Jersey Heritage seeks islanders’ memories for new community exhibition

Saturday 04 February 2017

A 'memory jar' project has been launched to capture special events and significant moments in Islanders' lives for an upcoming exhibition.

The ‘Storymakers – where people make history’ exhibition will run at the Jersey Museum from the end of May. Before that, Jersey Heritage wishes to collect Islanders’ memories in glass jars. They will then go on display to cover a wall as part of the community exhibition, which will celebrate the way people interact with their heritage.

 “We want to capture memories rather than objects this time and we want people to get involved and share their personal stories,” explained Lucy Layton, Outreach Curator for Jersey Heritage, who launched the project after hearing about Anna Marie Greco’s Memory Jars at the Santa Cruz Museum in California, USA.

The idea sprouted from the story of Mrs Fiott, who was shot by a stray musket ball as she leaned out of her window to watch the Battle of Jersey. She survived and wore the musket ball on a ribbon for the rest of her life as keepsake. “It got us thinking about significant events in people’s lives and how we keep them," Miss Layton added.

To help people give shape to their memories, she enlisted the help of local artist Jools Holt, whose work can be seen at the Harbour Gallery in St Aubin. “I am only here as a support, to provide creative material and to help bring to life the things people suggest,” explained the artist, who described the experience as “tremendous fun” and “sometimes quite emotional” as some of the memories involve loved ones that have passed on.

“We have about 45 jars already but we need more to cover a whole wall. We will take the Memory Jar Project to other community events before the exhibition opens and there will be opportunities to create your own jar while it runs,” Miss Layton commented.

 Pictured: Examples of memory jars, which will go on display at the special community-themed exhibition.