The joy of engaging with objects with Dr Alex Woodall
11/24/22 • 36 min
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I’m really happy to be talking to Dr Alex Woodall about her wonderful work with objects. We’re talking about how the joys of working with objects creatively. We’re exploring how you can use objects to spark all sorts of connections, associations and fun in the museum and beyond...
Dr Alex Woodall is a museum professional and academic, inspired by the creative use of objects and rummaging in stores.
She has 20 years’ experience working in learning, interpretation and exhibition management and leadership roles, including at Sheffield Museums, Manchester Art Gallery, the Royal Armouries in Leeds and the Sainsbury Centre at the University of East Anglia.
She is currently Programme Director for the Postgraduate Creative and Cultural Industries Management degree at the University of Sheffield, where she teaches a large international cohort about museum management.
In our chat today, we talk about the joys of working with objects creatively. Alex shares how her love for objects started when she was very small rummaging through her dad’s ‘museum’ full of amazing finds that he’d dug up in the garden - rocks and fossils and clay pipes and so on. And how that developed into a career-long fascination with all kinds of objects.
We talk about what objects do, how we can use them and what we can get out of working with objects.
Alex tells us what an object dialogue box is and how you can use objects to spark all sorts of connections, associations and fun in the museum. She takes us through a wonderful activity that I did with her at the ICOM CECA conference in Denmark recently that helps us to notice more details and find stuff in museums that we would normally overlook.
We also talk about how we can use objects to inspire more creativity and imagination organisations in for example meetings, in teams, programming, brainstorming etc. And she shares two wonderful books to read if you’re as fascinated by objects as we both are.
This is a delightful chat about creating joyful engaging experiences with objects -Enjoy!
LINKSHOW TO LOOK AT ART (SLOWLY) - a free guide for looking with 30+ activities!
Join the Slow Looking Club Community on Facebook
https://www.kettlesyard.co.uk/
Karl and Kimberley Foster - Object Dialogue Boxes https://www.sorhed.com/
http://www.marymaryquitecontrary.org.uk/
Books mentioned:
Sandra Dudley (2010) Museum Materialities: https://www.routledge.com/Museum-Materialities-Objects-Engagements-Interpretations/Dudley/p/book/9780415492188
Pablo Neruda (1994) Odes to Common Things: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Common-Things-First-Pablo-Neruda/dp/B0058WGC84
Written by Alex Woodall:
- Woodall A (2020) 'Storehouses of Unimagined Treasures': Delightful Rummaging and Artists' Responses to 'Unloved' Collections In Woodham A, Hess A & Smith R (Ed.), Emotion, Care, and Engagement in Museums: Interventions in Unloved Collections Arc Humanities Press View this article in WRRO
- Woodall A (2015) Rummaging as a Strategy for Creative Thinking and Imaginative Engagement in Higher Education In Chatterjee H & Hannan L (Ed.), Engaging the Senses: Object-Based Learning in Higher Education (pp. 133-155). Surrey: Ashgate. View this article in WRRO
- Woodall A (2015) Object Dialogue Boxes and Unknowing In Farnell G (Ed.), Interpreting the Art Museum (pp. 366-377). MuseumsEtc
I’m really happy to be talking to Dr Alex Woodall about her wonderful work with objects. We’re talking about how the joys of working with objects creatively. We’re exploring how you can use objects to spark all sorts of connections, associations and fun in the museum and beyond...
Dr Alex Woodall is a museum professional and academic, inspired by the creative use of objects and rummaging in stores.
She has 20 years’ experience working in learning, interpretation and exhibition management and leadership roles, including at Sheffield Museums, Manchester Art Gallery, the Royal Armouries in Leeds and the Sainsbury Centre at the University of East Anglia.
She is currently Programme Director for the Postgraduate Creative and Cultural Industries Management degree at the University of Sheffield, where she teaches a large international cohort about museum management.
In our chat today, we talk about the joys of working with objects creatively. Alex shares how her love for objects started when she was very small rummaging through her dad’s ‘museum’ full of amazing finds that he’d dug up in the garden - rocks and fossils and clay pipes and so on. And how that developed into a career-long fascination with all kinds of objects.
We talk about what objects do, how we can use them and what we can get out of working with objects.
Alex tells us what an object dialogue box is and how you can use objects to spark all sorts of connections, associations and fun in the museum. She takes us through a wonderful activity that I did with her at the ICOM CECA conference in Denmark recently that helps us to notice more details and find stuff in museums that we would normally overlook.
We also talk about how we can use objects to inspire more creativity and imagination organisations in for example meetings, in teams, programming, brainstorming etc. And she shares two wonderful books to read if you’re as fascinated by objects as we both are.
This is a delightful chat about creating joyful engaging experiences with objects -Enjoy!
LINKSHOW TO LOOK AT ART (SLOWLY) - a free guide for looking with 30+ activities!
Join the Slow Looking Club Community on Facebook
https://www.kettlesyard.co.uk/
Karl and Kimberley Foster - Object Dialogue Boxes https://www.sorhed.com/
http://www.marymaryquitecontrary.org.uk/
Books mentioned:
Sandra Dudley (2010) Museum Materialities: https://www.routledge.com/Museum-Materialities-Objects-Engagements-Interpretations/Dudley/p/book/9780415492188
Pablo Neruda (1994) Odes to Common Things: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Common-Things-First-Pablo-Neruda/dp/B0058WGC84
Written by Alex Woodall:
- Woodall A (2020) 'Storehouses of Unimagined Treasures': Delightful Rummaging and Artists' Responses to 'Unloved' Collections In Woodham A, Hess A & Smith R (Ed.), Emotion, Care, and Engagement in Museums: Interventions in Unloved Collections Arc Humanities Press View this article in WRRO
- Woodall A (2015) Rummaging as a Strategy for Creative Thinking and Imaginative Engagement in Higher Education In Chatterjee H & Hannan L (Ed.), Engaging the Senses: Object-Based Learning in Higher Education (pp. 133-155). Surrey: Ashgate. View this article in WRRO
- Woodall A (2015) Object Dialogue Boxes and Unknowing In Farnell G (Ed.), Interpreting the Art Museum (pp. 366-377). MuseumsEtc
Previous Episode
How to Look at Art (Slowly)
We’ve reached another milestone and in honour of 75 episodes, I’m releasing a new FREE resource today.
How to Look at Art (Slowly) shares 30+ different ways that you can look at art or objects in museums.
In today’s special episode I’m talking you through some of these different ways of looking slowly.
I'll share why it's important to slow down and look carefully, before explaining the 4 sections of the guide: Static Looking, Movement, Observation by Drawing, Observation by Writing and Viewfinders.
How to Look at Art (Slowly) is a resource that can be used by anyone.
Whether you’re going to a museum alone and would like some strategies for looking, or if you’re visiting with a friend and are on the lookout for some new ways to engage with what you’re seeing.
Likewise, if you’re an educator or guide, you can use these activities with your groups. All of the activities are coded as either solo or group activities.
These simple activities offer a framework and tools for looking at art and objects for longer.
Choose a variety of different ways to look as you move around the museum. You may want to choose activities that appeal to you or you might want to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. All of the activities will help you to see more.
Download this free guide via the link below and then listen to the episode!
LINKS
HOW TO LOOK AT ART (SLOWLY) - a free guide for looking with 30+ activities!
Join the Slow Looking Club Community on Facebook
Next Episode
8 ways to show up in a resourceful state
Today I’m talking about how we can get ourselves into our best state - our most resourceful state - for when we show up to facilitate art discussions, tours, programmes or lessons. And sharing 8 different ways for you to turn up at your best!
How you show up is important.
Whether you’re leading a tour, teaching an educational programme, teaching a lesson in a classroom or facilitating a training.
You want to make sure that when you arrive, you’re in the best state possible.
This is something that we can all strive for in whatever people-facing commitments we may have - that we are calm, ready and clear to do our work in the best way we can.
In the coaching certification that I’ve been studying for over the past year we’ve been talking about how to show up in a resourceful state.
In today's episode, I'll explain what this means and suggest 8 different ways to get yourself into a resourceful state before every tour, programme or session that you lead.
Links
Join the Slow Looking Club Community on Facebook
Download the NEW resource - How to Look at Art (Slowly)
Curated newsletter by Claire Bown
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Episode 52 From Good to Great: How to Develop and Grow Personally as an Educator
'Everyday NLP' written by Florence Madden & Eleni Sarantinou - a really good read if you'd like an accessible introduction to NLP https://florencemadden.co.uk/the-story-of-everyday-nlp/
Stephen Gilligan and Robert Dilts Generative Coaching: Coach vs Crash state
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