The Glimmer Twins

Sculptures of Sir Mick Jagger and Keith Richards by Amy Goodman unveiled at their hometown, Dartford

Amy Goodman

Amy Goodman, S.E.A, is an award-winning Sculptor working in Hampshire, UK with an impressive exhibition history and a growing number of public commissions in her portfolio.

As a teenager, Amy Goodman was drawn to working with clay. Sculpting St George and the Dragon in a pottery class, she sought the challenge of a visually dynamic pose – horse rearing, lance and the dragon’s wings, outstretched – an attribute that has become synonymous with so much of her work.

Aside from her equestrian pieces, Amy has completed a number of portraiture commissions. Recently, Amy sought to capture the ‘strength, kindness, elegance and poise’ of Florence Nightingale in a bronze piece now in place at Gun Hill Park in Aldershot, the late Sir Stirling Moss for the British Racing Drivers Club, and now the ‘Glimmer Twins’, Sir Mick Jagger and Keith Richards in Dartford.

The Glimmer Twins

Discussions with Amy Goodman to sculpt the Glimmer Twins (Mick Jagger & Keith Richards) began at the beginning of 2022 when Amy was shortlisted by Francis Knight public art consultants to apply for the commission, alongside many other sculptors.

Submitting her CV, images of her other public works and some initial drawings, Amy was absolutely thrilled to be asked to come to interview as one of the final four, before eventually winning this amazing contract.

Choosing to depict Jagger and Richards as they were in the 1980s was a deliberate decision by the artist. Amy found the narrative of them returning to perform in their hometown particularly compelling. Amy brings to the sculptures her deep connection with the subject, as well as her passionate research and attention to detail. Keith is shown playing ‘Micawber’, his legendary Fender Telecaster. Although such details could have been cast directly from a guitar itself, Amy preferred to sculpt Micawber herself, lending even more energy to the piece.

Amy is delighted to show the process behind the sculpture at the nearby Sir Peter Blake Gallery. Sculpting originally in clay, and then casting the work in bronze using the ancient lost wax process, in this exhibition Amy shares with the people of Dartford how this piece evolved and was made. The exhibition includes the original maquettes where Amy sketched out the design in plastilin (sculptors plasticine), on a small scale. The maquettes formed part of the application process and were used by Amy to scale up the final piece. The fascinating casting process will be explained with moulds on display, taken from the clay sculpture and used to eventually cast the final bronze sculpture, along with numerous photographs and time-lapse stills, taken throughout the ten month process to produce the work.

The artist is grateful for the expertise of the team at Talos Art Foundry for moulding and casting the work so beautifully, and Mike, the structural engineer, for advising on the installation of the work. Also, to public art consultants, FrancisKnight, and to Project Centre and Walker Construction who have produced such a stunning setting for them. Above all, Amy hopes that the town of Dartford enjoy the piece and that the ‘Glimmer Twins’ become a loved landmark for the town, celebrating their integral part in the history of the Rolling Stones.