ART= GOD
Everything up until this moment, the one where I wondered if the mere act of getting to know someone could be art, was foreplay. I sat here on that ratty couch, Ray staring at me, the smell of little girl urine filling the room, a bunch of strangers trying to figure my motives for being there amongst them, and I figured it out. Art = God, pure and simple. I wasn't religious, never had been. But, right then and there I realized I could have no higher calling than this. Little did I know it came with a vow of poverty.
For the next three months i took this kid fishing, horse back riding, kept in touch on the phone and through letters and tried not come off like a creep. I tried to explain to him what i was doing was my "art". He stared blankly at me and wondered where we we going next? I bought him ice cream and a pair of sunglasses. Ray eventually begged off and we were on our own. Eventually little objects began to reveal themselves: a chunk of mud from my boots, a stick fishing pole that resembled a cross, a pencil from Candlestick Park. (Darrell got to throw the first ball in at a game. Vida Blue pitched. The Giants lost.) I took some pictures from horseback and started a diary.
5-22-78 NEW SUNGLASSES. DARRELL ENJOYED THE SOAPBOX DERBY- THIS IS THE FIRST TIME- I FEEL....I'M LESS ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THIS OUTING. MAYBE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T SEEM TO PRODUCE ANY RELICS- BUT IT'S STILL TOO EARLY TO TELL. SOMETHING COULD POP UP.
A few days after the soapbox derby i developed some sort of poison ivy on my thumb.
5-25-78 THUMB IS SORE AND ITCHY- I'VE BEEN PUTTING GAUZE AND ADHESIVE TAPE ON IT WHILE AT WORK. TODAY WHILE HEALPING DAVID (IRELAND) PUT IN A DOOR- A DOVE FLEW IN THE OPENING CUT IN THE WALL AND PERCHED ON THE LADDER.
I saw this as some sort of sign. Hokey as it all was, it seemed to make a great deal of sense at the time. The dove was injured and flew into the back yard where one of the client's cats caught it and ripped it to shreads. I still have a feather and that chunk of mud from my boot. One day I called the Sunnyside and an unfamiliar voice answered the phone. The Monroes had left with no forwarding address. That was the last I saw of Darrell. I had a heart and (fishing pole/cross) tattooed on my left shoulder and the dove and hand tattooed on my forearm. When I pulled the tattoo bandage off the tattoo there was a perfect reverse image printed on the paper. This would be the inspiration for my next piece- 12 tattoos on 12 different people.
For the next three months i took this kid fishing, horse back riding, kept in touch on the phone and through letters and tried not come off like a creep. I tried to explain to him what i was doing was my "art". He stared blankly at me and wondered where we we going next? I bought him ice cream and a pair of sunglasses. Ray eventually begged off and we were on our own. Eventually little objects began to reveal themselves: a chunk of mud from my boots, a stick fishing pole that resembled a cross, a pencil from Candlestick Park. (Darrell got to throw the first ball in at a game. Vida Blue pitched. The Giants lost.) I took some pictures from horseback and started a diary.
5-22-78 NEW SUNGLASSES. DARRELL ENJOYED THE SOAPBOX DERBY- THIS IS THE FIRST TIME- I FEEL....I'M LESS ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THIS OUTING. MAYBE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T SEEM TO PRODUCE ANY RELICS- BUT IT'S STILL TOO EARLY TO TELL. SOMETHING COULD POP UP.
A few days after the soapbox derby i developed some sort of poison ivy on my thumb.
5-25-78 THUMB IS SORE AND ITCHY- I'VE BEEN PUTTING GAUZE AND ADHESIVE TAPE ON IT WHILE AT WORK. TODAY WHILE HEALPING DAVID (IRELAND) PUT IN A DOOR- A DOVE FLEW IN THE OPENING CUT IN THE WALL AND PERCHED ON THE LADDER.
I saw this as some sort of sign. Hokey as it all was, it seemed to make a great deal of sense at the time. The dove was injured and flew into the back yard where one of the client's cats caught it and ripped it to shreads. I still have a feather and that chunk of mud from my boot. One day I called the Sunnyside and an unfamiliar voice answered the phone. The Monroes had left with no forwarding address. That was the last I saw of Darrell. I had a heart and (fishing pole/cross) tattooed on my left shoulder and the dove and hand tattooed on my forearm. When I pulled the tattoo bandage off the tattoo there was a perfect reverse image printed on the paper. This would be the inspiration for my next piece- 12 tattoos on 12 different people.
posted by mike osterhout at 9:30 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home