Mel Gooding

Mel at Tate 1996 to see my interventions, cutting into the walls

Mel Gooding 1941 -2021

It’s with huge sadness that we mark the death of one of Venice Agendas founding members, who along with Bill Furlong took audio arts into a new format and in 1999 presented the first Venice Agendas breakfast discussions. Since we took over the reigns in 2011, Mel and Bill have been regular mentors, helping, guiding and supporting us. Venice Agendas continues only because of the ground work that Mel and Bill with energy, wisdom and determination, created Agendas in association with Wimbledon School of Art.

My relationship with Mel goes well beyond our shared interest in Agendas. Mel contributed to two publications and projects of mine Site Unseen (1996) and The Foundling (2009). In fact, my last email conversation with him was August the 5th 2021. We were planning a new version of The Foundling and we talked about beginning a new project together in the new year.

I knew that he was seriously unwell, but he looked at the situation with his usual pragmatism. He was unafraid to talk about the conditions and the prognosis but of course we all thought that the outcome would be different. I have had the pleasure to have dinner with him and Rhiannon in Barnes and shared many a glass or two of red wine and various other beverages, often in the Eagle Gallery with Emma Hill. He was more than a mentor he was a friend, whose conversations, wisdom and humour I will miss. I feel the world is a little less for his passing.

Terry Smith