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Karl Mercer

@karlantmercer.bsky.social

230 followers 300 following 650 posts

Curating Visibility Fellow at Dover Museum. Deal Man fan account. Curator, writer, poet and musician. Actually autistic disability activist.

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Karl Mercer @karlantmercer.bsky.social · Nov 16

Me in 10 photos:

1. Last night's moon through the clouds.

Astronomy was the first topic I tried to communicate in an accessible way.

I was not as effective as the publicity of The Bold Hunter's Strawberry Super Moon etc., however! 😅

An image of the moon behind thin clouds. The sky is dark, with faint soaps of greyish cloud. In the centre the bright light of the moon can be seen, surrounded by a ring of light that fades from yellow, through red, until it faintly shows blues on the outside of the ring.

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Karl Mercer @karlantmercer.bsky.social · 2d

Very sad I've been too busy museuming to join in #classicstober this year.

But prior to the last few years all I knew was katabasis - Can I score points for living it!? I'm method!😂

Really loving everyone's posts I'm seeing - what a theme this year! Such vibes for morbid me!

Karl Mercer @karlantmercer.bsky.social · 2d

This is gonna be like the reception to TLOAS...

..."We liked you better when you convinced @dovermuseum.bsky.social to shitpost with that little chalk guy!"

Karl Mercer @karlantmercer.bsky.social · 2d

So this is real...

Only went and curated like...a whole exhibition, with art and media, and a VR piece especially tailored for accessibility particularly for visually impaired users.

An image of an illuminated doorway. Glass double doors with stickers reading "automatic door" on each panel, are surrounded by wood. Behind them is a distant museum gallery space. Objects, artefacts and interpretation are visible but not discernible. Above the door is an illuminated sign with the exhibition title, At the End of History. Beneath is a small black rectangle sign with an arrow pointing down and text that reads this way. Below that is a green fire exit sign.

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Karl Mercer @karlantmercer.bsky.social · 3d

It was the stop! He spotted me, I looked up, eye contact was briefly made, and then just noped out 😂

Ah well, as you say, kept my little snug corner quiet.

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Karl Mercer @karlantmercer.bsky.social · 3d

Guy at a hotel just picked his table for breakfast, grabbed the mug, went and got coffee and food, came back to the table, saw me sat nearby, stopped, and then walked away to another table.

What did I do!? 😂

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Karl Mercer @karlantmercer.bsky.social · 10d

It's been over 3 years since I last put on a display or exhibition.

Think I'm about overdue for a revival, right?

A colourful waistcoat shimmers in gold and purple with a bold paisley-style pattern. In the black, silky pocket section a daffodil pin is poking out, green beads of the stem lead up to a two-tone yellow flower made of plastic or resin. The collar of the waistcoat is raised.

Reposted by Karl Mercer

Dover Museum & Bronze Age Boat Gallery @dovermuseum.bsky.social · Aug 15

We do enjoy these beautiful posts from @exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social showing the work of Anne Pratt. Anne Pratt was a botanical illustrator and author who produced most of her works, including the one featured, while living in #Dover in the mid-19th Century.

University of Exeter Special Collections @exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social · Aug 15

Some beautiful blooms to brighten your Friday! 💐

We hope you have a lovely weekend.

📷 Illustration of horehound, motherwort and hemp nettle from ‘The Flowering Plants of Great Britain' (1855) by Anne Pratt [Baring-Gould Library 0691]

#FridayFlowers #FlowerFriday #RareBooks

An opened book showing full-page colour illustration of horehound, motherwort and hemp nettle, decorated in shades of yellow, pink, purple and green.

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Reposted by Karl Mercer

Dover Museum & Bronze Age Boat Gallery @dovermuseum.bsky.social · Jun 27

National sunglasses day is a compulsory call to put sunglasses on museum collections, and frankly Deal Man rocks a pair of aviators. #NationalSunglassesDay #sunglassesday #sunglasses #museum #collections #Deal #Dover #beach

Deal Man is an 18cm carved chalk figurine from Dover Museum's display. Here he has taken a selfie with a pair of aviator sunglasses. He at the beach on a sunny day in front of Dover Harbour with yachts in the background.

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Karl Mercer @karlantmercer.bsky.social · Aug 10

People who don't enjoy "The Hundred" are the same people who espouse the values of cultural heritage but consistently under-fund museums.

Just saying.

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Reposted by Karl Mercer

Dover Museum & Bronze Age Boat Gallery @dovermuseum.bsky.social · Jul 29

! Calling for #volunteers !
Production of our exciting Curating Visibility exhibition is now in full-swing.
We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to facilitate the virtual reality experience.
See link below to find out more ⬇️
www.dovermuseum.co.uk/Exhibitions/...

@accentuateuk.bsky.social

Image shows Deal Man (a carved chalk votive figurine from Dover museum's display) wearing a Virtual Reality headset. The background is a black and orange strobe pattern and headed with Dover Museum and Curating Visibility. Text reads: Volunteers wanted! To facilitate the exciting, upcoming Curating Visibility VR exhibition.

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Reposted by Karl Mercer

Dover Museum & Bronze Age Boat Gallery @dovermuseum.bsky.social · Jul 15

Pictured are #sketches of the 12th century #church of St. James the Apostle in #Dover from a sketch book of sepia ink drawings in Dover Museum's #archive. The artist is unknown, but a note at the back dates the drawings to c.1830. Alongside the drawings are photos of the site today.

A sepia ink outline drawing of St James' church, Dover. The facade and the battlement feature of the church can be seen behind a wall and trees.

A colour photograph of the remaining façade of the West entrance to St James' church Dover. In the foreground is the White Horse Pub, and in the background is a carpark and block of flats.

Sepia ink drawing of the outline of the interior of the view of St James' church, including features of rib vaulting, a pulpit and a stained glass window at the far end.

A colour photograph of the West entrance to St James' church Dover. The photo shows the arch to the doorway with Norman chevron "zig-zag" patterns. The picture shows the aisle leading to the far end with remains of the internal walls. Either side of the aisle is surrounded by grass.

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Karl Mercer @karlantmercer.bsky.social · Jul 9

We will have to find you a catastrophe box.

No hurry at all. At this point it might be the one thing too much that causes the whole pile of moved crap to topple over! So much stuff!

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Karl Mercer @karlantmercer.bsky.social · Jul 9

If you open up that box it's just my life in there.

Dover Museum & Bronze Age Boat Gallery @dovermuseum.bsky.social · Jul 8

Our latest acquisition is a ‘Disaster Box’ from our front of house team as it kept getting stuck where it was stored and had a tendency to spill the contents.
Would anyone like to put any disasters in this box? Probable, possible, impending or actual disasters can all go in.

A red metal box with an open clasp. There is a label with 'Disaster Box' taped on top, and a large piece of old Blu Tack.

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Reposted by Karl Mercer

Dover Museum & Bronze Age Boat Gallery @dovermuseum.bsky.social · Jul 8

We 'herd' that is #CowAppreciationDay today, so here's a repost of John Lewis Roget's drawing of Appleton Farm, Martin #Dover.

Dover Museum & Bronze Age Boat Gallery @dovermuseum.bsky.social · Apr 24

Today's #OnlineArtExchange theme by @artukdotorg.bsky.social is rural. Last week we reflected on the work of John Lewis Roget (1828–1908) and shared some of his #watercolour and ink illustrations from the museum's #archives. This #drawing is of Appleton Farm, Martin #Dover.

Muted watercolour sketch. The sky is cloudy with patches of blue. There are farmhouses in the background and six cows in the foreground.

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Karl Mercer @karlantmercer.bsky.social · Jun 27

Being forced to move house is brilliant. So far I've paid a month's rent on somewhere I can't even live yet due to the water pressure being so bad the boiler and shower don't work, and my £2000 flooring being delayed.

But at least I got all this free cortisol.

Reposted by Karl Mercer

Dover Museum & Bronze Age Boat Gallery @dovermuseum.bsky.social · Jun 13

Today is #NationalPigeonDay!

To celebrate the #pigeon we thought we'd look to the museum's taxidermy First World War carrier pigeon.

This pigeon was carefully cleaned and repaired by #Dover Museum’s Collections Assistant, Kayleigh. Find out more in our post from earlier in the year ⬇️

Dover Museum & Bronze Age Boat Gallery @dovermuseum.bsky.social · Jan 30

First Aid for a First World War carrier pigeon! In our latest blog post, Dover Museum’s Collection Assistant, Kayleigh, talks about her conservation training and efforts to get this taxidermy pigeon repaired and cleaned for our Animals Everywhere exhibition: www.dovermuseum.co.uk/Information-...

A photo of a taxidermy pigeon standing on on a wooden perch on display in a cabinet among other ephemera for animals in service.

A photo of a taxidermy pigeon before conservation with dulled feathers and a displaced neck.

A photo of a cleaned and conserved taxidermy pigeon with a repaired neck.

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Karl Mercer @karlantmercer.bsky.social · Jun 13

Excuse the audio - it's the sound of a pigeon pecking me in order to get me to do this...

Karl Mercer @karlantmercer.bsky.social · Jun 13

He's back, in 3D model form!

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Reposted by Karl Mercer

Dover Museum & Bronze Age Boat Gallery @dovermuseum.bsky.social · May 28

New #Exhibition coming soon: Museum in miniature.
An exploration of #miniature versions of things from life that people have produced and enjoyed.
📅Open June 10th 2025-April 2026
📍Special Exhibitions Gallery, #Dover #Museum.

An illustration of Dover Museum's façade with four seagulls on the roof. The façade is cream and white and features archways and columns. It also features black, orange and white Dover Museum Entry signs. There are illustrations of clouds on a dusky blue background. A larger illustration of seagull is perched on the title 'Museum in miniature'

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Karl Mercer @karlantmercer.bsky.social · May 1

I'm not saying it's all fun and games at @romanpalace.bsky.social, but this is how I imagine the role of 'Head of Operations' there...

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Karl Mercer @karlantmercer.bsky.social · Apr 30

The autistic experience of being tired of people telling you how you feel and what's good for you.

Karl Mercer @karlantmercer.bsky.social · Apr 25

Thank you. Taking things one day at a time at the moment.

Reposted by Karl Mercer

Karl Mercer @karlantmercer.bsky.social · Apr 23

In memory of my mum, who sadly died last Tuesday, my family and I are running a campaign to raise money for MSA Trust.

While not many of you knew my mum, many of you do know me and how hard the last few years of dealing with my mum's condition has been.

www.justgiving.com/page/vicki-m...

In Memory of Rose Mercer for Multiple System Atrophy Trust

Help Vicki Mercer raise money to support Multiple System Atrophy Trust

www.justgiving.com

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Karl Mercer @karlantmercer.bsky.social · Apr 23

It's such a worthy cause, and I would like to ensure there is some legacy for a woman who always worked tirelessly for others.

Karl Mercer @karlantmercer.bsky.social · Apr 23

Such a rare condition means there's so little knowledge, support, or research funding. And families in the UK affected only really have one source of support - The MSA trust.

They were excellent, even training the nurses in my mum's care home in how best to manage her and the complications of MSA.