Commentaries on Bob Cobbing - The Argotist Online

As well as the simplicity of approach and the complexity of meaning it engendered, Bob brought to
his art hard work, personal dedication and generosity towards his fellow practitioners.
And he practised intellectual self-reliance, and mistrust of administrators who are not also
practitioners.
Let’s not beatify Bob Cobbing or build unuseful monuments.
I don’t suggest that we try to extract a philosophy or a message from his work—apart perhaps
from an apparent belief that the making of art is one of the more significant things that we do. I
think that Bob Cobbing was one of the more significant makers of art I have met.
It has been said that good artists copy and great artists steal. In what I believe to be Bob’s spirit, I
call upon us not to worry just now whether we are good bad or indifferent. Let us copy and steal
from him.
Let us add what we have of ourselves. And let us celebrate his considerable achievement.
Ladies, gentlemen, musicians, poets, a boast and a toast—Bob Cobbing.
[After these words, there was extempore exchange between Upton and members of the audience.
Upton had brought along an opened bottle of Bob’s whiskey, given to him (Upton) by Jennifer
Cobbing, and he and several others toasted (“Bob Cobbing!”) Cobbing with Cobbing’s own
whiskey, swigging it from the bottle.]