Plaster Shoots: Catalogue Issue 7.0 launch, guest-edited by yours truly

Last night was the much-anticipated launch party of Plaster x Catalogue Issue No. 7.0, our mischievous guest-editorship/ (ambush) of the Cork Street Galleries’ journal of contemporary art, published by The Pollen Estate. In the towering arches of Burlington Gate, a throng of guests toasted the occasion. With all the Cork Street galleries open late and John Akomfrah’s street banners gently billowing in the chill, it was a vibe to warm the cockles of any scrooge.

Guests swarmed to get their hands on the new issue, which each contained one of 14 unique posters featuring Cork Street artists. Some were seen swapping posters like kids exchanging Yu-Gi-Oh! cards in the playground. Even more in demand were the (seemingly infinite) packets of Torres crisps the hosts had laid out on a table for guests to gorge on. Catalogue’s Executive Editor and PR queen Gillian McVey was seen politely imploring crisp addicts not to hoard as a (quite iconic) woman displayed an impressive level of multitasking as she double-parked champagne (who could blame her – it was Bolly, darling!) and piled crisps into her bag. Meanwhile, guests quarrelled over which flavour was best: Fried Egg or Black Truffle. There are two types of people in this world…

Sartorially, revellers channelled a classic Connor Roy Succession moment (“I will remain coated, as is my right!”), while a steady flow of mulled wine and gas heaters took the edge off the eight-degree chill. Others desperately clutched their copies of the mag in the hope that it might provide some insulation. The cold didn’t stop the vibrant mix of attendees, who included everyone from artist and model Kesewa Aboah to legendary artist, filmmaker and Plaster star, John Akomfrah. John, who might have envisaged a well-earned post-Venice Biennale night off to nurse a mug of mulled wine, was ushered to a table to sign posters for an orderly queue of fans. That’s Show Business, baby!

While Catalogue’s Editor-in-Chief, Dean Mayo Davies proudly relived the magazine’s features with Plaster’s Harriet Lloyd-Smith, which included interviews with Caroline Coon, Dominique Fung, Alison Jacques and Emma Prempeh. The issue’s designer Tom Hingston was sadly absent, rumoured to be busy on the Dezeen Design Awards (a fair excuse).

But the real star of the night was psychic spiritual medium Kim Alexis, who stole the hearts and minds of Issue No. 7.0 readers with the mag’s flagship feature, a spiritual reading of Cork Street’s ghostly past. “You never see this type of feature in art mags”, exclaimed one party-goer. “Can you do my reading, Kim?” asked another. Being the humble queen that she is, despite an impressive list of celebrity clients (Kate Moss, Sadie Frost, Jemima French), she let out a blushing, Princess Di-esque smile, a counterpoint to her chic leopard print boots and top. The lady doth slay too much, methinks!

In the darkened entrance to the foyer, Gonzo journalist-turned-archivist Nimrod Kamer was practically fizzing with intrigue in the wake of recent news that The Groucho Club had mysteriously closed due to a “serious crime”. Various theories were bandied around; one person recounted their friend’s regret at buying a lifetime membership just days earlier.

The evening was well-documented, with iconic social photographer Dafydd Jones (father of artist Poppy Jones) catching partygoers in candid moments, while Plaster Shoots regular Colin Mullins darted around snapping polaroids of the guests, who then sharpie-signed them on each other’s backs like 90’s celebs. “You’ll be able to flog this on eBay in a few years, Colin!,” one guest joked. Were you papped?