November at the Galleries
Branwell Brontë; Arthur Ransome; sculpture; digitising manuscripts; life drawing
Branwell Brontë: 'Perfect Wreck'
Symposium co-hosted by Brontë Parsonage Museum and Leeds University Library Special Collections
Symposium date: 8 November 2017
Location: Treasures of the Brotherton Gallery, University of Leeds
Keynote speaker: Dr Jonathon Shears, University of Keele, 'Branwell and Byronic self-fashioning'
In her biography of Branwell Brontë, Daphne du Maurier described Branwell as 'a spectre in the Brontë story, in pathetic contrast with the astonishing achievements of his sisters'. This is Branwell's bicentenary year, and Brontë Parsonage Museum is marking the occasion with a number of events and an exhibition curated by Simon Armitage, entitled Mansions in the Sky.
Leeds University Library Special Collections (which holds a substantial collection of original and transcribed material by, or relating to, different members of the Brontë family) and Brontë Parsonage Museum are co-hosting a one-day interdisciplinary symposium which seeks to explore and interrogate not only the figure of Branwell Brontë, but the context of the early Victorian culture in which he struggled to fulfil his ambitions.
Rates (including refreshments and lunch):
Adult/Waged £10
Student/Unwaged/16-25 £5
Tony Harrison at 80: A Celebration
Date: Friday 10 November 2017
Location: Clothworkers Centenary Concert Hall
Time: 16:30 - 19:30
Cost: £6 waged/£4 for students and unwaged
Places are limited so please book in advance online
The University of Leeds Poetry Centre and Special Collections celebrate Tony Harrison's 80th birthday at this special event.
The University of Leeds is delighted to celebrate the eightieth birthday of Tony Harrison, one of the most important poets writing in the UK today. Tony has a long-standing relationship with the University and his archive is housed in the Brotherton Library.
This event is supported by ULPC, the University of Leeds Poetry Centre and will take place in Clothworkers Centenary Concert Hall, University of Leeds.
The celebration will begin at 4:30pm with a rare screening of 'The Gaze of the Gorgon', one of Harrison's celebrated film poems. The film will be introduced by its director, Peter Symes.
The evening will continue with a reading from Tony at 6.30pm who will be signing books afterwards.
Places are limited so please book in advance online
There will also be a free academic conference exploring Harrison's work in the School of English on Saturday 11 November. For more information, please visit the booking website.
Lunchtime Talk: Arthur Ransome
Date: Friday 24 November 2017
Location: Treasures of the Brotherton Gallery, Parkinson Court
Time: 13:00 - 14:00
Cost: Free, booking required
Ann Farr of the Arthur Ransome Society speaks about Arthur Ransome, the celebrated Leeds-born author, journalist and spy.
Discover more about Arthur Ransome from his beginnings in Leeds through to his career in espionage, international journalism and literary success as an author.
The speaker Ann Farr will draw upon the Arthur Ransome Archive which is housed in Leeds University Library Special Collections.
This is a free talk but places are limited so please book in advance
Opening Reception - Austin Wright: Emerging Forms
Date: Tuesday 21 Nov 2017
Location: The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery
Time: 18:00 - 20:00
Cost: Free
Please join us for a glass of wine to celebrate the launch of Austin Wright: Emerging Forms.
This exhibition explores the career of Yorkshire-based sculptor Austin Wright, Gregory Fellow in Sculpture at the University of Leeds from 1961-1964.
Starting from the striking outdoor artwork Limbo, gifted by the artist's family, the exhibition includes sculpture, maquettes and drawings that show the development of Wright's practice.
Let us know you will be coming by registering here
For further information please context the Gallery by email: gallery@leeds.ac.uk or telephone: 0113 343 2778
Tuesday Treasure - Digitisation
Date: Tuesday 14 Nov 2017
Location: Treasures of the Brotherton Gallery, Parkinson Court
Time: 12pm - 2pm
Cost: Free, drop-in activity
Join us for November's Tuesday Treasure to discover how the Library's digitisation team meet the challenges posed by digitising rare, precious, fragile and sometimes odd items in Special Collections.
Have you ever wondered how manuscripts are digitised?
Do you know how long it takes to photograph Shakespeare's First Folio?
How on earth do you photograph an 18-metre-long, 15th-century scroll?!
What else does the digitisation studio and the University Library do to preserve Special Collections materials and make them accessible?
If you've ever asked these questions then come along to November's Tuesday Treasure where the digitisation studio team will be on hand with some of their equipment to demonstrate how they photograph the rare and fragile items in Special Collections.
Drop in any time between 12noon and 2pm.
Life Drawing with Rob Oldfield
Date: Saturday 4 Nov 2017
Location: £10, booking required
Time: 14:00 - 16:00
Location: The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery
Join us in our monthly Life Drawing class with Gallery favourite and experienced artist and tutor, Rob Oldfield.
This workshop is open to everyone, from newcomers who want to take up a hobby through to experienced artists looking to hone their sketching skills.
Materials will be supplied but please feel free to bring your own too.
Rob Oldfield has been leading our life drawing classes since August 2014 and everyone is a fan! Rob is a York-based artist, graphic designer, sign-writer, art technician and tutor. He has modelled for life classes for many years as well as teaching life drawing to his students. As a tutor, Rob encourages, advises and listens so please do come along and take advantage of his skills and experience.
Suitable for ages 18 +
Please note there is a £10 charge for this workshop.
To book your place, please visit our online booking system
