local exhibition
twenty two
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Photo by Andy Ford
/ Words by Naomi Girdler /
B U R N T O U T. S P E N T. F O R G O TT E N . / Chris Girdler talks to local artists about their new alternative exhibition / An alternative view of Cornwall will be the focus of a special exhibition at The Last Shop Standing store in Bretonside Bus Station on May 2. Presented by writer/photographer Craig Taylor-Broad, artist Debra Baker and film-maker Chris Trevena, the exhibition provides a visual documentary of ‘the constant battle between man and nature.’ Titled ‘Burnt out. Spent. Forgotten’ the exhibition looks in depth at the impact of industrial activities such as tin mining and china clay extraction on the landscape of Cornwall. Craig and Chris are keen urbexers (exploring abandoned and derelict buildings to take photographs) and the exhibition includes a short film on the subject made by Chris. Photographs by Craig and artworks by Debra will also be on display. Craig said: “We thought it would be a great idea to show people the darker elements of what Cornwall offers to those who live there. I had already built up a portfolio of photographs for the piece, and Chris had created enough footage for an eerie short film which will be shown a couple of times during the night. “From this, I asked Debra, who is a wonderful artist, to create pieces based around my photography and the film, and I think we’ve created a well rounded exhibition. Visitors will see a side of Cornwall not normally seen - it’s not all about beaches and spectacular coastline.” The trio chose Plymouth for the exhibition because they felt visitors would be more ‘open minded’ about the presentation. He said they had chosen Last Shop Standing as the venue ‘because it is such an important store, not only because they are the little guys in comparison to your corporates such as HMV but also because they instill an ethic that we feel is important for our exhibition.’ “You can just hang out, listen to music, be friendly, it isn’t about making as much money as possible. And we want that feel for our exhibition, we want people drinking tea, chatting to us about the exhibition, listening to the music and just generally being relaxed because I find that most exhibitions have
this oppressive snobby atmosphere to them, and that isn’t what me, Chris or Debra are about. Basically, the people of Plymouth are really lucky to have a store like that.” The exhibition is on for one night only on May 2 from 7pm to 10pm
I first turned up at Jack Chams on Ebrington Street, fresh faced and barely eighteen. I don’t really remember what first attracted me to the place, or who even told me about it, but all I know is that there was something that kept me going back. It all began with me and a group of friends, living off student loans (which never lasted more than a couple weeks) making the most of Pound a Pint Tuesdays. We liked it because we could drink all the Carlsberg we wanted and never normally spend above a tenner without having to be walked home and puking back up the Morning Glory baguette we’d just bought from Jakes. It was a winner. I fell in love with the place; the staff and the regulars were friendly, funny people who knew how to party hard and were open to talk about music, politics, local goings on and of course, any drama that had been kicking off. This welcoming atmosphere made me feel relaxed and at home, and it wasn’t long before I was one of those regulars with a rum and coke at the end of the bar, waiting for me before I’d even walked through the doors (thanks Ross). Many drunken nights ensued (sorry mum and dad), with sing a longs to Turbonegro’s All My Friends are Dead, pool tournaments, the legendary quiz (flawlessly done weekly by the ultimate quizmaster, Kit), Give Up Your Day Job craft fairs, Mario Kart play offs, huge effort by all every Halloween, amazing local shows, free pool on a Monday and a load of memories, some of which I can remember, and some of which I can’t. I can easily say though, with a hand pressed strongly to my heart, that without Jack Chams, I wouldn’t be where I am today. It’s not only been a place for me to meet people, have fun, laugh and drink, but it’s also been where PS has been nurtured and encouraged from day one and I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many amazing people who are now permanent fixtures in my life. My heart was totally broken, as you can imagine, when I found out about the closing of the bar. It didn’t matter to me that I’d lost my bar job, what mattered was making sure that the place went out with a bang. My last ever shift was on the last night of its reign, and she definitely went out in style. With more drinks being ordered than could be handled, dancing and moshing filling up the floor, people writing their goodbyes and memories on the walls, tearing down posters as mementos and opening the first ever and last ever bottle of champagne as eyes welled up at closing time were all part of the wake in Jack Cham’s memory. So, here is my public goodbye and thank you, and I’ve decided (maybe not on my better judgement) to admit that I’m in tears writing this, a fond farewell from myself, PS and every other person who loved Chams like I did. Jack Chams will live on in our hearts forever. RIP JACK CHAMS 2009 - 2013