
RAMM: Naturally Inspired
8 April 2016
Botanicals, gardens and landscapes were the inspiration for a season of exhibitions and events in Exeter’s Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery in 2016. The Naturally Inspired season included award-winning photography, botanical watercolours, contemporary landscapes, a garden in the museum, workshops, dementia-friendly activities, talks and tours.
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Naturally Inspired Self-guided trails and tours
The Great Exeter Garden Quest. A digital trail of gardens and special places in Exeter. Follow the map and take the garden challenge.
Veitch Lamppost Trail. A self-guided digital trail to help you find 16 painted period cast lampposts in the St David’s and St James area of Exeter each featuring a plant cultivated or discovered by the Veitch family. A digital trail will be coming soon!
Exploring Turner’s Landscape. Download the app and explore the 12 Southwest landscapes which inspired Turner, recently revisited by contemporary artist Kurt Jackson for the exhibition Kurt Jackson: Revisiting Turner’s tourism
Collections Explorer. Explore RAMM’s collection online in your own time. This collection is inspired by plants and animals.
These events, exhibitions and activities have already taken place in 2016 as part of the Naturally Inspired season:
EXHIBITIONS:
- Exeter Art Society cafe exhibition 19 April to 3 July
A new selling show featuring local artworks inspired by the city’s beauty and the spectacular surrounding countryside from one of Exeter’s foremost art groups using watercolour, oil, acrylic, pastel, gouache and pencil. - Local Art Show 30 April to 29 May
Featuring Teignmouth-based art group Flying Colours, winner of the 2016 Express & Echo Local Art Show competition, this year’s show has a botanical theme. - International Garden Photographer of the Year 2016 23 April to 28 August
The premium competition for garden and plant photography with entries from all around the world. - Flower Power 11 June to 11 September. Beautiful early 19th-century illustrations of Indian flora exploring the plants’ usage in traditional Ayurvedic and modern medicine
- Efflorescence 5 July to 2 October. A selling exhibition in the RAMM cafe by Jude Freeman.
- Kurt Jackson: Revisiting Turner’s Tourism 10 September to 4 December. An exhibition of works by the contemporary British artist Kurt Jackson and J.M.W. Turner
- Exeter’s Fine Art Collection From 25 October. A selection of drawings, watercolours and oil paintings from RAMM’s collection on the theme of Seasons: Winter & Spring, Devon Landscapes, Exeter and People.
SPECIAL EVENTS:
- The Veitch Lecture 10 June, 1pm
The Bowden Lily and its Devon Connection: Dr John David, Head of Horticultural Taxonomy at the Royal Horticultural Society, covers the story of its discovery and introduction into cultivation. - The Veitch Period Lamp Post Guided Tour 10 June, 2.15pm
See the 16 painted period cast lampposts in the St David’s and St James area of Exeter each featuring a plant cultivated or discovered by the Veitch family. - Dementia-friendly Gallery Tour 22 June, 10.30am
The International Garden Photographer of the Year exhibition captures amazing moments in nature, from close up and far away. - Virtuous Herbes 30 June, drop in from 11 to 11.45am or 1 to 1.45pm
Step back to Tudor England… The year is 1602 and Tudor wives Mistress Elinor and Mistress Christina demonstrate the preparation of infusions, tisanes, poultices and healing salves. - Plant Hunter Competition 28 April to 28 August
Share your pictures of plants in unusual places and win tea with Toby Buckland. - Talk: The East India Company School paintings in RAMM 28 July, 1 to 2pm
In this illustrated talk, botanist Martyn Rix will explain the background to the botanical paintings the Flower Power exhibition - Escot Park – Brown or not? 2 August, 2 to 3.30pm at Escot House.
Enrich your knowledge of local gardens at Escot Park, near Ottery St Mary, where owner John-Michael Kennaway will host a 1.5 hour guided walk. - Morning Floristry Workshop 5 August, 10.30am to 12.30pm
A special opportunity to get creative with flower arranging. In this tailor-made morning workshop, you will learn how to create a frame to support flowers, giving you a ‘canvas’ on which to build your floral design. - Botanical Illustration Workshops 11 August, 10am to 4pm
Inspired by the Flower Power exhibition, award-winning authors and botanical illustrators Meriel Thurstan and Rosie Martin will teach you how to paint exotic lilies. - What we can take home from traditional Indian medicine 7 September, 1pm to 2pm.
‘Ayurveda’ translates as ‘knowing life’ and reflects the way traditional medicine in India was seen as a way to live well every day. - City Foraging Walk 7 September, 2pm to 5pm.
On this 3-hour foraging course led by ethnobotanist and professional forager Robin Harford, you will be taken on an amazing journey through the secret foraging haunts of Exeter.