Evil eye jewellery and a fluffy boa died pink with cherry pop are among the curious objects on display at a new exhibition exploring ideas of craft in the North-east.
Naff? An exploration of value has been curated by Kathryn Harriman, a PhD candidate in visual anthropology at the University of Aberdeen.
A combination of anthropological research and installation art, the exhibition displays a mixture of objects from Marischal Museum's collection and the North-east today.
Eye-catching items include a Maori treasure box filled with scoobies (craft lace), a fluffy boa died pink with cherry KoolAid, chocolate chip biscuits next to a teapot and evil eye jewellery originating from Oyne to 19th century Turkey.
On display at Marischal Museum from Monday (October 15), the exhibition poses four main questions to suggest ways of considering craft in the objects on display.
These are: "It's well made – is that how we know it's not art?"; "Is it trash or treasure?"; "Who taught you that craft is kitsch?" and "Is it a mistake?"
Kathryn is currently completing fieldwork that focuses on the way people form craft groups and use craft materials in and around Aberdeen.
She is interested in both urban and rural makers and materials in order to understand how people construct local meaning in the era of globalization.
"Crafting is an explicitly local practice, yet makers often rely on globalization for their materials, ideas, and customers," explained Kathryn.
"The exhibition is a chance for me to share the fun of my research and crafts in a way that other people find cool too! As well as the exhibition I will be running craft workshops throughout the school holidays, so I hope to hear other people's opinions and stories about craft."
Neil Curtis, Senior Curator of Marischal Museum said: "I am very excited at being able to show some of the research being undertaken in Anthropology at Aberdeen.
"Kathryn has shone a new light on items from throughout the world in the museum's collection, as well as making her research into contemporary North-east craft available to all."
Kathryn's work relies heavily on photography as a tool in participant observation and interviews, as well as for documenting materials and finished craft objects to explore their aesthetic properties. Many of her photographs are on display in the exhibition.
The Naff? An exploration of value exhibition is at Marischal Museum from October 15 to January 11 2008, Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sun 2-5pm.
Workshops for all ages will take place in the exhibition during weekday mornings of the school holidays (15 – 25 October). No booking is necessary.