CAG on museums: The British Science Festival 7-12 September 2013

Photo by David Scharf ‘Human Lymphocyte’

The British Science Festival is taking place in Newcastle this year and is a celebration of science, engineering and technology. The festival travels to different UK cities every year and offers an array of activities to get the public involved and interested in science. There are so many things going on for the festival, but so far I’ve been concentrating on some of the more artistic displays of art, technology, and science.

Jennifer Allinson giving an artist talk in the Hatton Gallery

I attended the artist talk and opening of Jennifer Allinson’s body armour sculpture show. During her talk she explained how she created her fragile armour pieces through an mix of sewing skills, engineering to create the porcelain pieces and some of their supports, and the manipulation of materials, which is key to sculpting.

Arm bands

Corset/bodice

There was also a piece in the Hatton Gallery foyer called winter flowers, which used a mix of metal, acrylic, silk, and real tree branches.

'Winter Flowers' by Jenny Allinson

There is also the ‘International Images for Science 2013’ exhibition based on a partnership of the Royal Photographic Society and Science and Technology Facilities Council of 100 images from scientists, researchers, and others of science themed explorations, which is on at the Great North Museum: Hancock.

Photo by Robert Hurt ‘Massive star making waves’

Photo David Doubliet ‘World of Penguins, Antarctic Peninsula’

There are some slightly upsetting images for the over-sensitive public such as myself of some human maladies, and the inside of human that made me feel a bit icky, but overall some really interesting photos.

Photo by Paul Whitten ‘Retinal Haemorrhage’

I also went to a display about how barnacles reproduce and stick to surfaces in the sea, watched them feed on prawns, and looked at the kind of paint that is being used to paint ships today to keep barnacles off ship surfaces.

Live sea barnacles

On September 11, I plan on going to a lecture in the Newcastle University Fine Art Lecture Theatre on the ‘Tipping points in nature and society’. Lots happening all around this week.