Telling creation stories
© V&A Images/Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Each writer taking part in 26 Treasures is responding to their object in 62 words. Why 62 words? Because 26 Treasures is about reflection - a person’s reflection on an object. Reflect 26. You get 62.
When you arrive at the entrance to the British Galleries in the V&A in September, you’ll be invited to read the 62-word reflections. But what if you’d like to know more? What if Maura Dooley’s mirror journey gets you thinking, wondering, guessing? What if Sara Sheridan’s snaking story leads you into temptation?
For two months, 26 writers from around the country lived with a unique object from the V&A. They invited it into their lives. They sometimes loved it, sometimes didn’t. Candle stands stood in corners. Girandoles looked out from walls. Busts sat on mantlepieces. All in writers’ imaginations.
So we asked our writers to tell us a story. Their story. About how they arrived at their 62 words. What or who or where inspired them?
Like a magician revealing illusions, our writers are preparing to share all. Every Wednesday from next week. Here’s a taste of things to come.
Andy Hayes writing about his treasure
I headed up to the British Galleries, feeling excited and slightly nervous, noticed a big bed that someone else had as their pet treasure, glad it wasn’t mine as I would’ve just resorted to smut, then found Mr No-Body, tiny compared to many other exhibits, but to me, it was like meeting a long lost friend…
26 facts about 26 Treasures (part 2)
Continuing the big reveal…
14. A promo film about the project is currently in production – thanks to Uche Olivia Ogbonnah (Olive Media Productions) for all her work and patience and for continually repeating ‘Look at the camera’.
15. We’ll be running an event at the V&A on Friday 24 September as part of the Lates series, on the theme ‘Two’s a Pair’. So keep the date free.
16. The writers have discovered that the V&A café is a fine place to work, as well as to sip tea and eat cake.
17. Number of times that the writers have set off the alarms in the V&A by trying to get too close to their objects: one, two, three, four, more…
18. Number of suspicious glances from museum attendants at writers who seem to have taken residence in the galleries: at least 26.
19. Number of cups of coffee drunk by Dan Oparison in creating the website: we’re writers, we can’t count that high.
20. Age of James II when he wore his embroidered wedding suit (one of the Treasures) to marry his 15-year-old bride: 40.
21. Number of times the phrase ‘memento mori’ is used in the 26 pieces: 2
22. Our favourite title for a treasure: ‘Mr Nobody with a drinking glass’ (above).
23. We’ve counted hyphenated-words as one word (if anyone’s counting).
24. Title for a 62-word piece that is taken from another poem: ‘Either you will / go through this door / or you will not go through’ (from the poem “Prospective Immigrants Please Note” by Adrienne Rich).
25. ‘Go and look into its liquid surface and reflect’ – an invitation from Maura Dooley to go and visit her treasure, the Gough Looking Glass and, indeed, all the treasures.
26. From 18 – 26 September 2010, you can visit the V&A, follow the trail and feel inspired.
26T - the latest…
What a weekend.
First there was the deadline. For our 26 writers to send us their 62-word reflections on their objects from the V&A. They’re all in. And - and of course this is just our opinion because we’re the only ones lucky enough to read them so far - they’re fantastic.
We laughed, we cried. We sent them around the editorial group. Andrew (Motion) sent in his piece nice and early. Maura (Dooley) waited a while, then sent us her 62 words and a little story behind her writing process. They’re all so different. All so engaging. All so exciting.
So thank you, our dear writers. We’ll now send your pieces to the V&A…
But the weekend.
Ah, just quickly, first, there were the magazines last week. A national magazine approached us to ask if we’d like to feature in their mag. And then another magazine asked the same. So we sent some words, some photos, and we’ll look forward to reading our articles.
To the weekend.
This blog has had a little facelift. She’s now smiling a little more cheekily - with our brand colours and our logo decorating her.
Our main website is nearly finished. Dan Oparison - a major part of the 26 Treasures team - has been working every second he can. He’s been up to his neck in HTML, PHP, modules, CSS and lots of other computery things.
We’ve been working with a filmmaker from Olive Media Productions to produce a video for 26 Treasures. We’ve spoken to Uche over the weekend and the video could be live on the website within the next couple of weeks.
And that’s it. Other than our arrival on Twitter of course (more soon). And chats with our PR man, Mike. And discussions about a night of filming in Soho at the end of the month (it’s all very innocent, honest). And our plans for a special evening in September.
But we can’t say much about that. It’s all very secret. In fact, I’ve already said too-
Rob
