Photo Courtesy Laura Ellen Bacon
Normanby Hall Country Park are delighted to present ‘Muscle Mass’, a newly commissioned work by sculptor Laura Ellen Bacon, created in response to the collections at The Rural Life Museum at Normanby, North Lincolnshire.
Inspired by items in the museum, including a selection of woven rush /sedge horse collars exhibited in their saddlery and a striking large-scale photograph of the huge thatched haystack, Laura became interested in materials sourced locally, especially those used in the construction of thatched roofing. After a period of research, Laura worked with volunteers from the nearby Alkborough Flats nature reserve, to gather and process reeds - a traditional thatching material - for the construction of the sculpture, which was created at the artist’s Derbyshire studio. Well known for her use of natural materials to produce elegant and striking installations, this large- scale standalone sculpture will become the first using this new medium. The commission is the latest in a series of high-profile art and craft commissions at Normanby made possible through Arts Council England funding through Humber Museums Partnership. Previous years have seen installations by ceramic artist Lindsey Mendick, and acclaimed Glasgow based designers Timorous Beasties.
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The photograph of the huge thatched haystack at Normanby which inspired the sculpture.
The woven rush /sedge horse collar exhibited in the saddlery at The Rural Life Museum which provided inspiration for the sculpture.
Laura Ellen Bacon with the reeds the nearby Alkborough Flats nature reserve, a traditional thatching material, which she used as material for the sculpture .
'Muscle Mass’ installed.
Muscle Mass will be on display at The Rural Life Museum at Normanby Hall Country Park from Saturday 1 April until 29 October 2023. The museum is open from 10am to 4pm daily.
Laura Ellen Bacon appears courtesy of Hignell Gallery, London.
The Rural Life Museum, Normanby Hall Country Park, Normanby, North Lincolnshire DN15 9HU
For visitor information and opening times visit www.normanbyhall.co.uk
