Detailed review by yankin
yankin(28)
Birmingham, United Kingdom98%
"Bringing history and the arts to life in Coventry - for inspiration, learning and enjoyment" - and I'm happy to agree with that!
I discovered a brilliant place to visit by an accident. I remember this place as an area under constructions. What I saw this time was a nice, bright and interesting building.
Inside I discovered an old jacquard loom machine, which was like a heaven to me as I am fascinated about textiles. On the ground floor, I found the History Gallery, empty information desk, History Centre, Shop, Cafe, Discover Godiva, Peace&Reconcilliation . On the first floor - the Visual Arts, the Elements and the Animated Adventures Exhibition (which wasn't permanent).
This place is very good for families with children, because every room has its play points. And there are many family events during the term, shown on the guide.
HISTORY GALLERY
It was nice to look back on to the period from 1939 to the present, the Victorian era and the medieval period. The way this gallery worked was ORIGINAL, STRAIGHTFORWARD and FUN! You would not see a lot of information around as it is all very simple so you would get the point. You are ABSORBING INFORMATION by doing nothing but PLAYING! On the other hand, I really liked that you could touch exhibition elements or try to do something from the past. Interacting place!
I started with the section of 90's. It was good to see my first mobile phone! To read about the microwave - it was invented by accident! Contraceptive pills from 80's. Indian drum that you could try to play. Apparel from 60's. Ideal home from 50's. Interesting facts about TV.
The section devoted to the first and second war told the story about that time in Coventry. It was possible to try to feed your family with the basic ration and find out some interesting facts.
Try to make watches online in Victorian section - it is fun! I could check 3D pictures of some Victorian examples. Read funny stories about exhibition objects. See for myself Victorian fashion and understand the role of the woman in that era. My favorite part was the textile as that is the field, I got my degree in, so I looked back at how it all was few hundreds years ago, checked the exercise books of students. I tried to make my own pattern as well.
Within the medieval period section, you could smell a medieval toilet or dress up in costumes.
PEACE&RECONCILIATION
This room tells about war and forgiveness, international friendships and conflicts and peace in Coventry today. I READ some REAL LIFE STORIES of people, which made me remember the sad story of my family. It feels really amazing, how people forgive all the horrible thing to those who did it. Like Coventry contributed to the rebuilding of destroyed Frauenkirche in Dresden and german volunteers came to Coventry to reconstruct part of the Cathedral. It was possible to WATCH the SHORT MOVIE and PLAY a GAME to the theme of international friendships.
DISCOVER GODIVA
There is a monument of Lady Godiva in Coventry, but I still didn't know what it means to the people of Coventry. Once you enter the Exhibition room it gets more than clear! It is absolutely a must for children! It has dressing up items, fairy tales: videos and books, puzzles and stories.
First you get to watch the LEGEND of LADY GODIVA's famous naked ride through Coventry and learn about PEEPING TOM. Then the walk takes you through different paintings of Lady Godiva. There been many films made to the theme of Lady Godiva as well as sculptures and trademarks.
VISUAL ARTS
It shows exhibitions of many sculptures, old masters, art since 1900. Very interesting was to see all the ideas that people realize. The exhibition is made that way that you really understand that you live in XXI century. YOUNG ARTISTS showing their talents and views. With every step, I was viewing DIFFERENT and ORIGINAL master pieces. In the center of the room was a playing point, where you could do puzzles online, for example.
ELEMENTS
Exhibition invites you to explore natural objects and landscapes in CREATIVE and MULTI-SENSORY ways. It is all around four elements - earth, fire, water and air.
There are landscape limestones and minerals that glow under ultraviolet light. It is possible to touch many seashells, that are hidden in the sand. To have a look at the collection of the butterflies and listen to the birds. Even to play on different instruments at the end of the exhibition, which is fun!
SHOP and CAFE
These two are next to each other. Shop has many things on offer like finger puppets, fairy tales, toys and postcards. Cafe has a breakfast and lunch menu, which has a good choice. Prices are regular. It is bright and has three interesting sculptures, showing faces. And while you are eating, you are watching people walking by.
Herbert Art Gallery and Museum10
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The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum is situated next to the Coventry University and the Coventry Cathedral. It is FREE of charge and has unique exhibits, with permanent galleries, changing exhibitions and events.
I spent there around 5 HOURS and didn't even feel it! I definitely recommend it to everyone!
