Rain or Shine

28th May 2003 - 22nd Jun 2003

Rain or Shine looked at how people respond to weather. From the glare of the snow under an arctic sun to the plentiful rain falling on the British Isles, the weather has presented people with both challenges and opportunities in the way that they live.

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Whether we realise it or not, the weather is a big part of our everyday lives - what we wear, where we go and if we get there are often determined by what the weather is doing. Sayings like 'red sky at night' or 'face like thunder' show how ingrained it has become in our thinking.

Rain or Shine offered the visitor the opportunity to explore the impact of the weather on human civilisation around the world and throughout time. From painting and poetry to polar survival; from weather forecasting to fashion, the exhibition featured a diverse range of objects associated with or inspired by the weather. On display were artworks such as the breathtakingly beautiful cloud study by Constable, an Inuit parka, a stage costume from the RSC, a pair of nineteenth century Japanese Thunder Gods and work by Andy Goldsworthy. Weather inspired animation, music and film added an extra dimension to the experience.