The Museum of Miniature Found Objects has recently been investigating the Smythe-Pattinson system for exhibiting and cataloguing its ever growing collection. Rather than the more traditional method of ordering and displaying items by subject and chronological age, this revolutionary form organises collections around colour and smell. Those objects with no discernible odour are catalogued according to their colour, while those emitting a smell are itemised using the table of smells drawn up by Smythe-Pattinson. Along with this new system, the museum is looking at opening a series of 'smellorama' galleries, where visitors will be invited to use blindfolds to enjoy the exhibits to the full.

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Found Objects:

= coral earring: 8.59am, Saturday 4 February, Platform 5, Clapham Junction Station, south London;

= crucifix with bead: 12.34pm, Saturday 28 January, St Kilda Road, north London; 

= felt heart: 1.34pm, Thursday 24 May, Colombo Street, Christchurch, New Zealand; 

= hair clip: 6.04pm, Friday 22 June, Holloway Road, north London; 

= hair tie with bobbles: 9.48am, Wednesday 14 December 2011, Clarence Road, east London;

= Lego brick: 1.02pm, Friday 3 February,  Broad Lane, north London; 

= metal earring: 9.31am, Thursday 20 October, 2011, Woodberry Down, north London; 

= plastic heart: 11.11am, Saturday 28 May 2011, Lordship Terrace, north London; 

= plastic seal with silver t logo: 3.07pm, Tuesday 20 March, Brougham Road, east London.

The Museum of Miniature Found Objects is delighted to report the inaugural thé dansant went down a storm in the Palm Court Tea Rooms yesterday. Delighted visitors danced away the afternoon to the tuneful sounds of Rex Morello and His Mellow Tones, with the cha-cha-cha, waltz and foxtrot proving a great hit. Rex and his mellow men provided a charming selection of dance tunes, from the ever-popular Ivor Novello to Alma Bailey-Beltoy and Guy Lombardo, with continental charm provided by Maurice Flambée. Gloria Rocquefort and Raymond Trumpington's fine footwork during an especially racy tango drew all eyes. The band’s rendition of Bob Tanner and His Skillet Lickers' toe-tapping 'Turkey in the Straw' brought the afternoon to a thunderous finish. Tea and fancy cakes were served.

Further thé dansants are planned for the coming months, and tickets are available at Miss Parchington's École de Danse, and also from the Museum Gift Shop.

Florian Rivière is a French 'urban hacktivist' who's been inspired by hacker culture to create public art interventions in city streets. He subverts the street layouts, using found objects and street furniture. Humour plays an integral role in this, and his interventions are aimed at enabling people to reclaim their environments. I came across one of his recent projects — 'Don't pay, play!', where he transformed a Strasbourg car park into a sports field for football, water polo, etc. Each pitch occupies a single parking space, converted by using tape and shopping trolleys. It's his imaginative playfulness that make these interventions successful. To see more of his work, click here. 

The Festival of Film and the Found Object has just held its first successful event at the Museum of Miniature Found Objects. The Festival features a fascinating sequence of films that use found objects as a plot device, from Hollywood to Bollywood and beyond. Last night's showing was RKO's 1941 Ball of Fire. One of the highlights was Barbara Stanwyck (with Martha Tilton providing her singing voice) performing 'Drum Boogie' with Gene Krupa and his band. Excitingly, Gene Krupa goes on to repeat the number, replacing his drums with a matchbox and using matches for his drumsticks. It's this ordinary household item, found in the pocket of a waiter in the nightclub, and used by Krupa to recreate the thrilling musical number that particularly intrigued the Museum of Miniature Found Objects.

To enlarge the screen, double click on the image. For forthcoming screenings, check the museum's listing for events in the Early Human Culture and the Found Object Galleries.