WHAT TO WEAR DURING WARTIME: 'FASHION ON THE RATION'

EXHIBITION REVIEW

BY: MALLORY HORRILL

Greetings my rabid museum exhibit fans! Last week I spent a delightful day at the Imperial War Museum in London where I had the pleasure of viewing the exhibition ‘Fashion on the Ration’.

Britain, 1940
Source:http://www.iwm.org.uk/corporate/privacy-copyright/licence

It was a lovely afternoon. The exhibit itself was not very large, only spanning a handful of rooms. One walks through the rooms viewing display cases filled with WWII outfits and accessories that were worn by men, women and children during the war.

The exhibit showcases military dress, the practice of mending and refashioning clothing, the rage of knitting, attire for wartime weddings, utility clothing, the implementation of sturdier fabrics, clothing coupons, and specific trends that sprung up around the war like patriotic scarves. 

1943 British Poster
Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/29163

As a fan of fashion and material culture history, I was enchanted by the exhibition. However, I did observe that not all visitors were as fascinated as myself. I think the cause of this is two part; the first being that fashion is not an appealing subject for everyone (but there’s no accounting for taste). The second reason, which rests on the first, is that visitors who are already not too keen on the topic of clothing seem less motivated to read the panels and therefore do not receive the information about the specific clothing. It is difficult to attract the attention of visitors that are already not sold on the topic on display. Perhaps period music or video of advertisements could help to spice up the subject for these guests. What do you think? 

Enjoy these wartime fashion tips I learned throughout the exhibition:

1.   In lieu of blush and lipstick beetroot juice was used to stain lips and cheeks a cheerful rosy hue

2.   As nylon was being rationed for the manufacture of parachutes women drew lines up the back of     their legs to give the appearance of wearing stockings 

3.   Boot polish was used as a substitute for mascara 

4.   When the colder weather came old blankets could be restructured into smart wintertime dresses

5.   Department stores like Selfridges came out with handbags that had a special compartment to hold gas masks

6.   Many crafted their own jewelry from spare materials such as unusable parts from munitions factories

7.   Department stores sold luminous accessories for safety and visibility during blackouts

• 

  Ladies handbag with respirator compartment
  Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30016115

MAGNA CARTA: BEAUTY IN THE WRITTEN WORD

EXHIBITION REVIEW

BY: MALLORY HORRILL

Yesterday I stopped by the British Library to explore the stacks and see the special exhibition Magna Carta: Law, Liberty, Legacy.

Prior to handing over my timed entry ticket for the exhibit I wandered through the library’s free, permanent exhibition in the Sir John Ritblat Gallery where they display on rotation a selection of the library’s impressive collection. I was in a state of awe as I walked through the single room gallery which held such treasures as the Gutenberg bible, original Mozart song sheets, a penned copy of a Sherlock Holmes story, handwritten Beatles lyrics and so much more! After seeing this selection of goodies the bar was set pretty high for the Magna Carta exhibit.

King John signing Magna Carta, 1215
Source.

Walking into the darkened exhibition space, one is greeted with a short, introductory video that informs on the background of the Magna Carta document and its lasting legacy. Cleverly but to the obvious frustration of a number of visitors, the Library does not reveal the famed document until the very end of the exhibit. The lead up to the actual artifact informs on the period that the document was created, alterations to its composition, the various revivals of the work, and its impact worldwide (with a focus on the United States and France).

The majority of the artifacts on display in the exhibit are textual, for example, one such artifact showcased is the 14th c. manuscript “Statutes of England”. The written artifacts are complimented by a small collection of non-text artifacts, including a recreation of King John’s tomb and a modern day puzzle depicting the signing of the Magna Carta. 

Upon entering the final exhibition gallery one is confronted by two poster-sized documents, safely nestled behind glass. My initial impression upon entering the room was disappointment. However, upon further reflection my opinion has changed. I realize now that my first reaction came from the stimulation of seeing so many historical pieces and being presented with such a buildup. One almost expects to enter a room to see a document the length of the Dead Sea Scrolls, highlighted with digital projections of the text on all of the walls.

The exhibition presents an incredible collection of textual artifacts. The Library uses a simple design approach, which does not detract from the artifacts but rather compliments them. In the age of the blockbuster exhibition, sometimes one forgets how effective an exhibit can be without the added glitz. The texts themselves are beautiful pieces and should not upstaged.

1 of 4 Magna Carta Manuscripts in existence
Source.

Who’s looking forward to Canada’s Magna Carta exhibit (coming to Fort York in October)? I will definitely be comparing and contrasting!

THE WILD WEST BROUGHT TO YOU BY DISNEY: MUSEUMS IN UNEXPECTED PLACES

EXHIBITION REVIEW

BY: MALLORY HORRILL

Sometimes I feel like I attract museums. Even when I am not actively pursuing a museum visit, I seem to stumble upon exhibits and displays. I am sure the more likely explanation is that I am just hyper aware of the museum experience.

This past weekend I had one of these occurrences at Disneyland Paris. Why was I at Disneyland Paris you may ask? Well, I am interning in the UK this summer and naturally have been indulging in a fair share of travelling and site seeing. This past weekend I decided to take a bit of a break from the traditional historic and cultural tourism to satisfy my inner child. 

Entrance sign to Exhibit
Source: Mallory Horrill

While venturing around the park, getting my fill of rollercoasters, Disney characters, and park treats, I stumbled into an American Wild West exhibit. For those who are unfamiliar with the Disney Parks, the company divides their attractions into different ‘lands’, such as Fantasyland, Adventureland, Discoveryland etc. The exhibit being of a Wild West genre was of course located in Frontierland. Frontierland itself boasts Western attractions including the ‘Big Thunder Mountain’ rollercoaster, the ‘Rustler Roundup Shootin’ Gallery’ game, and the ‘Thunder Mesa Riverboat Landing’ boat cruise. As I'm sure you can gather from reading the titles, Frontierland is a rather romanticized depiction of the American Wild West. 

Wax Scene, Davy Crockett posed after firing at opponent
Source: Mallory Horrill

The exhibit, “Legends of the Wild West”, is housed in a recreated American Civil-War era fort. Visitors walk through the fort, both upper and lower levels, peering in on five scenes of frontier life, portrayed through wax figures. The scenes are explained on panels, posted beside the tableaux. The scenes and panels express general points in American Western history. For example, one panel read “With a cry ‘Eureka!’ Gold was discovered in California, and the historic ‘Gold Rush’ of 1849 began. Hundreds of Thousands of dreamers from America, Europe, and Asia travelled west, expecting to find streets paved with gold.” The accompanying scene featured a wax male figure discovering gold!

The exhibit and Frontierland are a carefully crafted atmosphere that makes the visitor feel as though they are transported to the clichéd Western world of cowboys, outlaws, gold, and saloons. Despite the sentimentality that Disney uses to enhance their park experience the exhibit does provide nuggets of truth. In addition to each panel giving one or two facts, if the visitor looks closely a real historic photograph can be spotted in each of the wax scenes. 

View of Exhibit
Source: Mallory Horrill

So the question is, does the simplicity of the exhibit perpetuate the romantic view of the American Wild West? Or does it inspire visitors to learn more about the period?

What unexpected places have you seen exhibits? Do you think exhibits can be successful outside of the museum setting?

TO BE INTERACTIVE OR NOT TO BE INTERACTIVE: COMPUTERIZED CANOEING

EXHIBITION REVIEW

BY: MALLORY HORRILL

Source: http://www.canoemuseum.ca

While visiting friends and family in Peterborough over the long weekend I squeezed in a visit to the Canadian Canoe Museum.

In all honesty the museum far exceeded my expectations. I drove into the parking lot of the institution assuming that I would enjoy my visit but thinking that as a smaller town museum the institution would be limited in gallery space and traditional in its interpretation. I am happy to say I was wrong. 

Opening Night of Exhibit
Source: http://www.canoemuseum.ca

The museum is quite expansive, boasting two sizable floors that take the visitor on a journey through Canadian history from the perspective of the canoe. The institution also has a number of impressive interactive sections including a Metis dress up activity and a live viewing of a canoe being constructed. 

Currently the museum is featuring the special exhibition ‘Skimming the Surface: The Unfolding Story of Sprint Paddling’. The exhibit details the Canadian history of competitive paddling (both canoe and kayak). ‘Skimming the Surface’ showcases notable Canadian athletes of the sport, such as Adam Van Koeverden, who most recently received a silver medal in sprint kayaking at the London Summer Olympics. 

Me on the Kayak Training Ergometer
Source: Mallory Horrill

The exhibit features two impressive interactive portions. The first is a kayak training ergometer, which allows the visitor to take part in a mock kayak race, through the use of an exercise machine and computer program. I blew my computerized opponents out of the water (pun intended) in this activity, however, I will say that I did not have the resistance on the machine set extremely high. 

Unfortunately, my hope of a career in sprint paddling was broken in the second interactive activity called ‘Tippy Kayak Challenge’. The user is intended to kayak along the machine without tipping over. This was not as easy as it sounds. The machine simulates the unruly nature of a vessel on the surface of the water and was therefore extremely prone to motion. In my multiple attempts, I only managed to make it half of the distance along the machine.

Relative on the 'Tippy Kayak Challenge'
Source: Mallory Horrill

Despite my lack of physical prowess in the exhibit, I enjoyed the interactive activities. I received a refresher on Canadian history, learned about a sport I knew little about and even got to try my hand at it. However, I did find myself wondering if the exciting presence of the interactive machines did not detract from the panels and artifacts on display. While I personally read the panels and examined the artifacts, I can’t help but wonder if every visitor did the same. 

What do you think of interactive exhibitions? Can you think of an instance when interactive display was employed really well?

CASA LOMA'S SCREEN APPEARANCES

THROWBACK THURSDAY 

BY: MALLORY HORRILL

Calling all television and movie buffs! Remember when Toronto’s iconic Casa Loma was featured in these productions?

1. Cocktail (1988)

This less than thrilling film starred Tom Cruise as the highly successful bartender Brian Flanagan. Casa Loma graced the screen in the film as the setting of Flanagan’s wealthy father's home. 

http://torontoist.com/2009/01/reel_toronto_cocktail/

2. Goosebumps, A Night in Terror Tower (1996) 

While you may not remember this exact episode, I’m sure you remember the series! In this episode Sue and her brother Eddie while on a family trip to the UK get scared out of their wits at an old historic castle. 

3. X-Men (2000)

Casa Loma was used as the interior of Dr. Xavier’s (Patrick Stewart) school for ‘gifted youth’.

http://torontoist.com/2007/12/reel_toronto_th_1/

4. Chicago (2002)

The lawyer, Billy Flynn (Richard Geere) uses Casa Loma’s Oak Room for the setting of his office. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/11/style/tmagazine/11tgere.html?_r=0 

5. Scott Pilgrim vs The World (2010)

The outside staircase of Casa Loma was used as the site of Pilgrim’s (Michael Cera) showdown with Ramona Flowers’ (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) second evil ex, Lucas Lee.

http://torontoist.com/2010/11/reel_toronto_edgar_wright_talks_scott_pligrim_vs_the_world/

These five films and television shows are by no means the only famed filming that has taken place at Toronto’s castle. Can you name any other productions that have used Case Loma?

TOURING CANADA THROUGH HISTORIC HOMES

WALK OF FAME

BY: MALLORY HORRILL

I am unashamedly a big fan of historic houses. There is something I find very enjoyable about seeing period decor and architecture. It’s like fulfilling the dream of stepping back in time for a brief moment. This is not to say that I am a traditionalist, I do not necessarily think that all historic buildings require period dress or role play and I also enjoy when the institutions host events and forge partnerships that may appear to be somewhat unconventional.

For today’s ‘Person of Note’ blog I have decided to express multiple Canadian persons to you through the homes that they at one point occupied. If you have any Canadian travel plans for the summer take note!

Without further ado, I bring to you my personal compilation of 8 Canadian family historic homes!

1. Beaconsfield Historic House
    -Located in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Beaconsfield is a lovely Victorian home that was built in 1877 by the wealthy shipbuilder James Peake. The home was grand for the period, boasting 25 rooms. In 1883 Peake was forced to sell the residence as his business sharply declined. The Cundall family maintained ownership of the home until 1916 after which the building acted as a ladies residence and residence for nurses.

2. The Fry House

    -Located in Jordan, Ontario
The Fry House is a medieval, German farmhouse that was built in 1830 by Jacob Fry. In 1895 the Fry family moved into a brick residence, leaving the farmhouse as a playhouse for the children and at one point a chicken coop. In the period of the 1950s the farmhouse was restored to the period that Jacob and his family lived in the home. The home is now under the operation of the Jordan Historical Museum.

Outside View of The Fry House

3. La Maison Drouin
   -Located in Isle d'Orléans, Quebec
This modest home was built around 1730 by the Canac-Marquis family. The structure has been owned and inhabited by only 2 families in its 250-year history.

4. Craigdarroch Castle, National Historic Site
    -Located in Victoria, British Columbia
Known as ‘Canada’s castle’, the opulent residence was the home of coal baron Robert Dunsmuir and his family. The 39-room residence was built in the late 19th c. and features stunning original stained glass windows.

Inside Craigdarroch Castle

5. Hawthorne Cottage, National Historic Site
    -Located in Brigus, Newfoundland & Labrador
The cottage was built in 1830 and was home to the Canadian famed Artic explorer Captain Bob Bartlett.

6. Lougheed House
   -Located in Calgary, Alberta
The grand home was built in 1891 (enlarged in 1907) and was home to Senator James Alexander Lougheed, his wife Lady Isabella Lougheed, and their six children. In 1934 the city took possession of the home as the onset of Depression inflicted property taxes too high for the family to pay. However, use of the building was not at an end as it became the center for a women’s Youth Employment Training Program in 1939, a military barracks for the CWAC’S during WW2, and a Red Cross blood donor clinic in the late 1940s.

Outside View Lougheed House

7. Seven Oaks House Museum
    -Located in Winnipeg, Manitoba
The 9-room home was built in 1851 by John Inkster for his wife Mary Sinclair and their children. The structure received its name from the Battle of Seven Oaks which took place on the property in 1816. The residence was inhabited by the Inkster family until 1912 when the grounds were given to the City of Winnipeg for use as a public park. In 1958 the home was restored and opened to the public. 

8. Knaut-Rhuland House, National Historic Site
    -Located in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
This 18th century home was built in the style of  ‘British Classicism’. The residence is named after and depicted in the period of its first owners Benjamin Knaut and Conrad Rhuland.

Inside Knaut-Rhuland House

Have you visited any of these sites? Please share other historic home sites that you have visited!

DISPLACED BY THE TOONIE: THE CANADIAN $2 BILL

THROWBACK THURSDAY

BY: MALLORY HORRILL

During Reading Week I try and get ahead on homework, spend time with family and friends, enjoy a few books from my neglected pile of fiction, and face the dreaded to-do list that has been collecting dust since the winter holidays. In an effort to check off some tasks from my list, I began to tidy my desk and bookshelf yesterday. While sorting through papers in a desk drawer I came across an old crumpled Canadian two-dollar bill. I took this find to be fortuitous for the subject of my blog today. With the orangey-red bill propped beside my computer I invite you to join me for a quick stroll back to 1996.

In 1986 the Bank of Canada released the ‘Birds of Canada’ banknote series, a series that no doubt you well remember.

'Birds of Canada' Series

The series included:

$2 orangey-red bill, featuring Queen Elizabeth II (front) and the robin (back)
$5 blue bill, featuring Wilfrid Laurier (front) and the kingfisher (back)
$10 purple bill, featuring John A. Macdonald (front) and the osprey (back)
$20 green bill, featuring Queen Elizabeth II (front) and the loon (back)
$50 red bill, featuring William Lyon Mackenzie King (front) and the snowy owl (back)
$100 brown bill, featuring Robert Borden (front) and the Canadian goose (back)

'Canadian Journey' Series 

The ‘Birds of Canada’ series was followed by the ‘Canadian Journey’ series which was released in between the years of 2004 and 2006. In 2011 our bills were changed to the ‘Frontier’ series, made of polymer. It is the 'Canadian Journey' and 'Frontier' bills series that we are most familiar with today. 

'Frontier' Series

In 1996 our $2 bills were replaced by the $2 coin, popularly known as the toonie. The bills however are still accepted as legal tender and can often be found in the registers of tourist gift shops, as vacationers tend to save up their foreign monies.

The toonie itself has gone through multiple issues:

1990-2003- Queen Elizabeth II (front) and polar bear (back)
1999- Special edition, Founding of Nunavut
          Queen Elizabeth II (front) and Inuit drummer(back)
2000- Special edition, Millennium
           Queen Elizabeth II (front) and 2 polar bears mother and child(back)
2003- Updated portrait of queen
          Queen Elizabeth II (front) and polar bear (back)
2006- Special edition, 10th Anniversary of $2 coin
          Queen Elizabeth II (front) and new polar bear (back)

2008- Special edition, Anniversary of founding of Quebec City
           Queen Elizabeth II (front) fleur-de-lis (back)

1996 Toonie 

Numerous commemorative editions of the toonie have circulated since 1996 as well. I will not exhaustively list them here, but you can find them listed on the Canadian mint website. 

2003 Toonie

Our two-dollar currency has certainly changed quite a bit in the last 19 years. Unfortunately our 1986 $2 bills are not yet worth the hundreds of dollars that we hope they’ll eventually be valued. There was a rare case in 2014 where a $2 bill sold for $10,000 at auction. In that case the bill was extremely rare as it was improperly signed.

But continue to hang on to those $2 bills and pennies, one day we may see copies on display at the Bank Museum of Canada, or at the very least they will be a piece of nostalgia.

THE FOLLOWING SOURCES WERE CONSULTED:

http://www.mint.ca/store/template/home.jsp
http://www.bankofcanadamuseum.ca

http://www.bankofcanada.ca

CONTROVERSIAL ART?: KARA WALKER

WALK OF FAME

BY: MALLORY HORRILL

I have always been attracted to art pieces and artists that express significant issues through their work, stimulating and encouraging thought and discussion on the subject. Following this train of thought I would like to introduce to you an artist that I recently became acquainted with, the very talented Kara Walker.

Walker is an African American artist that is most well known for confronting gender, race, identity, and violence in her work, especially in relation to African American history. She was born in 1969 in California, and moved with her family to Georgia in 1982. Walker attended Atlanta’s College of Art where she received her Bachelors degree in Fine Arts in 1991. Walker continued her education at the Rhode Island School of Design, completing her Masters of Fine Arts in 1994. In the final year of her Masters, Walker kick started her artistic career with an exhibit at the Drawing Center in SoHo, New York. 

Slavery! Slavery! (1997) (The New York Times)

Walker’s career has continued on an upward trajectory, in 1997 she was awarded the MacArthur Foundation ‘genius’ grant, she has displayed her work worldwide in both solo and group exhibitions, and many museums own her work. The artist varies her artistic expression through a wide range of media, including but not limited to paint, cut paper silhouette, drawing, film, light projection, text, and most recently sugar! Walker currently resides in New York, where she teaches at Columbia’s School of the Arts and continues to create amazing art pieces.

While Walker’s work does stimulate reflection and thought it has also caused moments of contention. In 1997, her art was criticized by many for depicting the African Americans of the anti-bellum south through negative stereotypes. Walker stated: “So I saw the silhouette and stereotype as linked. Of course, while the stereotype, or the emblem, can communicate with a lot of people, and a lot of people can understand it, the other side is that it also reduces differences, reduces diversity to that stereotype.”(Columbia News)

Darkytown Rebellion (2001) (The Whitney Museum of American Art)

A similar incident arose in 2012, when the Newark Public Library took offense to a piece of Walker’s that they were displaying on loan. The piece depicts many different scenes but the one that provoked controversy was an image where a woman is depicted performing a sexual act on a male figure. Walker stated about the piece: “I wanted to make a point about the way these images arose for many when Barack Obama (pictured at a little lectern on the mid-left) gave his national speech on race. And the many times he invokes his or his wife's heritage to make an ideological point about American patriotism, which in some way grants permission to the ghosts of racist terrorism to be reimagined—here with KKK hooded figures, lynched bodies and sexual violence—and these should be horrible to behold, and should feel both familiar and uncomfortable.”(Art in America) The Newark library temporarily covered the art piece from public viewing until it was decided that it should be displayed.

Walker’s work is both praised and questioned. What do you think of Walker’s work?

The creation of the work A Subtlety, or the Marvelous Sugar Baby

Special thanks to Madeleine Adamson for introducing me to this extremely talented artist. 

THE FOLLOWING SOURCES WERE CONSULTED:
http://www.biography.com/people/kara-walker-37225
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/news/03/09/karaWalker.html
http://learn.walkerart.org/karawalker?n=Main.HomePage

http://www.artinamericamagazine.com/news-features/news/kara-walker-newark-library/

JOHN MACDONELL: BEYOND KEY HISTORIC FIGURES

WALK OF FAME

BY: MALLORY HORRILL

Major General Sir Isaac Brock is an infamous Canadian hero of the War of 1812. I am sure you are quite familiar with the figure of Brock by now, having learned of him through your primary and secondary school Canadian education. Other 1812 icons that I am sure come to mind include Laura Secord, Tecumseh, and Charles-Michel de Salaberry, all of whom have been recognized by the Canadian mint in a commemorative coin collection.

Over the holidays we marked the bicentennial anniversary of the Treaty of Ghent, the document that officially ended the War of 1812 although naval and land battles did not cease until June 1815. As I reflect upon the bicentennial, iconic names come to mind such as Brock and Secord. While these figures may give commemoration a face, I think it is also important to remember the everyday people that were involved and affected by the historic event. 

Macdonell wounded in Battle of Queenston Heights.

http://www.eighteentwelve.ca/?q=eng/Topic/87

In light of this, I bring to your attention Lieutenant Colonel John Macdonell. Macdonell is an interesting figure as he is buried at a National Historic Site and yet lacks popular recognition because he is buried at the same location as General Brock. The burial place of both Macdonell and Brock are marked with a large monument, titled Brock’s Monument. The omission of Macdonell's name on the cenotaph further encourages his anonymity. The location of the structure is fitting as it is situated in the area where the Battle of Queenston Heights was fought and where both men lost their lives. The structure stands 56 meters tall, making it 5 meters taller than the height of Niagara Falls. The monumental size of the structure is both architecturally stimulating as well as recreational, as visitors can climb the 235 stairs located inside the column where they can enjoy a view of the surrounding Niagara escarpment and river. 

Brock’s Monument in Queenston Heights Park (Queenston, ON)

http://www.friendsoffortgeorge.ca/brocks-monument/index.html

John Macdonell was born in 1785 in Greenfield Scotland. In 1792 his family immigrated to Upper Canada. Not much is known about Macdonell’s early life, only that he trained as a lawyer and became involved in politics. Macdonell made an impression upon General Brock, as he appointed him as his provincial aide-de-camp in April 1812. The Battle of Queenston Heights, being the second battle of the war, took place on October 13 1812. General Brock was killed early in the battle during an attempt to take back the redan battery from the Americans. Following the fall of Brock, Macdonell led a second attack on the battery in which the aide-de-comp sustained injuries which would unfortunately prove to be fatal. Despite the loss of two important leaders, the Battle of Queenston Heights was a victory for the British, Canadian forces through the combined efforts of the British regulars, Canadian Militia, Aboriginal forces, and Runchey’s Coloured Corps.

While the information about Macdonell is not extensive, it does shed light on a specific war contribution and more generally on a life lived. Iconic figures do allow for an easier understanding of events, however, they do not inform on the average or everyday life. I think it is important to remember and commemorate both the ordinary and extraordinary people.

Stone marker where Macdonell fell in battle.

Personal Photo

THE FOLLOWING SOURCES WERE CONSULTED:

http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/macdonell_john_5E.html.

http://www.friendsoffortgeorge.ca/brocks-monument/index.html.

A Very Brilliant Affair: The Battle of Queenston Heights, 1812 by Robert Malcolmson