My Gurus – Bobby Baker

Mrs Burgess

In my secondary school I had an art teacher called Mrs Burgess. She was a remarkable teacher; a stern and imposing character, who wore flowing bohemian clothes and ran the art room like a professional artists studio. Her friends were artists and she was a Liberal unlike all the Tories in my life then. Her lessons were the highlight of my time at school. She praised my efforts and work, and I yearned to be her favourite pupil. One of my good friends, Frances Spalding, now a well-known art historian, was also good at art. Even though Frankie was not remotely competitive, I felt compelled to compete for top spot and pretended to know what Liberal values were. Mrs B gave me a prized yellow campaign badge, which I hid.

Bobby Baker is Artistic Director of Daily Life Ltd, an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation based in Stratford, East London. Daily Life Ltd creates powerful art that changes the way people think about mental health and promotes the talents and insight of artists, performers, writers and musicians with personal experience of mental health issues – online and on the ground.

Daily Life Ltd are running The Expert View, a 2 day micro festival exploring expertise in arts and mental health from the perspectives of all concerned. It opens with a double bill performance with Laura Jane Dean and Selina Thompson on Thursday 7 May (7.30pm) at Queen Mary University London E1. On Friday 8 May The Expert View Symposium Day runs at Bromley By Bow Centre London E3 from 10.30am – 4.30pm with guest presentations and site-specific works from artists. There are evening performances in Kingsley Hall London E3 with live music, spoken word and Bobby Baker’s ‘Ballistic Buns’ performance.

Full details at www.dailylifeltd.co.uk