Explore rural life in Warwick district as objects go ‘back to the land’

Artist Jo Roberts with a sickle she is repatriating for the Back to the Land project.

Jo Roberts, who has given herself the title, ‘The Temporary Keeper of the Repatriation of Rural Artefacts’, has been working with the gallery to temporarily repatriate 11 objects, including a bean dibber, beer barrel and a sickle.

Over six days - under the project title ‘Back to the Land’ - the objects will be taken to places that have meaning for them - and people can join an expert at each place to find out more about rural life.

The gallery’s senior curatorial officer Vicki Slade said: “Jo has developed a fun and exciting series of events that will encourage participants to view museum objects in a new way.

Haymaking near Offchurch, 1864, by Thomas Baker.

“By taking the objects out of the museum and reconnecting them with the rural communities that they came from, we can find new meanings in them. I urge anyone interested in exploring places, objects and ideas to come along.”

All of those who take part will receive a limited edition artwork by Jo.

The series starts on September 3, when Vicki will take a bookmark from the Coventry and Midland Industrial Art Exhibition to Stoneleigh Abbey to explore the impact industrialisation had on rural life.

Another highlight is on September 8, when John Crossling of the Campaign for Real Ale will head to Offchurch with a costerel and beer bottle to talk about the changing role of beer in society.

Other events take place at Crackley Wood, Goodrest Farm, Canalside Community Food and North Kenilworth Allotments. Each event starts at 11am and lasts for around one hour. All are free to attend. For full details, call the gallery on 742700.