A head for heights

“Sculpture by its nature takes up precious space in the world,” explains artist Marie Smith, “so as a sculptor you can ask yourself: does the sculpture deserve the space?

“And then there’s the question, does the subject deserve the sculpture?”

Traditionally those subjects deemed deserving of sculptures were the so-called ‘great’ in society - aristocrats, generals, industry moguls and such like. In more recent times, celebrity has entered the equation. That’s in part why artist Marie Smith was eager to capture Bobby Coote for a sculptural portrait.

“He would probably never consider himself one of those people, he’s a farmer from Bailieborough,” observes Marie, sitting in the Celt offices the day before Saturday’s unveiling Bailieborough Library.

The broadstroke of ‘farmer from Bailieborough’ is probably how Bobby regards himself, but there’s much more to him. His joie de vivre, his ability to seemingly turn his hand to anything, and his determination to pursue his dreams set him apart.

Filmmaker Frank Shouldice, captured Bobby’s essence in the documentary ‘The Man Who Wanted to Fly’. Central to that award winning film is the charming relationship between Bobby and his brother Ernie, but the plot was driven by octogenarian Bobby’s pursuit of his dream to fly a plane despite.

“I was drawn to Bobby,” recalls Marie, “because I had seen the film and thought it was a lovely story, it had a great message.”

That message is inscribed, at Bobby’s request, on the mahogany block on which the portrait is mounted: ‘Never give up on your dreams’.

Having earlier had her portrait displayed in the National Art Gallery, the Lough an Leagh woman aimed to focus on portraiture during a residency in the Townhall Arts Centre in Cavan. When she happened upon an article about Bobby Coote having an art exhibition in Bailieborough, Marie’s interest was piqued.

“I thought, oh I wonder if Bobby would be up for having his portrait made?”

Marie, who is from Lough an Leagh, didn’t know Bobby before, but got his phone number and asked him if he would pose for a portrait.

“I told him what I had in mind and he laughed his head off, he thought it was hilarious. When he stopped laughing he said he’d think about it and he’d get back to me,” recalls Marie, noting he probably thought it was a prank. A mutual acquaintance helped assure Bobby that Marie was genuine, and she would do a good job. Marie also vowed that if Bobby didn’t like the end result, it would be ditched.

With Bobby on board, she took measurements with callipers and photos galore, but mainly worked from life in the studio over a span of two or three months.

“Most of what I had done before was of much younger models, so yes there was a lot to get stuck into, definitely.”

She points to a small lump on his forehead, possibly a mole.

“Bobby initially asked me to leave that out. He told me it’s where his brother shot him with an airgun! So when I heard that, it had to go in,” Marie quipped.

“His brother didn’t shoot him with an airgun - but he did tell a journalist that at the time of the making of the film.”

In explaining what she aims to achieve in her portraits, Marie recalls advice she received many years ago: “You should have a likeness, have something of the spirit of the person, but there should be something of the artist in it too, that makes it mine.”

Asked why she is drawn to sculpting portraits, she points to the challenge involved: “There are much easier things that I can sculpt, but why would I do that, when I can do this?”

The award winning artist Marie is pleased by the finished portrait of Bobby.

“He’s looking for the next adventure,” Marie says reflecting on what the sculpture transmits. “There’s very much that spirit about him.”

She supposes Bobby viewed this project as the next adventure to embrace.

“He would say that: It’ll be a bit of craic.”

Marie was eager to express her gratitude to Cavan County Council, Fiona Burke, Catriona O’Reilly and all at Cavan Arts Office, Townhall Arts Centre and Bailieborough Library for their assistance.

“It’s just important that it’s out in the world and seen.”

The sculpture is currently on display at Bailieboro Library.