By Iola Shaw
I went along to Bramley Baths’ #Morethanapool Art Merging with Life: A story of craft, community and connection free exhibition last weekend. It was so good I went twice – and got a ticket for the Opera!
My first visit was mid Friday so I could read at leisure and have a chat with Maria Mkrtycheva, who curated the exhibition. She had not only accessed the Baths’ own archive but the Bramley Historic Society, The Thoresby and Leeds Libraries.
I also enjoyed listening to her bringing elements to light for less engaged small people and they lit up as she asked them to interact with items making them more meaningful to them. She said she’d really enjoyed putting together the whole story of the Baths with its place in the city.
And it is always lovely when you have a personal connection, I attended some arts sessions last autumn and was over the moon to see a poster from those for “the event that never happened” had made the grade. I confess it was outshone by the beautiful underwater photography from the Orchestra and Mermaids events over the last few years.
After our chat I spend some time exploring the history and context of the Baths on display. Opened in 1904 the anniversary was in the following years’ Bramley Almanac, and there were several extracts to read.
The story of the Baths at the heart of the community, and activities that have happened over the years was beautifully conveyed in words and pictures. The exhibition also enabled a close look at the silverware normally kept in cupboards from the swim gala days, with its fine (and latterly less fine) engravings.
I was delighted on my second visit to see others picking up on some of the great interactive touches Maria had mentioned: Here is Jill Littlehales from Pudsey who discovered the “then and now” flip photos. Like many she grew up in the area and lives in West Leeds and was enjoying seeing the changes and learning more about her home.
Having seen Bramley Baths as Decontamination Centre, Roller Rink and dance hall on the walls, the next step was a first – Bramley Baths Opera house! I wasn’t sure what to expect, as I have never really “got” Opera, and the swim tickets were sold out quickly so was on the Balcony.
The acoustics were amazing and I loved the show, clearly I’d just not picked the right setting before. The performance ranged across classical opera tracks that despite being “opera bangers” I confess were all new to me.
I did recognise some – from TV: Les Misérables, and the Sound of Music. The second half set had a water theme to it, with classics from Puccini plus modern composers such as André Previn, Jason Robert Brown and Stephen Sondheim.
Finishing with “By the Sea” from Sweeney Todd. I may be on the edge of being a convert: the performance was a wonderful taste of what I have been missing.
Both events are part of the #Morethanapool project which is supported by the National Heritage Lottery Fund. Investment in #Morethanapool from the Heritage Fund thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, is allowing the Baths to pilot new activities celebrating its heritage and develop plans to restore and protect the building, ensuring continued long term service delivery and development.
For general information about the baths and events visit:
- https://www.bramleybaths.com
- Facebook: @BramleyBaths
- Instagram: @bramleybaths
- Twitter @bramleybaths
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