‘Share your view through contemporary art and heritage’
View of Yeovil exhibitions
31 May – 8 July
Opening event: Friday 2 June 4-6pm
Let us know if you are coming! Click here for RSVP before 26 May
The Story of Yeovil project presents ‘View of Yeovil’, collecting stories from the town community and telling the history of photography through heritage collections in Yeovil.
We are delighted to have Carolyn Lefley, photographer and artist, as our producer for View of Yeovil, working in collaboration with the many partners involved in the Story of Yeovil project to produce the exhibitions, displaying more than 100 photographs from professional artists, the local community and students from Yeovil College.
Inspired by the South Somerset Heritage Collection which has over 6000 photographs reflecting the heritage of Yeovil, we sent out an open call inviting members of the Yeovil community to help create a contemporary archive of photographs made in and about Yeovil. We have seen some amazing entries submitted on social media via #ViewOfYeovil, so you can go online and see them too right now. A selection of these photographs put forward from members of the community will be printed and displayed in the gallery alongside those of professional photographers.
The gallery will have a Story of Yeovil area where you can find out more about the project, share your stories and take time to immerse yourself in the show. The exhibition will also include a photo booth set up where visitors will be invited to create their own ‘Carte des Visites’ portraits so this is going to be a great opportunity to take part and learn more about the part photography has in illustrating our life stories.
Opening event: Friday 2 June 4-6pm to welcome visitors and invite the community to come and see the collections, the show will continue until Saturday 8 July. RSVP for our opening event here, before the 26 May.
History walk: Friday 9th June 11.00-12.30. Heritage walk and tour of St. John’s church, Yeovil. Led by local historian Bob Osborn. Starting at Yeovil Art Space local historian Bob Osborn will guide the walking group through the town centre to St. John’s church giving an interesting and informative tour of the inside and around the historic building. The walkers will then return to Yeovil Art Space to peruse the View of Yeovil exhibition. Book your place here.
Photography Walk: Friday 23 June 11-1pm. Bring your camera or smartphone to enjoy a photography walk around Ninesprings through the lens of Story of Yeovil with Photographer Carolyn Lefley and Ranger Edd Chilcott. The route will be approximately 2 miles, occasionally on uneven terrain, not suitable for buggies. Well behaved dogs on leads are allowed. The walk will finish at the Ninesprings Cafe, here you will have a chance to share your photos with Carolyn, Edd and the group. In the event of wet weather the walk will still go ahead. Book your place here.
Photography Talk: Saturday 24 June 10.30-12noon with Carolyn Lefley telling the history of photography through the heritage collections in Yeovil. Booking information coming soon.
Online exhibitions with Yeovil’s Virtual Museum curated by local historian Bob Osborn, featuring Yeovil’s architectural heritage through the town’s oldest surviving buildings. Visit the exhibition here ‘A View of Yeovil’
‘Gateway to the West’ Heritage Display at the Yeovil Library: Put together by our Community Curatorial Group, consisting of community members and volunteers from South Somerset Heritage Collection, working with our curatorial team and UWE to create a special display of objects and archive materials to share ‘views of Yeovil’ through the collection of souvenirs related to Yeovil. This display will begin 12 June and will be available to view into August.
View of Yeovil is part of a wider programme of exhibitions and events the ‘Story of Yeovil’, a co-creation project with the town’s community. Looking at the past, present and future, the project gathers stories from diverse perspectives through creative activities through three main themes: View of Yeovil, Sound of Yeovil and Taste of Yeovil. For more information visit Story of Yeovil
If you would like to find out how to get involved and learn more about the project, please email us at storyofyeovil@yeovilartspace.uk