Events this month in Bury

The short reign of Edward VII and the years that followed it up until the outbreak of war in 1914, are known as the Edwardian period. It was a time of great social change stamped with its own particular character; simultaneously both decadent and optimistic, but full of hope as the new century began. Many people considered this period to be the Age of Optimism. So many things had been invented so quickly– ‘the electric Hoover, the safety razor, the teddy bear and the paper cup’ that it was thought that war would be averted due to the surplus of helpful inventions.

This exhibition features some of the objects invented during the Edwardian age, although some of them may not actually date fom the period 1901 - 1910.

The gallery containing the permanent collection will be closed for refurbishment from 19 January until 30 April. Some of Bury’s larger paintings have been brought together and the concepts behind them explored.

The paintings cover a wide spectrum of art, from everyday life to ancient mythology, from grim realities to elegant fantasies.

The annual exhibition of the Bury Photographic Society presents us with an opportunity to see a selection of work produced by the society during the previous year. Visitors, once again, have the opportunity to vote for their favourite photograph.

World famous is a series of photographs that takes a warm and humorous look at Bury’s ‘world famous’ market. Shot over 6 months by local photographer Helen Kirkbright, the series documents everyday life on the market. “The aim of the project was to capture the personality of the market - the quirks, the diversity, the hard-working staff and the loyal customers... all the aspects that make Bury Market the popular place that is”. The result is a collection of portraits and captured moments that range from the heart-warming to the absurd.

This exhibition explores society’s 21st century obsession with the use of CCTV, mobile phone tracking and government databases all of which hold personal information about us.

It looks at the 19th century artistic ideas of the artist and his model, at the artist as voyeur, at we the watchers and the watched. It features a titillation booth-
‘What the Butler Saw’ - popular at the time on seaside promenades, and objects from the museum’s permanent collection that convey the intrigues of a person’s private and intimate personal life.

Society’s fascination with celebrity culture, the Big Brother TV Programme, on-line diaries etc will also feature. This exhibition asks who’s watching you?