Print tutor Alison recently visit The Fitzwilliam Museum for a very special exhibition. And she tells us all about it below…
Rowan student artists and staff visited the highly acclaimed, Made in Ancient Egypt exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Museum last week. The exhibition contains a rich and varied collection of objects made from a wide range of materials. With its focus on the crafts people who made them and how they were made. This is visually a fascinating exhibition for Rowan as our student artists make in a range of materials including, wood, textiles, ceramics, and more. We were delighted to hear from Tom, (who was exhibition assistant to Helen Strudwick, the exhibition curator) as he explained how the potter’s wheel worked and how a large beautifully decorated pot was made in three sections.
We were all choosing our favourite objects from each room, frogs, fish, birds, jewellery and finely woven textiles. And we were noticing that the tools the ancient Egyptians used, were very similar to the tools we use. The films demonstrating the techniques of how things were made and the interactive objects were great and accessible.
The students said about the exhibition:
Isobel, “I was blown away. The wooden stool reminded me of the one I had when I was little it was very similar with a woven seat”.
Janette, “It was very interesting to see how they made things.”
Nia, “Amazed at how detailed the stone carving was.” We were looking at a commemorative limestone stella.
Lucy, was “wowed” by the painting on papyrus of a magical bird called a benu, and an Ibis with bronze feet and head and long curling beak.
Andrew, enjoyed all of it especially the wood work section and the tools. Isobel’s observations and comments, encapsulates what connects us as people across time.
The exhibition was a great experience for our student artists and will inspire them in their making at Rowan. It is also a valuable social experience they can share with family and friends. We look forward to exploring this stunning exhibition with more of our student artists before it ends in April 2026.
