Page 8 - EGO Magazine June 2019

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“The red juxtaposed against the snarling Wales and the lives of those who inhabit
it have always been a rich source of
taxidermy. It is striking contrasts
velvet such as these that breathe life into a inspiration for him. He enjoys driving
around Ceredigion and getting to know
museum. Stuart mentioned that there
seats of the were over sixty-thousand objects in the people who live in its unique spaces.
auditorium the museum’s care. ‘The most weird It’s a landscape that he always wants to
be surrounded by. For him, Aberystwyth
and wonderful would have to be the
The Designer of were torn and stuffed double-head of a calf; a thatched is the centre of the world.
cottage; jewellery made of human
What, then, is the role of museums
greasy with
in modern society? For Stuart, they are
hair; two floating witches curses; a
skeleton from Aberystwyth castle;
vital assets for understanding our past,
Displays By Paddy age, as were miniature carved nuts; a fossilised fig; present, and future. ‘If we take our time
and look carefully at the skills of the
a pair of divination spoons; and the
the curtains
past, at the way people have lived and
teeth of the first curator!’ My curiosity
O’Malley which hung piqued, I asked him what the museum solved problems, and how people have
looked out for when acquiring items.
worked and lived together as a society,
over the exit
then we might be able to improve our
The original policy, he explained, had
doors.” been to source objects relevant to life own way of life. Change does seem to
in Ceredigion. As time went on, this
happen so fast.’
evolved into an increasingly inclusive Today, the museum hosts a range of
approach to history: the broader remit events of which, I’m sure, David Phillips
met Stuart Evans in May as to marketing. Back then, the museum scene of a castle, presumably from a play of ‘human activity’. The museum would be proud. The programme
he prepared to retire from was located in a house on the corner of or an opera. Piles of old posters littered acquires items at such a rate that it has consists of films, a folk club, yoga, plays,
Ceredigion Museum. Many Vulcan Street. In 1982, it moved to the the attic, some of which are still stuck been forced to strategize around storage opera, and live jazz, to name but a few
readers will know him from Coliseum where it resides to this day. to the rafters above the stage.’ Stuart geological and archaeological artefacts and accessibility. Its commitment to of the many activities which draw in
his long association with the The Coliseum was built in 1904 by captured this dilapidation in a series unearthed in Ceredigion. the effective care and safety of the people from all over the County. Stuart
I Museum. What they might David Phillips to supply the lively holiday of photographs. They were taken on a Of the third and present-day curator, collection can sometimes mean that it is reminded me that the museum also now
not know is that he has been working resort of Aberystwyth with variety acts Pentax ME Super that a friend at the Carrie Canham, Stuart said: ‘For me, unable to accept new items, even when boasts a fully functioning bar! What
there for over forty years. For me, his and short picture shows. Stuart recalled BBC had lent him. He allowed me to Carrie seems like a recent addition to they tick all the boxes. are his thoughts about the range of
departure represented the end of an his first impressions of the building in flick through his album, leaving me in no the museum, but she has already clocked Stuart’s fascination for historical activities at the Museum? ‘In the 1930s’
era, but also an irresistible opportunity 1979: steeped in history and yet to be doubt of his skill as a photographer. up a few years!’ She became curator in objects complements his passion for he said, ‘the Coliseum became a full-
to interview him about his professional polished into the space we know today. Stuart has worked under three 2012. Her curatorial successes have been print-making. ‘Many of my lino prints time super Cinema, run by a Mr and Mrs
life. Over mugs of coffee, it soon became ‘There were pigeons flying around the curators during his time at the Museum. numerous, not least among them the have been inspired by my experiences Gale. Following the untimely death of
clear that his recollections were myriad, auditorium and the upper floor windows The first was Dr. John Owen who was opening of the Heritage Lottery Fund at the museum. I’ve also been fortunate her husband, Mrs Olive Gale continued
and that I’d be pushed to condense were smashed. The projection box had originally from Aberystwyth and began café and the new Tourist Information to have worked with people who’ve to run it, and the establishment adopted
them into one short interview. I was clips of old films and spools of 35mm work in July 1972. Owen had a special Centre. These developments have encouraged my enthusiasm for print- the motto “Amusement without
relieved, therefore, to discover that he celluloid film spilling out over beer interest in textiles and for most of made the Museum more visible from making.’ One example, he recalled, was vulgarity”.’ He flashed a grin. ‘We still
saw his forthcoming retirement as an bottles and old Bakelite records.’ The his life had worked in the Manchester the street and there has been an when ex-assistant curator, Gwenllian stand by that’.
opportunity to set his life down on paper projectionist had been notorious for cotton industry studying ‘the twist increase in visitor numbers since they Ashley, saw the potential of printing Stuart plans to occupy part of
– if he could find the time. setting the reel in motion and then in thread’. His legacy lives on in the opened. ‘We have become a social hub his work on items sold in the shop. his retirement writing, and possibly
Stuart came to Aberystwyth crossing the road to the pub. If the museum’s collection of local time pieces, in Aberystwyth. Many of those who Although he’d hesitated initially, the illustrating, a book of untold stories
because his partner had enrolled at machine began to malfunction then he for which he had a great passion. The might not ordinarily have visited a placemats, coasters, postcards and mugs about the Museum. It may take some
the University. He began to work at had to be called back. second curator was Michael Freeman museum now feel that the Coliseum is all ended up selling well. ‘I think that time to produce, he confides: ‘I’ve
the museum in 1976 as an attendant, ‘The red velvet seats of the auditorium who took up the post in 1991. Michael somewhere familiar and comfortable.’ this is because they related directly to started trying to cobble together all of
and by the following year he had were torn and greasy with age, as were was responsible, amongst other things, As we discussed the history of the the collection and the history of the my memories, but they’re difficult to
become its technician and designer of the curtains which hung over the exit for the introduction of computers and museum, I recalled first impressions County. They made the Museum shop structure coherently. It might just have
displays. As the years went by, Stuart’s doors. The gold stage curtains were digital cataloguing. His training as an of the space as a teenager. My most very individual. Very Ceredigion.’ Stuart to be that some of the facts and details
role became increasingly diverse; he stained with rust marks and the back archaeologist lead him to set up the vivid memory was of being struck by has a deep appreciation for the area in get mixed up a bit. But then all stories
undertook everything from cataloguing wall of the stage was painted with a Bowen Gallery, which to this day exhibits the meticulously preserved bodices which we live. The landscape of mid- are a bit like that, aren’t they?’

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