Gillian Ayres Exhibition Opens at RAMM

Last Friday I was lucky enough to meet leading British abstract artist Gillian Ayres at the opening of her new exhibition at Exeter’s Royal Albert Memorial Museum on Saturday 15 June. The exhibition, featuring a beautiful collection of some of her vibrant, heavily-worked canvasses, and bold block prints runs until Sunday 15 September.

Her works resound with a passion that is clearly inspired by her deep love for her craft. Speaking with the RSA from her west country studio in 2009 she explained, ‘It’s all I ever wanted to do, all my life. I can’t live long enough to paint all I want to do. Thirty years ago, I gave up my teaching job at Winchester College of Art to paint. And that’s what I do.’ The vivid colour palette, she explains is not drawn from life, but rather from herself.  ‘People think I came here for the views...but, as you can see, I have no views: I don’t paint from nature so I don’t need them. My paintings are about painting, about shape and colour, not telling stories. From my studio I can’t see beyond the trees.’

Born in 1930, Gillian studied at Camberwell College of Art between 1945 and 1950. She worked initially in London and then went on to teach at the Bath Academy in Corsham, Saint Martins School of Art and finally became Head of Painting at Winchester School of Art. She left teaching in 1981 and moved to Wales and then Cornwall, where she currently lives.

Artist Gillian Ayres at the RAMM Exeter

Over the course of her career, Gillian has made a significant and varied body of original prints. Most of the works in this exhibition have been proofed by Gillian Ayres and Jack Shirreff and were printed at 107 Workshop. Ayres and Shirreff first met at Corsham and it was his reinvigoration of the use of carborundum combined with etching that offered her a whole range of possibilities in the medium of print.

Gillian Ayres’ work is in the collections of the British Museum, Tate, the Victoria & Albert Museum; and the Museum of Modern Art, New York. Gillian was made a Royal Academician in 1991 and awarded a CBE in 2011.

Gillian Ayres: Paintings and Prints 1986 to 2011 runs from Saturday 15 June to Sunday 15 September.

Museum volunteers at opening night

Museum volunteers at opening night

A spanking good time at the 2013 Oxjam Launch Party

Exeter's newest funk band, Electric Spank, are topping the bill at the launch party for Oxjam 2013 at the Exeter Phoenix. The first of a series of gigs taking place in our fair city as part of an Oxfam musical take over, the 29 May event will not disappoint. Fronted by the unstoppable Lucy Rice, of Melosa fame, with guitar by the insatiably funky Alastiar Toms, Electric Spank's last gig at the Lamb Inn, nr Crediton was a phenomenal mix of funky as originals and  rock solid covers to bring happiness to your ear holes.

Next October, Oxfam GB will be raising funds with 60 music festivals throughout the country. The Exeter event will be on 19th-20th October comprising many events right across the city. There will also be fundraising events prior to the Takeover so keep your eyes peeled! Follow them on Twitter @oxjamexeter2013 and like them on Facebook.

Pop along to the event to hear more and more importantly have a good time! If you dig it, them you could make friends and get involved. They're currently looking for volunteers, bands/artists, venues, security, fundraising ideas and more. If you would like to be involved them tweet or take a look at the Oxjam website for more information: http://www.oxfam.org.uk/oxjam/get-involved

Telling Our Stories, Finding Our Roots Story Telling Evening at Exeter Phoenix

Story Teller Sandhya Dave 

Hot on the heels of a fully booked spring performance at RAMM, Telling Our Stories, Finding Our Roots, presents an evening of storytelling, inspired by new historical research into Exeter's multicultural history, on Wednesday 5 June at the  Exeter Phoenix  for the 2013 Exeter Ignite Theatre festival. Rich story-telling, music and verse bring a new multi-cultural perspective to Exeter’s history in a special performance.

Expect an evening of traditional tales mixed with original stories of people from around the world, moving to, living in and affecting lives in Exeter. Hosted by story-teller Sandhya Dave and local historian Lucy MacKeith, Telling Our Stories' volunteer team will present stories of Black GIs in St Thomas, Exeter's Jewish History, tales of slavery, abolition and more.

In this special performance for Exeter's Ignite Theatre Festival, the Telling Our Stories, Finding Our Roots collection of stories takes inspiration from new research uncovering Exeter's diverse past. Part of a year long Heritage Lottery Funded project, the 5 June event follows hot on the heels of a fully booked storytelling evening at the RAMM earlier this spring and will give insight into just a few of the human stories revealed in more than 20 different research inquiries and interviews with modern day Exeter residents from a wide range of cultural backgrounds. 

The stories will include pieces that bring new perspectives to the Royal Albert Memorial Museum's Collections and local stately homes. How did war time Exeter respond to a US Army presence that kept black and white GIs separated on the city's streets? Hear tales of Exeter's Jewish community in the Middle Ages and today. Discover how Exeter's residents were affected by slavery and abolition. What happened when Tennessee's Fisk Singers Jubilee Singers arrived in Victorian Exeter and more.

Telling Our Stories, Finding Our Roots, £6/£4, at Exeter Phoenix on Wednesday 5 June at 7:30pm for more information visit www.exeterphoenix.co.uk

Kudos to Cosy Club: A visit to Exeter's new eclectic eatery

Simon says 'Hello'

'So what exactly is a 'Cosy Club?' I asked @CosyClubExeter on Twitter before their 15 April opening.The reply came back with cool confidence, 'Think gents club meets village hall meets cricket pavilion!' and as I tread the wooden floor boards to my table, taking in the artwork and ambiance, it all became clear. Cosy Club is that wonderful combination of modern and vintage, quirky and classic, polite and relaxed. It's the kind of of place that that you could show up wearing your finest threads or your comfiest jeans and feel like you fit in.

Exeter Cosy Club

I popped in just five days after the opening to see what all of the buzz was about and wasn't disappointed. The place was a twitter with couples, parties and families perched on delightfully mismatched chairs and benches. The waistcoated staff were friendly and welcoming.  And I just couldn't stop staring at the lampshades.

The food is as eclectic as the decor with a mix of tapas, burgers and quality mains. We ordered two pints of the deliciously malty local ale, Falls Over by Exeter Brewery, and a set of burgers one beef and one veggie for supper. My veggie burger had just the right amount of structure with a crunchy exterior and mushy centre. The fries were perfect too and washing it down with the best pint of real ale I've had since the Exeter CAMRA Festival of Winter Ales, made it all the better. For pudds, we had matching apple tarte tartin which were lovely and cinnamonny and made me happy.

Exeter's branch is the 6th Cosy Club to open in the UK, joining a roster of award winning branches in Taunton, Bath, Salisbury, Cardiff and Stamford. This charming edition to Exeter's dining scene is just what Southernhay needs. The Jack Wills-esque atmosphere makes it classy enough to sit alongside places like Southernhay House and Magdalen Chapter. While the Bike Shed-lite quirkiness makes it funky enough to bring in young blood that might not otherwise venture down the Georgian Street of an evening. And the fact that it's open for Breakfast Lunch Dinner and Drinks is an extra bonus for people like me who like eating at random times of day! Must visit for breakfast/brunch sometime to try what looks like an epic vegetarian breakfast.

Cosy Exterior

What's next for the Jessop's spot on Exeter's High Street?

Jessops

It's been a month now since Jessops camera shops closed around the UK leaving more than a thousand people without work and at least a dozen people without anywhere to get their film developed.


Exeter's branch was based opposite its Snappy Snaps competitor off South Street before moving to the High Street proper with a new frontage and hope for the future. A few years on and they became the first retail casualty of 2013. And I can't say I'm entirely surprised. Between Amazon, the Internet and Smartphones, it was just a matter of time, 11 January 2013 to be precise.

So what's going to open up there next? We have plenty of mobile phone shops. The narrow space is too small for a clothing store; remember Musto tried and failed. It would need to be something with a high turnover or a high retail price order to make the margins work. I'm hoping it might be something like Montezuma Chocolate, which would work well near Starbucks, a Build a Bear and a bus stop, as well a providing a stop off point between Hotel Chocolat and Thornton's. Time will tell.

My Ruby's Tuesday

There's a new burger spot in town and her name is Ruby.
  

Perched on the corner of Queen Street and Northernhay Place, Ruby's diner is a trendy update on the American style diners that we've see before. Simple design, Wagamama seating and a non traditional ordering system give it all the hallmarks of a successful 21st century eatery.   

On my Tuesday evening visit, the place was crawling with 18-34 year olds who, dressed in the latest high street casuals, are clearly the target market. They chatter away as fresh faced waiters served them in high back booths while mood music plays in the background. 

I ordered my food at the 'Self Service' counter and then waited for my food to arrive at the pass. When my name was called I went to meet the chef who'd prepared my 'falloumi' burger and onion rings. Everyone friendly and helpful.

And what of the food? Well I'm a bit of a lettuce munching vegetarian, so I had the one of their veggie burgers...specifically the falafel burger with halloumi cheese. My burger was big and tasty with avocado, salad and drip down your hand burger sauce. My red onion rings were a fresh update on traditional and clearly al la carte. This and a soft drink came to about £10 making it great value as well. 

With a location near the college and their marketing savvy, they should do well enough to put in a few more chairs!
 

Exeter's Best Japanese Noodles

Forget Wagamama, Exeter's best Japanese noodle house is Tyepyedong. Hands down. No do overs.

Not only is the food tastier, but the green tea is hotter, the staff friendlier, and the prices better. They are also a local and independent business that has been keeping me in noodles since they opened in the naughties.
The two dishes from the Tyepyedong menu that most thrill my little vegetarian palette are the Yasai Yakisobsa - made with actual soba noodles unlike the ramen they serve at a certain chain- and this cold curing Tofu Mei Fun Soup.