It is with great sadness this evening I have learnt of the death of Beryl Cook. Although for most of her life she lived in Plymouth our paths never crossed. Over the years I have naturally read much in the local press about her. But, for me two things stand out in my mind; her amazing ability to record the little nuances of her subjects and the great variety of textures she was able to create within the picture plane.
I have no particular favorite work but I admire Girl’s night out; the image of three girls getting into a taxi is an image we have all probably seen sometime in our life!
I read the University of Plymouth was planning an exhibition, it’s a good idea and I will be in attendance in November. My objections are more general, why do curators wait for painters to be so old or die before they feel brave enough to organize a major exhibition? Surely it would have been far more important to have organized the exhibition during the artist life. In the case of Cook, 10 years ago wouldn’t have been out of the question. But in my opinion, to organize an exhibition so soon after the artist’s death smacks of eulogizing. It would have been far better to have celebrated the 10th or 25th anniversary after an artist’s death; which would enable time to reflect upon the significance and legacy of the artist’s oeuvre.
I have no particular favorite work but I admire Girl’s night out; the image of three girls getting into a taxi is an image we have all probably seen sometime in our life!
I read the University of Plymouth was planning an exhibition, it’s a good idea and I will be in attendance in November. My objections are more general, why do curators wait for painters to be so old or die before they feel brave enough to organize a major exhibition? Surely it would have been far more important to have organized the exhibition during the artist life. In the case of Cook, 10 years ago wouldn’t have been out of the question. But in my opinion, to organize an exhibition so soon after the artist’s death smacks of eulogizing. It would have been far better to have celebrated the 10th or 25th anniversary after an artist’s death; which would enable time to reflect upon the significance and legacy of the artist’s oeuvre.
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