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After the first load of See Esther Walsall’s Mona Lisa posters were snapped up, there is a new batch printed and ready to go. You can find them in the resource area of the foyer (where the films are played). Help yourself, they’re free!
Get your very own FREE Bob and Roberta Smith poster!!!
That’s right. You too could be the proud owner of an exclusive Bob and Roberta Smith “See Esther Walsall’s Mona Lisa” poster. These are completely free but are in limited supply, so act fast! Just ask for your poster at the front desk at The New Art Gallery Walsall. Why not see Esther while you are here?
The lucky first recipient of the poster was Mr. I. Ioannou of Walsall. “This is the best thing I’ve ever seen – thank you Bob and Roberta Smith!” said Mr. Ioannou.
Bob and Roberta Smith’s May Residency
It’s been quite a month for the Epstein Archive. Bob was in residency for most of May and made the largest work for the project to date. See Esther Walsall’s Mona Lisa comprises of 4 large boards that tell the story of Esther Garman, Jacob Epstein’s sculpture of Esther and Bob’s reaction to it. This is part of Bob’s plan to brand the Esther sculpture as Walsall’s Mona Lisa. These boards will be displayed in the main hall of the Garman Ryan Collection from October and I genuinely cannot wait to see it up there. Enjoy the pictures below…
We created some stop motion films of the residency, with some of Bob’s thoughts on the work….
As well as the small matter of making the See Esther work, Bob also made some posters for the promotion of the Freshly Squeezed event at the gallery (Thursday 10th June @ 6pm) and also the gallery generally. The latter poster is also part of Bob’s branding of Esther.
I’ve posted this video already, but I’m going to put it up again as it’s my favourite of all the videos we have created so far. Inspired by Telly Savalas’ ‘tour’ of Birmingham (which you can see here),we filmed this straight after Bob finished See Esther and he was in a very amusing mood. If you listen carefully, you can hear me snorting with laughter in the background. The theme tune comes courtesy of Dr CJ Freelove, a little known South American musician who exclusively writes 80s ‘This Morning’ style theme tunes.
Bob and Roberta Smith residency
The second episode of Bob’s residency at the gallery. The 3rd will follow soon…enjoy.
Bob and Roberta Smith residency
Bob was up at the gallery last week for the 1st week of his 4 week residency. During this time, Bob will be making a large work relating to Esther Garman and specifically the Jacob Epstein sculpture of Esther in the Garman Ryan Collection. We filmed Bob’s time in the studio on time lapse and will do the same for the remaining 3 weeks. Therefore, sit back, relax and enjoy episode 1!
See Esther…
After making the ‘See Esther’ film with Neil, I thought more about the process of Epstein making a portrait bust. The bust of Esther with a flower with her rather long neck is an open image of a young woman. It sits in stark contrast to the first bust which is the subject of our film. There is something unsettling in the image and I have begun to think it is the image of a young woman resisting being portrayed by her father. Nowhere in any of the letters from Esther or Theodore am I aware of them referring to their father as anything other than ‘Epstein’. Epstein’s Portrait busts were either of lovers, small children or the Famous. The first Portrait bust of Esther is uncomfortable. Esther stares ahead. Her gaze looks to the middle distance to a space beyond the viewer, beyond the artist.
I am reminded of being a teenager and relatives asking ‘what are you thinking?’ and wanting to shout at them but not being able to. Epstein called the first bust of Esther one of his best. He was right.
The default thing Art Historians say about Epstein’s busts is that he was a genius at being able to explore the psychology of his subjects. I am not sure that this is anything more than myth making. What is great about the 1st bust of Esther in his in ability to capture Esther’s psychological state.
Like Leonardo’s Mona Lisa she remains her own person resisting easy interpretation. Unlike the Mona Lisa there is no enigmatic smile.
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