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?

Discovering Two Temple Place: February's #hipstergallery

‘They are doing a big travelling exhibition at Two Temple Place!’ a friend at work told me excitedly. 

‘Oh yeah, that big building by the stupid Green Park roundabout?’

‘No not Apsley House- Two Temple Place…in Temple,’ she replied incredulously. ‘How can you claim to love London museums and not have even heard of Two Temple Place?’ she demanded. 

My colleague certainly had a point. I would say in my own defense- Two Temple Place is not technically a museum, but a historic home now owned by a charitable trust that they open up a few months of the year. As of 2011, the former Astor House has re-vamped itself as a public gallery committed to showing off art from around the UK.  Pop-up art exhibitions in the historic home of Victorian American real-estate magnate? A venue bringing the best of regional collections to London? It’s almost too good to be true, and that’s why Two Temple Place is this month’s #hipstermuseum. (Or..er, #hipstergallery?)

It’s appropriate to tell you more about why Two Temple Place is so amazing in the context of it’s current Discoveries exhibition. That’s because you can only actually get into the building when it has one of its exhibitions on, usually about 3 months of the year. The rest of the time the looming gothic mansion is occupied by office and meeting space, and apparently the occasional dance troupe. Built in 1895 for American tycoon William Waldorf Astor (of Waldorf Astoria Hotel fame), the wood-panelled building has been called ‘Victoriana-meets-Disney’. So you just know you are going to love it.

As if reveling in the cheesy splendor of nouveau-riche turn of the century American style wasn’t enough, if you go before the 27^th of April you’ll also get to see the building filled with treasures from the Cambridge Museums. All 8 of them. 8 museums in Cambridge you say? Indeed- all 8. Including the Polar Museum and the Sedgwick Museum (who knew?). Discoveries is art, science, technology, anthropology, and archaeology all thrown together. It's everything eclectic and curious we love about museums all under one roof. 

Like any exhibition, Discoveries has its high and low points. But it seems much easier to forgive any small foibles when it’s in a gothic mansion that wouldn’t seem misplaced in a ‘Hill House’ style scary film. What Discoveries does so fantastically well is show the wide-range of collections held by Cambridge in a way that warms a museum person’s heart. Star objects like this Inuit figure and a Dodo skeleton are shown side-by side with the lesser-loved collections of endless paddles, goggles and geological specimens. It’s like a big warm hug for every curator who’s ever opened a drawer of beads and thought sadly how no one will ever love them. Upstairs things get even more exciting- plaster casts of Praxiteles sculptures displayed in the sweeping gothic hall with technology used for modern neutrino research. Shot out to all you Harry Potter loving physics nerds!

But don’t be fooled, yes you will enjoy the exhibition but if you are visiting Two Temple Place you are there for the building. Blue-stained glass windows over the ornate staircase covered in statues of characters from the Three Musketeers (because why not). We even loved the toilers (#museumloos) – so obviously retrofitted with proper plumbing, complete with much too high ceilings covered in cobwebs. Or are we the only ones who notice these things? The interior and exterior of the building are covered in friezes gilding and all other forms of architectural frippery which remind us so much of those eccentric Victorians. Getting a chance to wander around this treasure of a building plus a bonus virtual tour of Cambridge Museums? Sign us up. Oh and did we mention- it’s free? Painfully cultural and easy on the wallet- Two Temple Place is hipster heaven.

Discoveries: Art, Science and Exploration is on at Two Temple Place until the 27^th of April http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/discoveries/

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.