...it is 89 days this morning since we left the mumbles head...
...it is 89 days this morning since we left the mumbles head... Locws International, Swansea 2010 - photograph: Ken Dickinson
...it is 89 days this morning since we left the mumbles head... 2010-2013 Commissioned by, Locws International, and originally exhibited on the Swansea bay foreshore, the work was subsequently exhibited at Swansea’s Waterfront Museum, and Swansea Museum and then more recently for the Pilot Festival in Brightlingsea, Essex.
This series of eight stereoscopic images, attempts the retelling of the story of the Capehorners' 19 Century sailors who made epic and treacherous voyages aboard three masted wooden sailing ships know as Copper Barques, these voyages left from Swansea then around the Cape Horn to Valpersaiso in Chile in order to bring copper oar back to Swansea.
...it is 89 days this morning since we left the mumbles head... Pilot Festival, Brightlingsea, Essex, 2013 - Photograph: Tony Millings
...it is 89 days this morning since we left the mumbles head... Pilot Festival, Brightlingsea, Essex, 2013 - Photograph: Tony Millings
'Using a diary by Benjamin Davies, an industrial worker sent off to Chile on one of Swansea’s copper barques, Jackie Chettur has brought to life his epic voyage and delved into the history of the Swansea Cape Horners who brought copper ore back from Chile in the late 1800’s.
The new artwork consists of a series of staged images created by the artist using historical artefacts, models and paintings that depict the long journeys and extraordinary sights that the sailors experienced as they set sail from Swansea Bay, past Mumbles Head and out beyond the horizon.
Created using series of stereo images which are pairs of 35mm slides, the images are displayed within 8 stereo viewers set out on the seaward side of Swansea’s Civic Centre, with the view of Mumbles Head in the distance.'
Extract from the journal of Benjamin Davies thought to be aboard a Capehorner sometime between 1872 and 1879
Saturday 3 (Jan) Day cloudy and stormy… …we are now anxious to be in Chile and see what is thear and another thing it is 89 days this morning since we left the Mumble Head and it is a long time to be mucking about on a wild ocean…
Extract from the journal of Benjamin Davies thought to be aboard a Capehorner sometime between 1872 and 1879
Wensday 3 day (Dec) Clear sky but the sea looking verrey wild and rolling verrey heavy… thear came a very large whale alongside the largest the captain had seen… at one 0’clock pm thear came two…dolphins and went twice around the ship
extract from the ‘Log of Captain David Morgan (leaves from an old salt dog 1836-1930)’
Now damp coal becomes very combustible in the hold of a ship - When I reached Valparaiso I was met by a Captain called Symons… “Well” he said, “I have been very anxious about you several ships have been burning, one had to make port this way and my cargo has been smouldering”
extract from the ‘Log of Captain David Morgan (leaves from an old salt dog 1836-1930)’
During my many voyages around cape horn, out of 33 I have seen icebergs about thirteen times. On one occasion I have seen as many as thirty at once … it seemed as if we were in the midst of a bristling mass of ice giants
The Deerslayer left Swansea for Chile 3rd March 1859, returning 9th December 1859 - carrying 480 tons of copper ore and 24 tons of unwrought copper. A round trip of 281 days.
Extract from the journal of Benjamin Davies thought to be aboard a Capehorner sometime between 1872 and 1879
Tuesday 28 day. (Nov) Clear all is well stiff brees, At 9 o’clock am we were in site of another of Cape Verde islands. Which is called Brava and we had a splendid view of it. It looked verrey rockey and some verrey high cliffs.
Extract from the journal of Benjamin Davies thought to be aboard a Capehorner sometime between 1872 and 1879
Friday 28 day. (Nov) A verrey wild morning… the sea weare running mountains high. And everrey whare threatening to sweep our decks. But thanks to the lord and to him alone for it was through his kind providence that preserved us.
Extract from the journal of Benjamin Davies thought to be aboard a Capehorner sometime between 1872 and 1879
Wensday 19 day. (Nov) Clear and calm vessel making 1 knots. We are all injoying good health and I am to tell that my chest is much better that what I have felt this last few years and if I live to see my jurney end I hope it will be quite well.