issue 5 - Viva Lewes

Duncan Grant’s Studio by D. Manning, 2001 © the artist.
Quentin Follies
An art auction and a punk icon at Charleston Farmhouse
In its time Charleston Farmhouse was the epicentre
of the arts scene in the county and beyond, and its
importance was reflected in the magnificent art collection
that adorned its walls and the murals and
furniture decorations lovingly applied by its inhabitants,
especially Vanessa Bell and her lover Duncan
Grant.
“After Duncan Grant’s death the house got denuded
of many of its treasures,” says Cressida Bell, Vanessa’s
grand-daughter. “The house was actually rented
from the Firle Estate, and it was Deborah Gage who
realised its value and decided to try to get it back to
its former glory. The Charleston Trust was set up,
and the Quentin Bell Commemoration Fund was
organised in order to retain the art works that remained
there, and reclaim others which had been
W W W. V i V a l E W E S . C o M
a r t
there, when they came up on the market.”
Cressida set up The Quentin Follies as a fundraiser
for the QBCF six years ago. “It was originally
a revue show, with comedians and singers
doing acts. The name Quentin Follies seemed
to sum up the spirit of the whole enterprise,”
she says. “Quite soon we realised a revue on its
own would not be enough to break even on the
project, so we asked a number of artists to donate
works to be auctioned, to finish the whole
event off.”
The Quentin Follies auction has become something
of an art world institution, with donations
from a wide variety of artists, which you
can view and bid for on-line, as well as, in some
cases, on the night. “Artists have been very generous
from the start, but we feel that this year
we’ve got a particularly good batch. There are
works by Patti Smith, Richard Hamilton, Peter
Blake, Humphrey Ocean, Chris Drury, Maggie
Hambling, Tom Hammick and Denis Healey,
who does us a self-portrait every year. Oh and
things by Cressida Bell, Julian Bell and Quentin
Bell, too. And a piece by Duncan Grant.
The one I’m fondest of is called Chav Finch,
by David Harrison. It’s a picture of a chaffinch
wearing Burberry.”
As we go to press Cressida is finalising the ‘ten
or so’ acts which will make up this year’s revue.
“Joanna Neary, who is a fab comedienne from
Brighton, will be there, as will Richard Dyball,
a Lewes-based comedian. There will be a balloon
dancer, and a Hinge-and-Brackett-type
duo called El ‘n’ Em. There will be a few singers,
too. I’m working on a surprise appearance
from a big name from the past.” Later I get
an e-mail from Cressida confirming who that
will be: punk icon Kirk Brandon, formerly of
Theatre of Hate and Spear of Destiny, playing
a short set on acoustic guitar.
Antonia Gabassi
V
Quentin Follies, Charleston Farmhouse, Firle, July
th, 01 2 811265
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