Salutations to Delfina Entrecanales! For nearly three decades her Delfina Studio Trust and—since 2007—Delfina Foundation have supported over 550 artists with residencies and studio space. And now 18 Delfina alumni have donated major works to raise funds and make sure that this grand—nearly-nonagenarian—dame of the art world is able to keep up the good work. Mark Wallinger, Jane Wilson, Chantal Joffe and Anya Gallaccio—who had flown in specially from San Diego—were among the artists present at yesterday’s special lunch to unveil Then for Now (until 14 November). The selling show of their donated works, which and is co-curated by Joffe and Sacha Craddock, has been installed at the foundation’s current home in Victoria.
Presided over by exhibits including an elegant frieze of interlocked ampersand signs by Ceal Floyer, and resonating to the sound of a new Lucy Gunning film made for the occasion, memories were flying thick and fast around the table. Many artists remembered the unique sense of community and camaraderie that went with being a Delfina artist—most notably receiving a daily meal in the studio restaurant, where Joffe worked for a while as a waitress, for just £1. Gallaccio spoke for everyone present when she proposed a toast to Delfina and applauded the way in which she had enabled so many to realise their potential, and was continuing to support artists “at a time when most people would want to go off and do some knitting.” Mrs Entrecanales certainly demonstrates no such intention, and beamed broadly when Delfina director Aaron Cezar read out her feisty statement in the exhibition catalogue: “I am almost 89 years old. That is fucking old. It is the time I enjoy with artists and my grandchildren that keeps me going. To me, they are all family…”
She also declares: “ I often say I collect artists, not art.” And credits her relationships with artists with “keeping me young and off the psychiatrist’s couch.” Surgically enhanced ladies of the art world take note—how about swapping the Botox for some patronage?
