A public meeting of the UK Art Party has put in place plans for further creative demonstrations against Tower Hamlets council’s sale of the Henry Moore sculpture Draped Seated Woman, affectionately known as ‘Old Flo’ .
Organised by artist Bob and Roberta Smith, the meeting on Saturday at Hales Gallery, London, featured an awards ceremony for logos created by local artists protesting against the sale. The banners, paintings and drawings will be delivered to Lutfur Rahman, the mayor of Tower Hamlets, this Thursday (22 November). Smith will then ask the mayor to pick his own personal favourite. Flyers of the logos will also be distributed in Whitechapel and Bethnal Green every weekend up until Christmas.
The meeting was attended by around 25 people and included senior Museum of London staff Kate Starling (Director of Major Programmes) and Francis Marshall (Senior Curator, Art). The museum has offered to relocate the sculpture, which has been on loan to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park for the last 15 years.
Smith, real name Patrick Brill, said: “We will be doing all we can to get the message across to Tower Hamlets council. It is an absolute travesty. Old Flo belongs to the East End and should be back here.”
Artist Amy Pennington, who won an award for best logo, fears the sale could open the floodgates to other councils selling off valuable artworks to raise money. She said: “If we let this go where will it end? Old Flo should be accessible for the masses and not for the elite. It is a beautiful sculpture and one that should remain in public view.”
Smith echoed these sentiments: “It is a very damaging sale. Smaller councils across the country will look at this and think, ‘If Tower Hamlets can do it despite the strong artistic community in London, so can we’.”
Smith is calling on artists to use their creativity and lend support to the campaign. “It’s an opportunity to show how important art is to the heritage and history of the local community. I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve on how to do this but it would be great to see what other people come up with. They can tweet me at @BobandRoberta.”
Pennington added: “Artists are out in the community listening, talking and using our creative skills to engage with people. We have the opportunity to express our dispute creatively, whether with a drawing, performance or intervention. Old Flo needs us!”
Bob and Roberta Smith will deliver the logos to the mayor of Tower Hamlets on Thursday 22 November. Follow a-n’s live coverage of the event on Twitter @an_artnews
What do you think should happen to Old Flo? Join the conversation on Twitter using the tag #OldFlo
Watch Tim Newton’s video of Bob and Roberta Smith’s Old Flo Flash Mob protest here.
