First on my list was visiting Lighthouse, Poole's Centre for the Arts. I had hoped to see some works by Hazel Evans, but serves me right for not paying enough attention to the website as she is still working on pieces to be displayed later in the year. I was however fortunate to see two other exhibitions.
The first was a display of photographs from a local college course: the students had each been given a rubber duck and were under instructions that upon receiving a shout (presumable email or text) they had 30 seconds to pose and photograph their duck. Several of the photos were obviously spur of the moment place and shoot giving an interesting insight into some of the students lives, but equally others had been cleverly prepared.
Secondly I saw a local art group's works, if I'm being honest the quality of these varied greatly, but there were some that caught my eye, my favourites where the Jester and Family (above) and Fire and Ice (right).
I had planned then to go on to the Peacock Gallery to see the 3 Dimensions photographic exhibition, unfortunately the bus to get me there ran every four hours (man I can't wait till I've got a licence and my own car) and I wasn't sure I'd be back in time to visit the last stop I had planned for the day.
I'd only heard about the Russell Cotes museum recently thanks to Listed which is surprising considering it sits just outside the town centre and is such a fabulous place. When I read up on it I was immediately reminded of Sir John Sloane's museum in London which it resembles in many ways. They are both the former homes of voracious Victorian collectors of artefacts from what seems to be most of the world. The major difference I saw was in the organisation.
While Sloane's house was gradually transformed into storage space for his ever expanding and seemingly disorganised collections the Russell Cotes seems to have retained a sense of order.
You enter from the gardens and after the reception area you can head up one floor and you're first presented with a collection of items from Japan that are stunning in both the diversity and quality; swords, statues, pots, tea ceremony kits and pipes. In the centre of all of this stands a full suit of armour. on the next floor up you begin to enter into the house proper.
Firstly you notice that in each of the rooms all the walls contain paintings, that various stands and pedestals contain sculptures and that every table is filled with little mementos of the Russell Cote's travels. Then you realise the whole room is frescoed and that the ceiling either contains a stained glass window or is exquisitely painted. The rooms flow into one another with the curators managing to keep rooms distinct. You can also wander upstairs and enjoy the continuing splendour and the amazing view from the bedroom down onto the beach.
One other thing that I think is amazing about the Russell Cotes is that even with the seemingly endless supply of historical curios they have managed (at least on my visit) to set aside two rooms for contemporary artists. In the midst of so much traditional art the change was refreshing and I particularly liked the works by Diane McLellan and those of Paul Amey.
If you're anything like me a visit to the Russell Cotes museum will find you wandering back and forward trying not to miss anything, inevitably you will but that just strikes me as a good reason to visit again.
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