Tate joins artists in bid to fund a new 'jumbo'

T HE maritime and art communities of St Ives are joining forces to raise funds to build a replica of a traditonal fishing boat which was once a common sight in the bay.

Jonny Nance is leading the drive to revive the use of racing jumbos – a smaller version of the better-known lugger – and is hoping to one day establish a boatbuilding school in the port.

Mr Nance, who has already built the first new jumbo for a century, has now enlisted the help of artists, potters and other creative workers, who have donated items for an auction to be held in the Tate Gallery on April 18.

Among the items up for grabs is work by David Leach, Breon O'Casey, William Marshall and Eric Ward.

A similar sale of work at the Castle Inn in St Ives just before Christmas raised £4,000 for St Ives Jumbo Association and Mr Nance says he is confident that the Tate auction will exceed that figure.

The association aims to establish a racing class of fishing boats – known as jumbos – that were unique to St Ives, in order to provide a focus for regeneration and a means of encouraging people of all ages to engage with the sea and each other while developing a sense of pride in the town's heritage.

The first stage of the project was completed in 2007 with the launch of the first jumbo – Celeste – for 100 years. Now they are raising money to fund a second boat.

"The purpose of building jumbos again is to place the maritime heritage of St Ives at centre-stage, while addressing some modern social problems," said Mr Nance. "Eventually I'd like to establish a boatbuilding course in St Ives, knocking out lots of jumbos.

"I even believe they could be the future of a sustainable fishery in the port, each jumbo providing a living for two or three men. These sorts of boats are romanticised but I actually think there is some reality in the notion of establishing a totally viable fishery with them."

On April 18 the Tate, St Ives will host an auction of work donated by leading artists.

Among the work on offer is an oil painting by Eric Ward, entitled A Jumbo At St Ives. As a former fisherman, lifeboat coxswain and harbourmaster of St Ives, Mr Ward straddles the worlds of fishing and art, which the organisers hope the auction will help to unite. Mr Ward represents both the traditional livelihood of the town and the artist economy of today.

The Leach Pottery is also well-represented, with work dating from the first 10 years of its existence to the present day. There are ceramics by the late David Leach and William Marshall – Bernard Leach's first apprentice – and grandson John Leach. The centre's current lead potter, Jack Doherty, and students of the resurrected Leach Pottery, have also given work. Other donated work includes sculpture by Chinks Grylls, Breon O'Casey, Mark Penrose, Jilly Sutton, and Peter Ward; paintings and prints by Jessica Cooper, John Emanuel, Ingrid Hesling, Sax Impey, Theresa Jones, Andrew Lanyon, Matthew Lanyon, John Mason, Sheila Oliner, Lynette Pierce, Paul Riley, Lucy Willis, and Judy Willoughby; etchings by Johnny Wells and Ben Nance; and jewellery by Charmian Harris.

All proceeds will go towards the £35,000 cost of a second jumbo, which is under construction. It is hoped that the launch will take place this year but will be dependent on raising sufficient funds.

"The auction is an example of St Ives helping St Ives, which is a merry story in these days of cutbacks," said Mr Nance. "It is bringing together two parts of the community in a common cause – and illustrates what the artists came here for in the first place.

"The auction will provide an opportunity for one element of the community to support another in a way that everyone has something to gain. We are particularly grateful to the Tate for their co-operation and to David Lay who has kindly agreed to be our auctioneer."

The St Ives Jumbo Association auction is at Tate St Ives on Saturday April 18 at 7pm. The lots can be viewed at www.stivesjumbo.com and further details are available from Jonny Nance on 07866 777219 or be emailing: jmnance53@tiscali.co.uk