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A showcase of the everyday from the residents of BS13
From earrings to medals, paper bags to spoons, a special exhibition at the M Shed is a showcase of the everyday.
The People’s Museum features items that belong to residents of BS13, with minibuses being organised between there and the museum on Saturday and Sunday when the exhibition is on display.
Each of the displays has a story behind it, with social history being told through the treasured private collections of people living in the community.
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The People’s Museum is a collaboration between the team at Zion in Bedminster Down and supported by the M Shed, WECA and Bristol City Council.
Jess Wright from Zion is a collector herself, with some of her anglepoise lamps illuminating the displays in the room on the first floor of the museum.
“I believe that everybody collects something,” Jess told Bristol24/7. “People might not realise that they do. It might be ties, it might be badges, it might be bikes, it could be anything.
“We wanted to encourage people who we know through Zion to have a look in their lofts and under the bed, see what they’ve got and put those collections on public display.”
Over the weekend of November 13 and 14, there are more than a dozen collections on display, with some of Jess’ own favourites including Victorian celery vases collected by Maggie Clarke; Glastonbury memorabilia collected by Jenny Young, whose dad helped build the Pyramid Stage;
Avril Marshall’s collection of earrings – photo Martin Booth
Jenny Young’s Glastonbury Festival wristbands – photo: Martin Booth
Most of the collections are not on display even in their owners’ homes. “They are hidden away,” says Jess. “And that’s the point really. People forget that they’ve got them.”
For example, Aimee Owen found vintage matchbooks that had been collected by her late father, with Aimee not knowing why he collected them.
“She remembered that they were hidden away somewhere. So she dug them out and then they kind of brought her a bit closer to her dad.”
Marilyn Thomas meanwhile, who is originally from the Philippines, has not seen her family for several years so collects items from the Philippines as a way for her to feel closer to home.
Other collections include a mother and son duo, Anne and Oliver Bouchier showcasing their collections of militaria and paper bags, and there are even retro computer games to play from the collection of Aidan Barnard.
The People’s Museum is at M Shed on November 13 and 14. Entry is free. For more information, visit www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/m-shed/whats-on/the-peoples-museum-at-m-shed
Anne Bouchier’s collection of paper bags – photo: Martin Booth
Oliver Bouchier’s collection of militaria – photo: Martin Booth
Marilyn Thomas’ Philippines collection – photo: Martin Booth
Main photo by Martin Booth of Andy Lewis’ Bedminster Down Boys Club collection
Read more: Lockdown 2.0 Diaries: BS13 – Bedminster Down
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