461 – t3

the collections are central to the museum of making.  they act as an inspiration for making today and for makers of the future.  with the building being refurbished all the objects are being stored offsite.  today i’ve visited one of the stores.

earlier this week i was at the first meeting to discuss the recant of the objects.

in the room were the design company, the collections team and volunteers.   we heard about the storage plans and rapid prototyped how it might be to recant objects into the second floor accessible storage gallery.  i love the rapid prototyping approach because it cuts through all the distracting conversations to the core of what the needs are and what might be needed to meet these.

i filmed and have begun to assemble an edit.

the store i visited today is a base for the collections team, the midland railway research centre and museum volunteers.  i learnt how with very little space the work of the collections team continues in preparation for the recant of the objects.   i saw how the 3d scanning work is on going and look forward to adding more footage of this process to go alongside shots from t2.

i didn’t realise the range of opportunities the collection management provides.  from what i can remember form the many conversations today, there are different volunteers in 4 days a week.

friday is the day for the model railway volunteer team to meet.

there has been a model railway at derby museums since the festival of britain and in the refurbished museum of making the model railway is to have much more prominence with a  connection to the midland railway research centre.

chatting with the team i got insight into their current challenges.  one of these is the creation of water – both courses and areas of.  it seems where ever i go within the project everyone has multiple challenges and these are being met with great humour and determination.

i include myself in that too – i’m finding i have an increasing number of questions all needing an answer.  the timeframe for this need is variable.

connecting with the physical elements of the project is helping me to build a mental picture of the timescales.   this  probably needs managing in some way !

… reaches for sketchbook and pen.

arriving home tonight i can still feel the excitement at being on site at the museum of making for the first time.  that is – the first time at the museum during the refurbishment work.

after receiving my site induction including getting into the site, safety video and being issued with my ppe, i accompanied the site manager on a tour of the site.  we topped out by looking at the roof !

i learnt some details about this roof and these will help me in the coming weeks.  at the height we were at the river took on a curious quality giving an impression of the silk mill elegantly moving forward through water – like a cruise ship.

at the other end of the mill we’d been up to the third floor.  still holding onto memories of what used to happen in these spaces i explored and started to ponder the nature of the progression in my attitude towards the spaces – as i get more familiar with the plans i hope to start to learn the working titles of the spaces and what is planned to happen there.

i’m asking many questions including how to talk about areas of the mill to help navigation.

chatting with the project manager has helped me a little with this.  the main mill parallel to the river is the italian mill.  the back section at 90 degrees is the sowter and the bit between these two – according to the architect – is the knuckle.

today has been very exciting.  being in the mill, seeing the fully exposed  areas and starting the familiarisation process with regard to the plans.  i need to work quickly this week to get some footage of certain areas as they are soon to be worked upon.  i’m in new territory and everyone i talk to onsite are so helpful and understanding.   i feel immediately involved and part of this amazing project.

if i were a runner i think today has been like my first major run – i’ve enjoyed it so much and from here i’m going to look to improve upon it as i get deeper into the project.