TLF - the future.

[TLF]

At long last I am pleased to be able to report good news regarding progress in the winding-up of Robert’s estate. On the last day of June, the Executor, Peter Walmsley of Boyce Hatton solicitors, formally assented all physical assets to The Foundation. This includes some half dozen major paintings and a significant collection of works on paper (‘aesthetic notes’), all of which formed the exhibition last year at Plymouth City Museum. It also includes a wealth of illustrated notebooks and journals, diaries, correspondence, as well as archive documents and photographs. For the present time, these have all been placed into secure storage.

Sadly much of the antiquarian library was sold at auction during the course of the administration of the estate. This has however enabled The Foundation to keep the above-mentioned art works in its place. Most of the ‘modern’ books remain, including comprehensive collections on philosophy and art history, as well as themes reflecting Robert’s interests, in particular, his theories on fanatical belief systems. The task has begun of sorting through all this material in order to record and assess it, and we are grateful to Dr. Nick Fox, whose knowledge and previous experience of cataloguing Robert’s vast collection of books has been invaluable.

The Foundation is optimistic that the final winding-up will not be delayed very much longer but unfortunately it is out of our hands and dependent upon a final settlement between the Executor and HMRC. This will determine the Foundation’s financial position and therefore the scope of its future activities.

As has been reported, a lease had been agreed in principle on Robert’s old studio building at 25 The Parade with Plymouth Barbican Association (PBA). In return PBA were to take over the lease of St. Saviour’s church for its own subsidiary South West Image Bank (SWIB). However a surveyor’s report has revealed that St. Saviour’s has serious structural problems. As the renovation work is estimated far in excess of PBA’s budget, they have unfortunately decided that they are unable to proceed with the arrangement and will relocate their own subsidiary SWIB into 25 The Parade.  This has happened only within the past few days and TLF is now urgently considering how to respond.

On a positive note, we can reveal that TLF is in advanced talks with the Royal West of England Academy over a major exhibition of Robert’s work in Bristol next spring. This will be a show on a similar scale to the Plymouth City Museum Retrospective in 1997, possibly larger. For anyone that hasn’t visited previously, the RWA has an impressive building with wonderful gallery spaces in the heart of Bristol’s cultural area.

We have recently welcomed four new trustees to the board: Juliet Maylam, who works in the financial sector, Peter Jones, business strategist, Dr. Paul Grosch, senior lecturer in Philosophy at the College of St. Mark and St. Johns, and Graham Trave, a Gloucestershire-based businessman, who has been responsible for the RWA project. This means that the number of trustees is now eleven. TLF advertised late last year for a gallery manager/exhibitions officer, short-listing four candidates but because of the delay in being able to appoint, the personal circumstances of our chosen candidate altered at the last moment and no appointment has yet been made. We intend to re-advertise in the near future. 

Now the final outcome of the estate is at last clearer and the future more in our own hands, the trustees feel it is the right time to assess exactly what its future strategy should be. Not only are we conducting an internal debate but we would very much like to hear views from the wider Lenkiewicz community, especially those Friends of TLF and the many admirers of Robert’s work, as well as individuals for whom Robert in different ways was an important part of their lives.

Please feel free to comment or raise any questions which I will do my best to answer. I have one question to pose as well: how in a sentence would you summarise what you see as the fundamental aim of TLF?

Over to you…

Francis Mallett - Chair of Trustees of TLF
 

[Annie HillSmith]

Sorry to hear about the PBA's plans.  Very bad idea, if you ask me and should be energetically resisted. Campaign needed.  How short sighted can you get?

Re a sentence... I noted that Robert put up his favourite aim above the door... "for the provocation of thought" ... and it was always difficult to better it. Obviously it's not a sentence but ... to start the ball rolling, I'd like to suggest a very simple sentence that includes that phrase.

[TLF]

Sorry to hear about the PBA's plans.  Very bad idea, if you ask me and should be energetically resisted. Campaign needed.  How short sighted can you get?

Thanks, Annie - I couldn't agree more. And we are trying to see what we can do - the media should also be covering the story in the next day or two. No disrespect to SWIB which is a valuable resource but that building IS Lenkiewicz. And for The Barbican and Plymouth, in general, it would be a catastrophe.

Re a sentence... I noted that Robert put up his favourite aim above the door... "for the provocation of thought" ... and it was always difficult to better it. Obviously it's not a sentence but ... to start the ball rolling, I'd like to suggest a very simple sentence that includes that phrase.

Certainly we feel the purpose of the charity must reflect Robert's wider concerns. At the moment we quite like 'to advance the knowledge of the life, work and ideas of Robert Lenkiewicz' but there are other possibilities which contain the phrase 'investigating the human condition through...'.

[WEB WEAVER]

Esoteric knowledge of Tarot cards suggests that there is no such thing as chance. You are drawn to a particular card for a reason...

After veiwing the recent Kurt Jackson exhibition at the City Museum I wandered next door into the Hurdle Gallery. There was an exhibition arranged by The Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Charitable Trust. I picked up a leaflet outlining the aims of that Trust.

From off the shelf then, here are 4 potential objectives for TLF:     

The Trust's Aims

. To foster, protect and promote the reputation of Robert Lenkiewicz

. To advance the knowledge of the life and work of Robert Lenliewicz through exhibition, research and publications

. To ceate an archive of key works of art and papers

. To support and inspire art and art history students 

Add another aim about the provocation of thought/investigating the human condition, maybe lose the forth objective, and err....Bobs your uncle.

[Annie HillSmith]

Well ... those sound good ... but ... FM did say "a sentence" and so I'm assuming he means that kinduv snappy strap line type thing. 

TLF has a set of objectives that we spent ages creating de novo back in !995/6 as part of getting charitable status.

And .. on the subject of esoteric knowledge ... can anyone tell me where I left my glasses?

[TLF]

Great post, Web Weaver.

I'm aware of the Barns-Graham Trust and it's similar to TLF's line of thinking. Her house in St. Ives has I believe been turned into a museum/gallery. One difference of course is that WBG was really just a painter, whereas Robert's relevance is far broader in social and philosophical terms. The fact that he belonged to no movement or 'school' of artists is also a great strength in my view.

Ideally, Annie, we're in search of one line to sum it up but maybe backed up by a few key objectives. As you're more than aware, the previous aims and objectives were hampered by the fact that TLF was formed while Robert was alive and there was concern over the charity benefitting Robert personally. It therefore ended up with a disparate set of aims and objectives which now appear somewhat arbitrary and outdated. I'm sorry I don't have your glasses.

There's more in today's local paper:
http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/Hidden-treasures-life-artist/article-2488136-detail/article.html

Also on tonight's BBC spotlight at 6.30pm. 

[TheWolfman]

One difference of course is that WBG was really just a painter, whereas Robert's relevance is far broader in social and philosophical terms. 

Ouch! 'Really just a painter'? Although I find Wilhelmina Barns-Graham's work not to my taste at all I was somewhat insulted by the 'just a painter' comment, although I am sure that wasn't the intention. However it did prompt a question so I politely ask whether it is TLF's ambition to promote Robert as more than just 'merely' a painter due to the relative lack of paintings in the foundation's possession? After all, to those not inclined to gossip and hearsay, Robert was best known as a painter and although I believe it is very important to educate people on other aspects of his life he will always be best known as a painter. No shame in that as Rembrandt for example was arguably 'really just a painter'.

One concern would be that introducing or simply reminding people of Robert's endeavours outside of his art might jar with public perception of his more infamous escapades if quality work, and lots of it, isn't available to show a fully rounded picture. For example I feel people (outside of his current 'fan' base) might not want to read or learn more about Robert without some sort of visual incentive especially if they were of the mind that he was a demented womaniser with a penchant storing corpses and in his own words 'littering the streets of Plymouth with children'. Not my opinion of course but I definitely feel given his vast output that more of a spattering of images would help people become and remain interested especially given today's fast paced, media driven society.   

The loss of the 'studio shop front' at 25 The Parade would be a considerable blow. A couple of thoughts spring to mind, firstly I would happily sign a petition and secondly is the property available to rent as it was previously (through Stratton Creber)? I say this because if JoJo can raise a considerable sum for that tawdry theatrical tat supposedly based on Robert's life by going door to door then surely the Lenkiewicz Foundation might able to raise the rent given the obvious goodwill there still is for Robert's work and the importance of the location to his history. If you couldn't raise money in this way you could at least raise awareness amongst the business on the Barbican who might in turn be able to provide support.

Even empty 25 The Parade has been synonymous with Robert throughout his working life in Plymouth and has been just as synonymous since his death. In my opinion The South West Image Bank might not thrive in that location in the way that they might like. Although time moves on it would be a terrible shame if this building does fall away from the Foundation although it is also of note that almost 8 years have passed since Robert died and I wonder what steps have been taken in that time to secure the property, which was up for rent for a considerable period several years ago.

It feels appropriate to follow talk of 25 The Parade with mention of the mural on the former studio wall. Is there any update on what is happening to this mural? To lose one building would be bad but to lose the building and the mural would be crushing.     

Great news about the estate winding up and nice to see the TLF moving forward and communicating with more frequency than in the past. Great stuff!

As for a one sentence summary of the Foundation's aim going forward how about - For the continued provocation of thought.

[marlowe]

Ouch! 'Really just a painter'? Although I find Wilhelmina Barns-Graham's work not to my taste at all I was somewhat insulted by the 'just a painter' comment, although I am sure that wasn't the intention. However it did prompt a question so I politely ask whether it is TLF's ambition to promote Robert as more than just 'merely' a painter due to the relative lack of paintings in the foundation's possession?

I quite like Barns Graham's paintings but isn't the point that she can make no claims to have been conducting 'sociological and philosophical enquiry by visual means' in Robert's own words? And didn't have a big library? And wasn't that the reason for the charity?

[TheWolfman]

Ouch! 'Really just a painter'? Although I find Wilhelmina Barns-Graham's work not to my taste at all I was somewhat insulted by the 'just a painter' comment, although I am sure that wasn't the intention. However it did prompt a question so I politely ask whether it is TLF's ambition to promote Robert as more than just 'merely' a painter due to the relative lack of paintings in the foundation's possession?

I quite like Barns Graham's paintings but isn't the point that she can make no claims to have been conducting 'sociological and philosophical enquiry by visual means' in Robert's own words? And didn't have a big library? And wasn't that the reason for the charity?

I would argue that when the chips were down the sociological and philosophical enquiry quickly made way for a numerous oil sketches of women seemingly churned out in order to raise funds. As far as I'm aware Robert did not fall back on his other talents, such as his immense knowledge or public speaking at such times so his primary source of income and unarguably his primary talent was his painting.

It wasn't the idea that there was more substance to Robert than other painters that offended it was my reading of the statement that implied that being 'really just a painter' was less noble or somehow unworthy. I fully submit that this could be just my own interpretation and given TLF's pride in Robert's many attributes alternative, perhaps less contentious, wording could have been used. Perhaps this might be of importance if the TLF wishes to remain accessible and not elevate Robert to such a lofty position that the general public lose sight and interest.

[billy budd]

Seems I'm going to be a lone dissenting voice, but I have never quite got the post-mortem fixation with 25 The Parade. The rooms on the ground and first floors offer limited space, the passages and stairways are narrow, and by locating there TLF will automatically limit access by adopting a building that only those with full mobility will be able to negotiate. For a new venture it does not seem an auspicious start. Still, we are so often drawn to relics.

To be relevant TLF needs to decide whether it intends to set up a Lenkiewicz mausoleum or a dynamic centre that encourages visitors to engage with the themes Robert pursued, 'for the provocation of thought' (and I detect a hint of that in Francis's "we quite like 'to advance the knowledge of the life, work and ideas of Robert Lenkiewicz' but there are other possibilities which contain the phrase 'investigating the human condition through...'"). Robert's work is significant precisely because of its wider sociological and philosophical interests, not because he was groundbreaking in terms of concept or technique.

Some questions then:

If, as reported, 25 The Parade goes to SWIA, does TLF intend to locate to St. Saviour's? If so, how does that square with the repair bill mentioned? As yet the money remaining from the Estate is an unknown, but if the bill outstrips TLF's ability to meet it and render St. Saviour's fit for purpose, what then?

Last year TLF advertised for a gallery manager-cum-exhibition officer, offering a starter wage for quite an ambitious post, the three mains aims of which appear to have been to set up the new gallery, devise an exhibitions programme and convince the art world of Robert's worth. And all this on a 2 year contract. Could TLF share their thoughts on how these aims would be supported and moreover what thought has been given to the sustainability of the project? Is longevity even a priority?

One of TLF's main aims is to preserve the Lenkiewicz archive. Could TLF advise what standards it intends to adopt to achieve this?

Viewing the aims of the Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust, the idea of bursaries to support those furthering the themes in which Robert was interested would seem a good way to promote his concerns and involve contemporary artists and thinkers in the centre - although much would depend on what money there is. Is this something TLF would like to consider?

A snappy sentence? I'll come back to you on that one.