A new community arts project exhibition is coming to Lichfield.
Writer and storyteller Stewart Derry will bring In Our Hands to the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum from April 2 to May 2.
The project explores the lives, memories, hopes and aspirations of a diverse group of people in the city.
Stewart explained:
“In Our Hands is a wonderful opportunity for celebrating our lives, memories and stories through the arts and also opening up that conversation with others. The response so far to the work and the project has been fantastic!
“The stories of these groups and people is a conversation through time – how the past still speaks to the present, how those memories and voices find their connections in you and me. They are stories of the ordinary and the remarkable, the unfolding human experience navigating the daily rhythm of life, loss, love and companionship.
“Each person’s story is in turn connected with a small hand held object that holds a certain meaning and resonance to the teller and the tale. So we have, for each person, a memory, an object and a story.”
The project has also involved a series of special outreach events with The Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum, inspiring new stories and memories for a series of rarely displayed objects in the collection. These collective memories, stories and treasured objects will form part of a new exhibition at the museum. But that is only the beginning.
Lichfield’s story will be the first part in a long series of In Our Hands projects with different groups and communities across the world.
Stewart added:
“What better place to start than home and to contribute to that rich history of arts and community involvement in my own back yard. The vision of the project is in the true spirit of the storyteller. Very soon I’m going to have to gather my maps and put on my travelling shoes. But for the moment I’m really enjoying being in the city of the spires.
“As far as the In Our Hands project goes, right now Lichfield is pretty much the centre of the world!”
For more information about Stewart and the project visit www.stewartderry.co.uk.
