The Lost Museum:
The Umbrella Collection:
Outreach Artist/Creator:  Raheel Patel
Outreach Community:  Professional & community artists.

The vision:  Imagine a time on Earth- down pouring rain, hot burning sun, sweating man and a drenching child.  Zeus descended and gifted. Gifted what? The savior umbrella!!!  To some this appears to be a mere object. But look closely.  It is character, a fellow human being; perhaps even the protector-god.  The umbrellas as all this – a most beautiful creation.  At times, this character seems lost in the grids of time and space, sometimes it protects as a physical object, and other times it ascends to become a metaphorical entity.  How shall we bound this magical creation?  They fly, they rest.  They stray.  Lost?   An umbrella might be the most lost or stolen in object in the whole world, making it one of the most valuable, universal objects we know. In usage since for over 4000 years, humans have known umbrellas in ancient Egypt, India, and China.  Used for sunshade, as rain-shields, symbols of identity, and welcomed as companions. Umbrellas!  We hold them high, or low as expressions of 'shelter'.  They keep us safe – until they wander.

The Call:   Umbrellas have been used for centuries as protectors from sun, rain, sleet, and wind.  They are fashions apparel, accessories of status and statements of protest.  The emblem of Varuna, the embodiment of kingship, Revanta, Surya, and Vishnu.  The Chatra. A parasol from the Eight Auspicious Signs or Ashtamangala.  Crowns of flight.  Myths, legends and nannies to children.  Umbrellas unfold many dreams.
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As an observer myself, I have observed umbrellas; held them close, and mourned their loss. Every transit, every fold, every unfold.  To me they are theatre artists floating on stage - always performing, telling stories.  Their every act - unfolding, taking flight, and snapping shut is dramatic.  They narrate each moment – sometimes speaking loudly, other times whispering quietly as they threaten to disappear - to get lost just when needed.  Sometimes they are too loud and other times too quiet. Who are they? Let us unfold the story, let each umbrella narrate its unique story be it of cheer or maudlin tragedy.
 
 

THE LOST MUSEUM: The Umbrellatorium (VIDEO):    |    EVENT: https://thelostmuseum.ca/    |   Cathleen MacDonald – Producer, Director, Editor
Colleen Snell, Andrew Gaboury – Writers   |  Raheel Patel - Raheel the Collector   |  Jonny Micay – Cinematographer   |    Nikita Brusnityn – Gaffer/Key Grip
Ian Reynolds – Production Sound Mixer   |   Noelle Hamlyn – Costume Design and Maker, Set and Props Design and Builder    |   Colleen Snell – Set and Props Builder
Heather Snell – Artistic Co- Director     |     Jill Hollingsworth – Artistic Co- Director     |   Music “Ohm” Jason Shaw  |  Presenter: InSitu 2021, Creative Hub 1352 https://www.creativehub1352.ca/