The works will combine items from the museum’s collection, including a taxidermy sea turtle and a 19th century civil war helmet, with modern objects made by local companies.
Joanne Hodgson from Kirkleatham Museum, explained: “Artists Simon Grennanand Christopher Sperandio have worked closely with the team here at the museum and with businesses in Redcar to create these new sculptures, which people will be able to see positioned around the museum.
“They’ve carefully linked objects from the museum collection with modern items manufactured in Redcar today, giving a fresh look at both our past and present day Redcar.”
Artist Simon Grennan said: “As well as surprising and entertaining people with these sculptures, we wanted people to take a different look at the town. We’ve worked with seven local businesses, from engineering firms to design companies, and they’ve helped us to present the museum’s collection in a new way, through these sculptural works.”
The new works include ‘Mr and Mrs Williams’, a pair of 19th century portraits, lit by tube lights supplied by a local electricians firm.
In the museum’s civil armour room, visitors will be able to see a 19th century riding saddle mounted on a buttoned and upholstered sphere made in Redcar.
On the second floor of the museum will be a sculpture showing a 19th centuryHawksbill sea turtle mounted on a frame of steel rods fabricated locally.
Joanne Hodgson added: “There are more than 25,000 artefacts in the museum’s collection so this is a fantastic way of displaying some of the items which people may not have seen for a long time. The artists have taken our collection and really added something to it by working with people who live and work here in Redcar.”
The new sculptures will be on show at Kirkleatham Museum from 30 August until 29 September. The exhibition is followed by the Festival of Thrift, a cultural celebration for the people of the North East, the UK and beyond, where people find the fun in learning how to re-use, recycle and upcycle, saving money and benefitting the environment.
The project is part of Meeting Point, a year-long project led by contemporary art specialists Arts&Heritage.
Leading UK and international artists have partnered with nine museums in the North East and Yorkshire to produce new artworks inspired by the museums and their collections.
Funded by Arts Council England’s Museum Resilience Fund, Meeting Point presents artworks in unexpected places and supports small and medium scale museums to commission artists, who will create a piece of work in response to the venue.