Museum of New Zealand/Te Papa Tongarewa. Review by Barbara Lewis. In their desperation to get New Zealand’s founding document signed, the British in undue haste drew up a Maori version of the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi that is disputed to this day.
history
Poetry review – TRAVELLERS OF THE NORTH and HARALD IN BYZANTIUM: Edmund Prestwich considers two collections, by Fiona Smith and Kevin Crossley-Holland, that give voice to characters from history
White. Review by Carla Scarano. The exhibition at the School of Historical Dress in Lambeth is displayed in one large room on the ground floor; it features white pieces of cloth and garments and accessories from the school’s rich collection.
Poetry review – OLD FRIENDS: Alex Josephy is drawn in by Hannah Lowe’s creative approach to personal and social history
Poetry review – SHELLING PEAS WITH MY GRANDMOTHER IN THE GORGIOLANDS: James Roderick Burns appreciates the atmospheric detail in an admirable first full collection by Sarah Wimbush
SOMETIME, IN A CHURCHYARD: Pat Edwards finds that the past is brought to life by a combination of Louise Warren’s poetry and Charlotte Harker’s drawings
Poetry review – THE KENTISH REBELLION: Rennie Halstead admires Robert Selby’s successful intermingling of history and poetry
The Lindisfarne Gospels at Laing Art Gallery. Review by Carla Scarano. At the renowned Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle a new and enthralling exhibition features the Lindisfarne Gospels, which are on loan from the British Library until the 3rd of December 2022.
European Solidarity Centre, by Barbara Lewis. Many of us can spell Solidarnosc, because we’ve seen it written so many times in the bold, red logo created by Jerzy Janiszewski in the early days of the Solidarnosc movement credited with toppling Communism in eastern Europe and leading to the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Crowning Glory: The Story of Tiaras. Review by Barbara Lewis. Tiaras have an honourable claim to star in Firle Place’s latest, multi-layered exhibition in the year Queen Elizabeth has marked her platinum jubilee.
Africa Fashion, V&A Museum. Review by Carla Scarano. A celebration of African creativity, pride and identity covering 20 countries and 45 designers and displaying more than 250 objects is showing in the ground-breaking exhibition at the V&A.
Poetry review – BEWARE THE TRUTH THAT’S MANACLED: Harriet Thistlethwaite reviews Prue Chamberlayne’s poetic exploration of slavery and its aftermath
By Michael Bartholomew-Biggs • books, history, poetry reviews, year 2023 • Tags: books, Harriet Thistlethwaite, history, poetry