The New Inn
Two years ago Jim Medway transformed our lovely establishment into the Northern Quarter’s newest record shop and in doing so created easily one of the most popular exhibitions to have graced the walls of Common since it opened four years ago. Scenes of surly shop staff staring out from behind the counter at customers sifting through the racks, and portraits of some holding up their favourite make-believe records, were all brought to life by a cast of Jim’s trademark animal characters. Since then Jim has settled down in the countryside with a family, and this new life of fresh air, fine ales and roaring fires has no doubt served as inspiration for his next project with us.
‘The New Inn’ is Jim Medway’s affectionate nod to all those rapidly disappearing pubs he’s been either “too scared to go in, or too keen to go where it’s more expensive but at least girls might be there”. For twelve weeks, Common will be transformed into the public house of yesteryear, complete with horsebrasses, toby jugs, dead plants and peeling wallpaper. Other cliche trappings include framed photographs of the area in days gone by, reworked by Jim and available to buy.
Jim Medway has exhibited across the UK and beyond, with work in the Art Council collection and Government Art Collection, and has a permanent wall drawing on show at Manchester Art Gallery. Jim has also illustrated Michael Smith’s ‘Shorty Loves Wing Wong’ (Faber) and is currently working on his ongoing strip ‘Crab Lane Crew’ for weekly kids comic The DFC”.