Autumn Season from the Ruskin Library
Lancaster University’s Ruskin Library and Research Centre is running a series of events, exhibitions and public lectures beginning this Autumn.
“The People's Gothic: Craftsmanship and Artistry in the North West”– an exhibition curated by Brian Hodgson, PhD candidate at the Ruskin Library and Research Centre – features photographs of church and secular buildings in the North West and explores Ruskin's definition of Gothic and its links to the Arts and Craft Movement. It runs until 25 October at Lancaster University Library.
On 18 November, Professor Robert Hewison (City University London) will deliver The Mikimoto Memorial Ruskin Lecture at 6.00 pm (Management School Lecture Theatre 1): 'No wealth but life': Ruskin and Cultural Value. The lecture is open to all and will be followed by a wine reception.
Professor Hewison first became interested in Ruskin when he was commissioned by the BBC to write a drama-documentary about the Whistler versus Ruskin libel trial, “The Gentle Art of Making Enemies”. A lifelong scholar of the Victorian critic and artist, he has published widely on 20th century British cultural history, and has written on the arts for The Sunday Times since 1981. In 2000 he was co-curator of Ruskin, Turner and the Pre-Raphaelites at the Tate Gallery. He is an Honorary Professor in the Ruskin Library and Research Centre, and a Trustee of the Ruskin Foundation; he is also an Associate of the think tank Demos.
Also launching this Autumn is “Objects of Curious Virtue: Echoes of John Ruskin”, at the Ruskin Library (9 October to 12 December 2010), an exhibition by Leeds School of Design lecturer and artist David Walker Barker. Taking inspiration from John Ruskin’s fascination with minerals, the exhibition includes six newly-constructed cabinets displaying mineral and fossil specimens, artefacts and fabricated objects from the artist’s extensive collections, along with paintings, drawings and sketchbooks. Some of the most spectacular minerals from Ruskin’s own collection are also included, on loan from the Guild of St. George collection in the care of Museums Sheffield.
On 14 October at 5 pm in the Ruskin Library, David will give a tour for the weekly Ruskin Seminar, and explain his interest in Ruskin as a collector of minerals. This will be followed at 6 pm by a Private View of the exhibition, with refreshments.
These are just a selection of some of the regular public events held at the Ruskin Library and Research Centre.
For further details please go to http://www.lancs.ac.uk/fass/ruskin/event/current/