Born in the Wheel of a Wagon: Portraits of life and leisure on the road

An exhibition showcasing the cultural and leisure time activities of several older members of travelling communities.

For many of us, the everyday life of travelling communities something we know very little about. Born in the Wheel of a Wagon will showcase the cultural and leisure time activities of several older members of these communities in Somerset and Devon, offering a rare insight into their way of life through photographic portraits and oral history interviews. The exhibition is designed by MA Museum Studies students of Bournemouth University.

The exhibition presents this through a variety of different themes including education, work, community, recreation and changing times. The oral history material provides a fantastic opportunity to learn about this lifestyle, as the participants share their personal stories about life and leisure on the road.

Interviews have been gathered by research assistant Avril Silk and Yvette Staelens (Bournemouth University) and the photographic portraits provided by photographer Ted Franklin. The exhibition stems from a wider research project, “A Grey and Pleasant Land?” which is investigating key ways in which older people are connected to their rural communities. The project is funded by the UK Cross-Research Council ‘New Dynamics of Ageing’ programme.

Born in the Wheel of a Wagon is open Monday-Saturday, 9am-6pm and admission is free. The Atrium Gallery is located in Poole House at Bournemouth University’s Talbot Campus and can be accessed from the Poole House ground floor stairwell. There is a pay and display car park (£2 up to 4 hours) and the parking is free after 4 pm.

For further information, please contact Felicity Wood, MA Museum Studies Student, and Exhibition Project Manager via e-mail or on 07534145690.

Where: Atrium Gallery, Poole House, Talbot Campus, Bournemouth University
When: 5 May 2011-18 June 2011