Previous Exhibitions

From Time to Time 2010

Jane Foale was Artist in Residence at Killhope Jan 2008 until May 2009. During her Residency Jane spent time at the Museum, in the surrounding landscape and with local schools.

Most of the work was made on site in a Portakabin. Every two or three weeks the artist would travel from suburban West Yorkshire to work in this dramatic landscape with its rich geological and mining history.

Integrating the idea of time into the work soon became both intention and the inevitable consequence of her pattern of visits. Cast iron cogs and other items of machinery were set up in pools of water and paint and left between trips. The cold wet weather slowed the drying time allowing rust, paint and other materials to interact and create striking images echoing the formation of the area’s minerals.

"My working day often began by watching Killhope’s huge water wheel being set in motion", comments Foale. "The sound of the water changing pitch and the gentle yet uncompromising movement of this graceful old machine created a rhythm which ran through my day. A cycle emerged which somehow forged a link between the use of wheels and water in the traditional working practices of the mine and the very different work which I did there each day".

Routes and Riches, Journeys to New Lands 2009

This exhibition celebrated the adventurous emigration stories from working Weardale families and their journeys across the world.

SoundMine 2009

Sound mine is a audio/visual arts project created by participants from Wear Valley Learning Centre working with artists using a range of audio and visual equipment to record, photograph and film their own journey of discovery at Killhope

Molecules, Minerals and Matter 2008

Out of this Earth 2008

Recycling exhibition & Pieces of the Jigsaw 2007

In Search of a Hidden Landscape 2006

“The focus of the artworks is the convergence of geological and human histories that are embodied in the mining, and gave purpose and meaning to the people.

The connection between the miner and the minerals brought together histories separated by hundreds of millions of years.”

Lindisfarne Gospels 2005

A facsimile of the Lindisfarne Gospels came to Killhope as part of its wider tour - and it was wonderful.

Costume Exhibition 2003

A most splendid exhibition of authentic Victorian attire - which was extremely popular.

Chris Clarke Exhibition 2002

A collection of contemporary spar boxes by a modern spar box creator.

Spar Box Exhibition 2001

Lots of spar boxes - modern sparboxes joined old spar boxes in this unique collection of this local art form.

Mats Alive 2000

Exhibition of hooky, proddy, clippy, in traditional and contemporary designs.