Final Meeting of the Promo and Events Team at New Walk Museum July 24th 2010

James Black

On Saturday 24^th July the final events and promotions meeting before this weekend’s Lyric Lounge took place at New Walk Museum. After last week’s session in which Lydia Towsey led the proceedings it was the turn of the Book Doctor herself Alison Dunne to put us through our poetical paces. Alison decided that we should retreat to the Dürer Room away from the chaos of the Council Room where the Happenings Group where busily putting the finishing touches on their poetrees, speech bubbles and infamous fridge costumes.

Painter and printmaker Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528) is generally regarded as the greatest German Renaissance artist. In his lifetime he produced a vast body of work, including altarpieces, religious works and portraits. Whilst Alison choose the Dürer Room for its peaceful serene atmosphere others felt that that the space was rather oppressive with its spotlit panelled walls. Alison encouraged us to write a piece inspired by the room whether it be the atmosphere found there or Dürer’s artwork.

The amazing thing about the very detailed prints in the Dürer Room is that many of them are actually wood carvings showing just how talented artist the man was. The print entitled St. Jerome in his Cell caught my eye as it depicted the curious sight of the famed scientist and theologian busy working at a deak whilst a lion slept at his feet. Others were impressed by the unsuspected sight of the rhinoceros image.

Several pieces of interesting writing where then read aloud one speculated what would take place in the Dürer Room when the museum was closed for the night, would the rhino come to life, would the place be changed forever? When members of the Happenings Group rejoined us they noticed that hushed silence had filled this very evocative space.

Alison explained that the exercise of getting us to engage with the pieces found in the museum would help us to communicate with members of the public who will be attending The Lyric Lounge. As volunteers it is important that we can react to the public’s thoughts and feelings about what they have seen and to be able offer our opinion of poetry, events and happenings that will take place between July 30^th and August 1^st. 

With just a few days to go to The Lyric Lounge each member of the Promo and Events Team looking forward to this extraordinary and multifaceted event.