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The Maitland Wonder: Les Darcy
TAKING ON LES DARCY
What a joy it is to see Les Darcy standing proud at the entrance of the art gallery in his home town; in fighting pose ready to take folk on as they walk up the stairs to enter the building. In a pose familiar to many fans of the legendary Les Darcy, stencil artist Mr Skel has recreated a dynamic image of ‘the Maitland Wonder’ into a playful work of art to be enjoyed from the street as part of the MRAG celebrations Just Paper. Mr Skel commented that: The choice of Les Darcy as a subject began purely as a personal challenge. Could I successfully create a homage to the legend in his hometown, where the name Les Darcy has passed everybody’s lips. But it was the end of his short life that really grabbed me; thumbing his nose at authority and criticism, risking it all, to chase his dream and to be brought home a hero, worshipped by the naysayers.
by Kim Blunt Gallery Curator
(left page) Les Darcy and sparring partner 1-4, n.d. Milton Kent Studio, Sydney silver gelatin print (reproduction), 25 x 20 cm purchased by Maitland Regional Art Gallery, 2010
(left) Mr Skel, Les Darcy, 2015 stencil art, 275 x 125 cm
