Some time ago, I was on a version of Any Questions with Yancey Strickler, the young and very impressive co-founder and now CEO of Kickstarter, the organisation which arranged and leads crowdfunding campaigns, based in Brooklyn NY. At the time, we were having difficulties getting funding for our major Ai Weiwei exhibition this September and Yancey generously suggested that Kickstarter might be able to help. The campaign was launched this morning with a target of £100,000 to pay for an installation in the courtyard.
| Charles | Saumarez | Smith | 
I had never given any thought to Ai Wei Wei until we were at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park last year (checking up on ‘my’ Stepney Henry Moore) and went to his exhibition in the Chapel. It was very beautiful. What I found most moving was the time line of his father’s life and how much persecution he, like his son, had faced.
I’m really glad. Am hoping to go to the Sculpture Park later this month. Isn’t Old Flo coming back ? I hope so. Charles
Enjoy Yorkshire. Love the YSP and also the Hepworth which appeared on our visit to have the most friendly and engaged staff of any gallery anywhere. It seems that now that Tower Hamlets have legally established ownership of Old Flo (or the fat lady as we knew her as kids) John Biggs has committed the council to not selling the piece and to looking into where in Tower Hamlets it can live. Of course, the Stifford Estate where it used to reside has long gone, and I guess there are all sorts of security/ insurance concerns.
Joan
Should she go in the grounds of Queen Mary with Clement Attlee ? Charles
I think I’d prefer it if she could go in front of the Museum of Childhood where more people could see her and children could, as I used to forty odd years ago, tell her their secrets. But I guess that Queen Mary might have better security.
Visited the Joseph Cornell today, by the way, and really loved it. I bought the guide produced for teachers and students (neither a category I fall in to) by Asha McLoughlin and am very impressed by it. I do hope lots of people, especially young ones, get to visit Cornell’s world this summer.
Joan
Yes, good idea to put her in front of the Museum of Childhood. They must have 24 hour security. Glad you liked Cornell. Charles