In 2021, The Power of Stories exhibition at Christchurch Mansion brought together film costumes, museum exhibits and local stories to create a display exploring storytelling and identity. From folklore to fake news, people have told stories for thousands of years.

Three iconic costumes from Marvel Studios’ Black Panther were woven into a patchwork of storytelling traditions from across time and place. The outfits of the characters T’Challa, Shuri and Okoye, as featured in the ground-breaking film, were displayed alongside Marvel comics, historical museum objects and local stories.

From music to film, carvings to cartoons, the exhibition asked how the stories we know shape the way we see the world. Throughout history many stories have been suppressed or silenced. Collections from across the globe were displayed, including shadow puppets, carved poles, storybooks, musical instruments, sculptures and cartoons.

The 2018 release of the film Black Panther, adapted by director Ryan Coogler from the original comic character, was a significant moment in cinematic history. Through three Oscar-winning costumes on loan from Marvel Studios, visitors were able to explore Marvel’s powerful brand of storytelling and see how objects from our collections relate to the film, as well as to discover the impact of the film in our area and explore the story of how and why the Ipswich & Suffolk Council For Racial Equality (ISCRE) came into being.

A team of Community Curators, made up of local people, worked with Ipswich Museums to create an exhibition which encouraged visitors to think about how storytelling can be used as a tool to unite, or divide, people. Their input shaped the displays and interpretation. Ipswich Museums, Aspire Black Suffolk and, in particular, Elma Glasgow are all to be congratulated in making this initiative such a success. One hopes that it will be the first collaborative step to future multicultural ventures.

Alongside the displays, local community members came together to create a powerful programme of activities which celebrated black history and culture, weaving a programme of events which explore storytelling, comics, history and art of all kinds – with quizzes, discussion panels, creative workshops and study days.

The exhibition moved from its original home, the Wolsey Gallery in Ipswich, to Moyse’s Hall in Bury St Edmunds, then on to the Food Museum in Stowmarket and finally to Snape Maltings, concluding in February 2023. At that time, an invitation-only concert in the Maltings concert hall celebrated the project. Dazzling Gambian kora player Sefo Kanuteh performed, accompanied by his son; then Zimbabwean dancer, singer and actress Anna Mudeka – now living in Norfolk – put on a dazzling display with the African Choir of Norfolk. In June 2022, Anna starred in a one-woman drama celebrating the extraordinary life of South African singer, songwriter, actress, and civil rights activist Miriam Makeba at The Sir John Mills Theatre in Ipswich.

Incidentally, Marcus Brown who was the co-founder of drumming and percussion group Wooden Roots and who now lives at Rendlesham Park, hand-built the djembe drums used in the Black Panther film while living in Los Angeles. Wooden Roots also provided djembe drumming workshops for The Power of Stories exhibition at the Mansion. The group has been seen around Ipswich at various events providing taster sessions for budding drummers.  

RG

 

Links:

https://www.aspireblacksuffolk.org.uk

Art Eat: https://www.arteatevents.com

https://www.powerofstories.co.uk