Prologue

An introduction to Returning to the Philosophers’ Table
A group of artist were given the opportunity to research and respond to the stories behind several of the objects in the Great North Museum: Hancock as part of an integrated arts project, Returning to the Philosophers’ Table. This exhibition served as an introduction to the artists by showing objects each individual had made, collected or used in a performance. Each artist then went on to make new artworks about the objects originally gifted to the Literary and Philosophical Society – the mummies, palebotany specimen as well as the wombat and platypus to name a few. The new artworks was exhibited in the Lit &Phil Library in June 2013.
The artists are (from left to right) Katy Cole, Benjamin Lawson (repeated), Dawn Felicia Knox, Isabel Lima, Iris Priest, Irene Brown, Sally Madge and Stephen Livingstone.

Please visit www.philosopherstable.org to learn more about the project and each individual artist.
The project is funded by Arts Council England and forms a part of the Festival of the North East.