In brief: A new interactive exhibition exploring the history and science of light opened at Jersey Museum on Saturday. Called “Playing with Light”, it runs until the end of December and features hands-on exhibits ranging from a laser harp to a shadow-freezing photo booth.
Lights, Camera, Jersey
If you have ever wanted to play a harp made entirely of lasers, Jersey Museum has you covered. The BBC reports that the new exhibition, which opened on Saturday, invites visitors to explore how light has shaped island life across the centuries, from telling the time and guiding ships safely into harbour, to lighting homes and entertaining generations of islanders.
Lucy Layton, Jersey Heritage’s exhibitions curator, described it as promising to be “one of the most fun” exhibitions in the museum’s history. That is a bold claim, but with buttons, levers, rainbows and a photo booth that freezes your shadow in place, it is hard to argue with the ambition.
The exhibition carries the Jèrriais title Jouer auve la Leunmiéthe, a nod to the island’s native language and a reminder that Jersey’s cultural identity runs deeper than most visitors realise. It is a thoughtful touch, and one that will not be lost on those who care about preserving what makes Jersey distinctively Jersey.
From Sundials to the Occupation
The collection items on display span a remarkable breadth of history. The BBC reports that exhibits include coloured glassware, Victorian chemist shop bottles, an 18th-century sundial, and, perhaps most poignantly, a homemade dynamo torch dating from the Occupation years. That last item alone tells a story of ingenuity and resilience that no amount of modern technology can replicate.
Photographs from August’s eclipse are also included, grounding the exhibition firmly in the present as well as the past. The exhibition explores Jersey’s role in early photography, a chapter of the island’s history that deserves to be better known, and uses interactive features to help visitors of all ages understand the science behind rainbows and lighthouses.
The exhibition is suitable for children aged six and older, and standard museum admission prices apply. It runs until the end of December, giving families plenty of opportunity to visit over the autumn and winter months.
Why It Matters
Exhibitions like this one serve a purpose well beyond simple entertainment. Jersey’s heritage is one of its most distinctive assets, and Jersey Heritage does valuable work in making that heritage accessible and engaging. An interactive format that draws in younger visitors is exactly the kind of approach that ensures the island’s history is passed on rather than left to gather dust.
The inclusion of Jèrriais in the exhibition’s title is also worth noting. The language has faced a long decline, and every opportunity to bring it into public life, however small, matters to those working to keep it alive.
Source: BBC News
