Hyatt, J., 2003.

TREACLE

TREACLE was a show of paintings about the subject of Betty Treacle, reputedly a 19th century idiot from a painting in Rossendale Museum, Rossendale, Lancs and with a considerable amount of historical research and complementary theory also placed upon the walls for the viewer to read. The exhibition was Exhibition of the Week in the Guardian. Having spent many hours working in the Museum, the local reference library and parish records, Hyatt was suddenly faced with the possible closure of the Museum, due to Council cuts. He joined the Friends of the Museum and became very active in local politics and vocal about the importance of history to growing minds and the social formation, giving many impromptu public speeches in order to save the Museum (even collecting 1,800 signatures from the public). Happily, the Museum was saved by the Friends and is now being extended with disabled access after a successful bid for European funding. Hyatt was particularly pleased as the Museum, through his advocacy, has been useful to the research of Icelandic artist, Bryndis Snæbjörnsdóttir
(http://www.valand.gu.se/bryndis/index.html), as she searches for every stuffed polar bear in the UK.