Twenty years ago I had a
passing thought. A passing though that led to viewing a building with the
intention to buy. I was busy researching for an artists biography when I found
that his former studio space was for sale. It was an interesting space and I wanted
to save it from demolition. Alas, my endeavour was to be futile. The land upon
which the building stood was contaminated and the cost was to prove too much.
My intention for the building was to convert it into studio spaces for recent
graduates. A space that would provide a cheap stepping stone over those first
difficult years.
The studio was later
demolished to become a car sales business, and my idea was put aside. Over the
years the idea has drifted in and out of focus alongside various unsuccessful
attempts to obtain properties for potential gallery and studio projects.
Head down, I have continued
to work as an artist, art historian, curator, writer of nonsense and lecturer.
It is through my work as a
lecturer that I met Dave. Dave is also an artist, alongside being a designer,
an author and a lecturer. We began working together about ten years ago when he
became the painting and design lecturer where I was the sculpture and art
history lecturer.
During a period of mutual
confusion with elements of the structure that surrounded us, we blundered upon
Frank Bobbins and his Bobbinist Manifesto. Frank became our catalyst, our
invented deity, through whom we vented our creative frustration. Our antidote
to what had fast become a constraining situation. Over time Frank has come to
symbolise all that is positive with childlike curiosity and fun, when
oppressive seriousness appears to engulf our creativity.
A year ago, whilst sitting
beside the water, close to Sol LeWitt's cinder block and mortar sculpture at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, where
our students were on their research trip. Our conversation drifted towards
where their future would lie and we joked about setting up a studio space and
gallery. We named the idea ‘The Frank Bobbins Institute’.
A year later, the
opportunity for a venue arose and we stumbled back into the earlier
conversation. An opportunity too good to be missed, we took the risk.
A busy few months later, our
artists selected, the building work nearly complete. We are pleased to unveil
the studio space and gallery, that is “The Frank Bobbins Institute”.
It has been twenty years
from initial idea, to the final realisation. The space will be a provider of
cheap studio space, dialogue and exhibition opportunity for a group of recent
graduates.
We hope you find time to visit and enjoy the atmosphere.
Frank Bobbins Institute blog
@frank_bobbins
