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A new exhibition will explore the history of Nottingham’s caves through sound.
The ‘Heavy Note’ is an audio art-work by composer/musician Rebecca Lee, and has been developed as a result of a collaborative research project between experts at the University of Nottingham and Nottingham City Museums and Galleries.
The exhibition, which takes place from Saturday 24 June to Sunday 9 July, takes inspiration, information and material from the history of Brewhouse Yard in Nottingham.
Using sound to engage audiences
The experimental piece explores 17th century magical musical theory, waterflows, cosmic data and oral history to re-characterise the history of the site and explore new possibilities on how sound can be used in innovative ways to engage museum audiences.
Situated in the caves at the Museum of Nottingham Life at Brewhouse Yard, the work draws out and explores moments of intensity and rhythm by entwining four elements of the history of the site: the 17th Century non-conformist Philadelphian group who met there; the ongoing presence and influence of water in the caves in the form of the river Leen – and the cosmic ray experiments that took place within the caves in the 1970s, and an individual, Lucy Towers, who was born there.
Dr James Mansell, Assistant Professor in Cultural Studies, at the University of Nottingham, is the lead academic on the collaboration.
He said: “The purpose behind the exhibition was to look into how sound might be used in new ways in museums. We wanted to find ways to engage with museum visitors beyond what they can see. We’ve investigated different ways of storytelling with sound and we’re really keen to know what people think.”
Joint project
The project is jointly funded by the Cultural and Creative Industries research group at the University of Nottingham and by Nottingham Museums Service.
The exhibition will be held on weekends only from Saturday 24 June until Sunday 9 July from 12pm-4pm and the price of entry is £2.50 with entry to the museum.
A free public preview will be held on Friday 23 June, 6-8pm. Sign up here.
More information can be found at the website.
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