18 October 2010 Fans of one of the world’s most popular and well known artists are being invited to Towner this weekend to meet the man who counted him as a childhood friend and who penned the new book The Boy Who Bit Picasso.
Antony Penrose is visiting Towner on Saturday to talk about the friendship he had with Pablo Picasso when he was growing up and the many happy hours he spent with Picasso at the Penrose family farm in Sussex, and in Picasso’s house and studio in France.
Picasso fans can enjoy tales of Antony and Picasso’s pretend bullfights, playing in Picasso’s ‘messy’ studio, Picasso giving Antony a drawing as a consolation for not being able to visit, and the time Antony bit Picasso!
Eastbourne Borough Council Cabinet Member for Tourism, Cllr Neil Stanley said “What a fantastic opportunity this is for those who love the revolutionary art of Picasso to hear what the artist was really like from a man who spent time with him and saw him at work on some of his most famous pieces.
“The Boy Who Bit Picasso is a wonderful introduction, particularly for children, to the art of Picasso, and a chance to see 20 of Picasso’s artworks as well as rare photographs of Antony and Picasso and the time they spent together as friends.”
Antony, the son of the British Surrealist artist Roland Penrose and American photographer Lee Miller who lived at Farley Farm in Sussex, will be giving a talk and signing copies of his new book, The Boy Who Bit Picasso, at 11am on Saturday 23 October. The charismatic author will give an illustrated talk before signing copies of his book in the Towner shop.
The book contains a range of Picasso’s artwork, from the bronze monkey head that the artist modelled on his son’s toy car to the sculpture of a goat with a belly made from a basket.
Tickets for the talk and book-signing are available to book now from Towner for just £4 or £3 for concessions on 01323 434670. You can also take advantage of Towner’s special offer: a ticket and a copy of the book for only £12.
