A knight’s tale in Warwick
The chivalry and splendour of a bygone era is being brought vividly to life in a new exhibition in the heart of Warwick.
Warwickshire Museum in Market Place is hosting ‘Distant Voices’ A dramatic exhibition of paintings by Leamington-based artist Noreen Mason and armour worn by ‘The Knights of Middle England’.
It will run from Saturday, 22nd January to 15th March in Pedlars Gallery, where Noreen Mason’s beautiful, dynamic and colourful work, conjure up a lost world of horses and bold knights in shining armour. Her inspiration comes from her love of horses, and her interest in the days of chivalry and valour.
Karl Ude-Martinez, who runs the locally based ‘Knights of Middle England’, has been invaluable to Noreen in her unceasing quest for knowledge and enlightenment about days of old.
The knights, who include jousting tournaments, lessons, action-packed shows and displays and supplying horses and stunt-riders in their repertoire, have kindly agreed to loan some of their replica armour for the exhibition, so that visitors to the gallery can see for themselves the intricate designs and clever construction.
Among the awesome pieces on display will be actor Rufus Sewell’s armour from the film ‘A Knight’s Tale’, in which he played scheming Count Adhemar.
Noreen said: “Electrifying, exhilarating and thrilling are all words that describe the Knights of Middle England.
“Being in awe though is not enough, there must be something in this fantasy that is beyond our grasp were the ‘possible’ reigns. Who are these knights and their magnificent steeds? Are they just heroes, villains and horses with great deeds to perform?
“I have adventured into their world to find inner lives and hear the distant voices of their past.”
Visitors can venture into Noreen’s world of fantasy and adventure at Pedlars Gallery, Warwickshire Museum from 22nd January – 15th March 2011, Tuesday – Saturday, 10am – 5pm. Please phone the museum on 01926 412500 for more information. Or visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/museum