19/04/2026
THIS TUESDAY EVENING!
Talk Photo with JIM MORTRAM
Date: Tuesday 21st April
Time: 7pm (doors 6.30pm)
Location: Upstairs in the Gallery at Oriel Colwyn (above Theatr Colwyn)
Tickets - FREE / DONATION
https://orielcolwyn.org/en/Events/Talk-Photo-Jim-Mortram.aspx
For seven years Jim Mortram photographed the lives of people in his community. He made their daily struggles visible, as they struggled through physical and mental problems and a failing social security system. Through his camera and their testimony Small Town Inertia shows their isolation and the loneliness in their daily lives.
"I’m firstly a principle unpaid carer for my Ma, I quit art school in the 90’s to return to the family home to look after her. About 15 years in I was loaned a camera & quickly discovered that what I wanted to do with the rest of my life was to amplify the stories of those within my local community that were enduring the pressures & stresses of policies that were punishing those of the epidermis of the community, especially policies like Austerity." - JiM Mortram
*NOTE: Due to Jim's circumstances and carer responsibilities, this Talk Photo will be via a live Zoom conversation and presentation in the gallery.
Jim Mortram's work covers difficult subjects such as disability, addiction and self-harm, but is always with hope and dignity and is a testimony to the strength and resilience of the people he photographs.
We exhibitited Jim's initial Small Town Inertia work as a part of our very first Northern Eye Festival back in 2017. It is still to this day one of our most talked about festival exhibitions.
His work covers difficult subjects such as disability, addiction and self-harm, but is always with hope and dignity. Small Town Inertia is a testimony to the strength and resilience of the people he photographs.
All participants know that they have been photographed, they know that they have spoken into Jim's microphone, all are collaborators, not and never subjects and all they profoundly wish is that their testimony will be heard. Paramount for Small Town Inertia, since its creation, has always been collaboration with his community and the amplification of their testimony. Mortram says "We don't live in a country where people have no voice, but people seldom listen and choose to look the other way."
Small Town Inertia 2 represents another seven years in people's lives in and around Dereham, the small town in Norfolk where Jim also lives. Governments have come and gone but for many of the individuals that Jim works with, nothing has changed. They are failed by austerity, their health, waiting lists and a social security system that doesn't work for those most in need.
It hasn't got better. What has changed is the urgency.
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Dyddiad: Dydd Mawrth, 21 Ebrill
Amser: 7pm (drysau ar agor 6.30pm)
Lleoliad: I fyny'r grisiau yn Oriel Colwyn
Am saith mlynedd, bu Jim Mortram yn tynnu ffotograffau o fywydau pobl yn ei gymuned. Roedd yn dangos eu trafferthion o ddydd i ddydd, o ran problemau iechyd corfforol a meddyliol a system nawdd cymdeithasol a oedd yn methu. Trwy ei gamera a’u tystiolaeth nhw, mae Small Town Inertia yn dangos eu hynysiad a’u hunigrwydd yn eu bywydau bob dydd.
“I gychwyn, rwy’n brif ofalwr di-dâl i Mam. Rhois y gorau i ysgol gelf yn y 90au i ddychwelyd i gartref y teulu i ofalu amdani. Tua 15 mlynedd i mewn, cefais fenthyg camera a darganfyddais yn fuan iawn mai’r hyn yr oeddwn am ei wneud gyda gweddill fy mywyd oedd rhannu straeon pobl yn fy nghymuned leol a oedd yn wynebu pwysau a straen polisïau a oedd yn cosbi pobl ar epidermis y gymuned, yn enwedig polisïau fel Caledi.”
*NODER: Oherwydd amgylchiadau Jim a’i gyfrifoldebau fel gofalwr, bydd y sesiwn hon yn cael ei chynnal trwy sgwrs fyw dros Zoom a chyflwyniad yn yr oriel.
Mae ei waith yn cwmpasu materion anodd fel anabledd, caethiwed a hunan-niwed, ond mae bob amser yn cynnwys gobaith ac urddas, gan ganolbwyntio ar gryfder a gwydnwch y bobl y mae'n tynnu eu lluniau.
Fe wnaethom arddangos gwaith cychwynnol Small Town Inertia Jim fel rhan o’r Ŵyl Northern Eye gyntaf yn ôl yn 2017. Dyma un o’r arddangosfeydd y siaradir amdani fwyaf o’r ŵyl hyd heddiw.
Mae ei waith yn cwmpasu materion anodd fel anabledd, caethiwed a hunan-niwed, ond mae bob amser yn cynnwys gobaith ac urddas. Mae Small Town Inertia yn dystiolaeth o gryfder a gwydnwch y bobl y mae'n tynnu eu lluniau.
Mae pawb sy’n cymryd rhan yn gwybod bod Jim wedi tynnu eu llun, a’u bod wedi siarad i mewn i’w feicroffon. Maent i gyd yn cydweithio, nid ydynt yn destunau a’r cyfan maen nhw’n ei ddymuno yw y bydd eu tystiolaeth yn cael ei chlywed. Ers ei greu, yr hyn sydd bwysicaf i Small Town Inertia yw cydweithio â’r gymuned a rhannu eu tystiolaeth. Dywedodd Mortram “Nid ydym yn byw mewn gwlad lle nad oes gan bobl lais, ond yn anaml fydd pobl yn gwrando a byddant yn dewis edrych i ffwrdd.”
Mae Small Town Inertia 2 yn cynrychioli saith mlynedd arall ym mywydau pobl yn ac o gwmpas Dereham, y dref fach yn Norfolk lle mae Jim yn byw. Mae llywodraethau wedi mynd a dod ond i lawer o’r unigolion mae Jim yn gweithio gyda nhw, nid oes unrhyw beth wedi newid. Maent wedi’u gadael i lawr gan galedi, eu hiechyd, rhestrau aros a system nawdd cymdeithasol nad yw’n gweithio i’r rhai mewn mwyaf o angen.
Dydi pethau heb wella. Yr hyn sydd wedi newid yw’r brys.
https://orielcolwyn.org/cy/Events/Talk-Photo-Jim-Mortram.aspx
For seven years Jim Mortram photographed the lives of people in his community. He made their dail...
