The Life and Legacy of Sophie Gaudier-Brzeska

Running time: 120 mins

Synopsis

A presentation with three speakers.

Sophie Gaudier Brzeska was born in 1872 Galicia to impoverished aristocracy living some 70 miles from Krakow in the Polish countryside of the then Austro-Hungarian Empire. She died in Coney Hill Asylum, Gloucestershire UK in 1925, after living in Wotton-Under-Edge from 1916 to 1922.

Jeff Walshe, Trustee of the Historical Society, uncovered in the Museum a copy of a letter written in 1946 by Jim Ede - famous for Kettles Yard in Cambridge. The letter described Sophie as having lived in Wotton-under-Edge from 1916 to 1922. From there, he followed up with an investigation in and around Wotton, then subsequently obtained the archived records from Coney Hill Asylum.

More importantly, he discovered Ania Ready in Oxford and Dr Patricia Gilles of Essex University, both of whom have spent many years exploring Sophie's life and writings. We are fortunate to have both Ania and Patricia here this afternoon to speak of their experiences.

Ania will give a biography of Sophie, including her life in the asylum as well as the influences Sophie's story has had on recent artist projects.

Jeff will provide a short version of his regular presentation, concentrating on Sophie living in Wotton.

Dr Gilles' presentation is called: Sophie Gaudier-Brzeska's Construction of an Artistic Self: Poetry Notebooks and Journal.

There will be a break for refreshment during the afternoon.