Be reasonable - demand the impossible!

A celebration of The Contemporary Wardrobe Collection's 30th AnniversaryExhibition runs from Sat 3rd May - Sat 31st May 2008 Private View Fri 2nd May 7.30 Throughout the month of May we shall be presenting a multi faceted installation featuring displays of some of the most important and rarely seen items of clothing from the Contemporary Wardrobe Collection, from Zoot Suiters to Spivs, Mod's and Rockers through to Seditionaries and Chavs. A slide show of literally hundreds of shoots in leading magazines, such as the Face, ID, Vogue, Dazed & Confused etc, etc + Music Videos, Commercials and Movies all illustrating how the collection has been used over the last 30 years by numerous photographers, directors, stylists and designers. Hidden away below street level, floor to ceiling racks laden with rare and exotic street fashions spanning the last sixty years, demand attention. From teenage angst and rites of passage to dreams of changing the world, these fineries were once displayed with attitude and stance, by kids who'd rebel against anything you'd got... and generations who really believed... they'd die before they got old...! The exuberant and radical force of rebellion, protest and subversion that still permeate these clothes has consistently inspired the programming of events in The Chamber of Pop Culture since its inception, and this months impressive line up of events will continue to push the boundaries of style. Vive le Punk As part of the exhibition we shall be screening "Vive Le Punk" a fascinating and previously unseen documentary of The Chamber of Pop Culture's very first exhibition in 1993. The documentary features Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren talking in depth about their designs and is a valuable insight into how they broke all the rules of convention and inspired a generation. To the best of our knowledge this is the only time that they have been filmed together discussing their legacy. Screenings £5: Sat 3rd May Doors 7:30pm Fri 9th May, Wed 14th May, Tue 20th May and Tue 27th May, Doors 6:30pm Thursday 22nd May 7:30pm FREE Paul Gorman (Author, The Look) will be in conversation with Roger K. Burton about the development of The Contemporary Wardrobe Collection over the last 30 years and his contribution to image creation and his involvement in a multiplicity of projects, from PX to World's End to Nostalgia Of Mud to Quadrophenia to the Horse Hospital, via ads, videos, fashion, art and film. The talk will be accompanied by key images from the archive, inspirational artefacts and a specially styled fashion show. http://rockpopfashion.com/blog/?p=81 Friday 23rd May 7:30pm £5 David Ellis's Rapid Response Unit in conjunction with The Horse Hospital PRESENTS Kitted out: But who gets to dress the assassins? David Ellis Writer/Performer/Curator invites Max Decharne, Writer/Musician/Cultural historian and founder of ' The Flaming Stars' to rifle through a pre-selected rail of 50 items of clothing from the Contemporary Wardrobe Collection whilst extemporizing on the bespoke and brooding deviancy of Spivs, Zazou's, Ted's, Ton-up boys, B-Girls and Jet's. Drawing on his extensive archive & knowledge of literary,musical and cinematic material including his recently revised, extended book ' Straight from the Fridge:A dictionary of hipster slang. Decharne will tease out the lesser-known histories within the 'weave', the sartorial/generational wars represented on the rack. In an illustrated spoken preface to Decharnes presentation Ellis will digress on various subjects including The Trenchcoat Mafia, Columbine, being a member of the Hastings Pier Squad 1974, and why the only effective anti-fascist movement is a pelvic one. (Both talks will be accompanied by specifically chosen film extracts and vinyl) The exhibition also coincides with The Horse Hospital program for The Fashion in Film Festival screenings Monday 26th May: Zoot Suit Riots Thursday 29th May: Blood and Black Lace (Sei donne per l'assassino) Saturday 31st May: So what! Two tales of Juvenile Delinquency (The Boys, The Violent Years) curated by Roger K. Burton And The Horse Hospital program for All Power to the Imagination! 1968 and Its Legacies Saturday 26th April: Flashing the Sixties + Hi Mom! Friday 16th May: Manson - The Hippie Revolt Wednesday 28th May: The Whole World is Watching: Weatherman 69