a physicist guide who explains more about the inspirations for the art work and how it brings together modern scientific theory with nods to the history of science. 

The London Canal Museum is undeniably the place all museum hipsters need to be this October- snap some Instagram shots in the ice well, some selfies in the life-size canal boat, and ponder modern video culture while watching a canal boat travel through London in the early twentieth century accompanied by classical music. You’d better get down to the canal museum before it gets way too mainstream. 

Superpostion at the Canal Museum runs Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays until the 20th of October, booking in advance recommended:http://www.canalmuseum.org.uk/whatson/superposition.htm

New Ministry Series: London's #hipstermuseums

We liked these museums before they were cool...

The nationals are like, soooo mainstream. Everyone knows that London is full of amazing museums. We are certainly the first in line to try and get ourselves into blockbuster exhibitions at the British Museum or the V&A. But what we love just as much is this city’s small museums, who can sometimes be forgotten in the shadow of the bigger nationals. We do our best to promote their events on par with the heavy hitters in our twitter updates, but now we are going to push it even farther with a new blog series on London’s smaller, offbeat, lesser known, shall we say #hipstermuseums. 

Each month we’ll be visiting a new small museum and writing up a review so all of you know the essentials: where it is, when to go, and what makes it so special. But don't just take our word for it, in the true hipster spirit, these museums are so much better live. Watch out for the #hipstermuseums hashtag and let us know if there is a small London museum we just have to visit before it gets too popular for its own good.