EXQUISITE TROVE in Newlyn Art Gallery really does live up to its title – there is so much to see, not to say to marvel at, it is difficult to know where to begin.
But how about these for starters – the skull of a cat which the gallery's exhibition manager Blair Todd received many moons ago when he decided to open a museum in his family's garden shed and, on appealing for contributions, was sent this – the only one he got – by his godfather.
Or a three-legged ceramic pig which was given to artist Ged Quinn by his first "proper" girlfriend and which he likes for its "obstinacy, defiantly repelling any attempt of aesthetic definition".
Or artist Richard Ballinger's dog Eric which he found at a jumble sale. "Pity was with me, he needed help....He was my Eric Morecambe and I his Ernie Wise."
Or Pakeezah, a piece made in homage to the dancer from the notorious Pakistani movie by artist Jesse Leroy Smith and his daughter.
One could go on but it would be disclosing too much – part of the pleasure with this exhibition lies in trying to decide just what it is one is looking at, not to mention trying to guess the identity of the artist concerned. There are informative labels for those who want to know the answers.
A meeting of The House of Fairy Tales' travelling collection of significant and treasured artists' items – more than 100 artists altogether, among them such well-known local artists as Naomi Frears, Kurt Jackson, and Amanda Lorens – and an eclectic selection of weird and wonderful objects on loan from ten Cornish museums, the exhibition is "an exploration of the human desire to collect, display and tell tales with objects and images that reflect our personal histories and a fascination with the imagined lives of others".
One which is practically guaranteed to achieve its aim of creating cross traffic between Newlyn Art Gallery and the contributing local museums with new audiences being drawn to them, while its contents are open to all manner of intriguing interpretations, above all, it is highly entertaining and great fun.
All praise to those who have selected the works it contains – artists Cornelia Parker, Hadrian Pigott, Tim Shaw and Alex Smirnoff together with Newlyn Art Gallery's exhibitions manager Blair Todd, plus the curators of the various museums who have entered so willingly and generously into the spirit of the whole thing.
There are almost as many associated events as there are curiosities in the different cabinets.
Suitable for children of all ages, Summer Story Time, for instance, which is free, begins today at noon and continues for the four following Thursdays in August.
Little Artists' Storytelling and Activities, led by Alessandra Ausenda, for the under 5s, is at 10-11.30am each Tuesday in September, £3.50 per session.
Artists' & Curators' Talks are at 11am tomorrow, August 20 and September 17. All free.
Then, too, as part of Penzance Literary Festival, Melissa Hardie is opening the doors of her house of books, The Dwellings Bookcase, for free at 11am on August 20, and as part of Newlyn's Fish Festival there is a Taap performance, noon-4pm, August 30, also free.
As engaging as it is exquisite, as fascinating as it is fairy-like, as unexpected as it is unmissable, Exquisite Trove, can be seen, admission free, in Newlyn Art Gallery, 10am-5pm Monday-Saturday, including Bank Holiday Monday, until October 2.
article copyright THE CORNISHMAN