Dulwich
Picture Gallery celebrates a 25 year storytelling reign
Robert Lagnado’s magical
storytelling skills have captivated and delighted hundreds of participants, of
all ages, at Dulwich Picture Gallery for a quarter of a century. An integral part of the life and fabric of
the Gallery, the charismatic storyteller, Lagnado, moves to France with his
wife. In celebration of his amazing
work, the Gallery shares tributes below from those who worked the closest with
him.
Gillian Wolfe CBE, Director of
Learning and Public Affairs at
Dulwich Picture Gallery, met Robert Lagnado when they both taught in a London
Comprehensive School. Soon after Gillian Wolfe started at the Gallery in
1984 she invited Robert Lagnado to join, knowing that his unique talents would
prove brilliant for the Education department she decided to set up.
She says: “He has infinite patience,
is as at home with 90 year olds as with 9 year olds, smiling all the time with
never an unkind word about anyone in all those years. He has certainly been instrumental in us
achieving so many awards for excellence, 26 in 28 years. Despite his
charisma Robert Lagnado shows modesty, disinterested in personal glory but
everlastingly fascinated by people and their story. He is irreplaceable;
we will miss him every day.”
Alice Ross, former Urban Youth
Programme Co-ordinator, says: “He was a delight to watch even when
he wasn’t telling stories. Simply
arriving by motorbike always brought me a feeling of joy and rebellion … and
proof that he was as free in his own life as he was in his amazing
storytelling.”
Lettie McKie, Education Public
Programme Manager, says: “There are lots of good
storytellers and lots of good teachers but Robert stands out because of his
incredible personality. He couldn’t help
but charm everybody he met with his irrepressible optimism and zest for life,
his imagination bubbles out of him in everything that he says and he simply
lights a room up when he walks into it … one of a kind!”
Janie Airey, Freelance photographer, says: “When I picture Robert I see: his sparkly
waistcoat; flowing white hair and very cool motorbike; his ability to silence
and captivate a large group within seconds of starting a story about a painting;
his ability to bring a painting to life and find the smallest detail that would
delight any child or adult; his ability to get both children and adults waving
their arms around or enacting a scene without inhibition in the middle of the
Gallery.”
In his final session, Robert led
participants from the Good Times: Art for Older People at Dulwich Picture
Gallery programme on a tour of Philip Haas’ sculpture installation The
Four Seasons. Full of
adventure and tall truths, Robert unravelled the fantastic stories behind the
monumental characters, drawing on myth and fairy tale, stimulating imagination
in the beautiful Gallery gardens.
SOURCE: [ http://press.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/2012/08/16/dulwich-picture-gallery-celebrates-a-25-year-storytelling-reign/ ]
IMG SRC: [ http://press.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/2012/08/16/dulwich-picture-gallery-celebrates-a-25-year-storytelling-reign/ ] accessed: 20th August, 2012.
