Great Meadows, '08

The past two weekends I've begun my annual May/June walks at the Great Meadows in Concord. The reason I go this time of year, aside from it being turtle nesting time, is because the water gets low in July. Actually it's already very low, with the main pool dry and only a channel going through. Nevertheless it was a good walk. Take a good look at the green photos and see what you find.

Happy Anniversary, Margaret and Dennis
Even though they never read my damn blog, I thought I'd take a few minutes to congratulate my sister Margaret and brother-in-law Dennis on their 25th anniversary today. They were hitched in Rollinsford N.H. on a day that featured relatives from NYC, Maine, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. A Celtic folk band played, the teenagers got away with underage drinking, and my father walked my sister down the aisle wearing a sinister looking eye patch, due to surgery he'd had shortly beforehand. A new era was ushered in.

I remember being acutely aware of the fact that there was a permanent change upon us. Though I did feel some selfish, territorial delight at having one less person to compete for the bathroom, TV, or ice cream with, I was secretly sad about the sudden change in what had been our classic six-person household for the previous 13 years or so. I knew Margaret wasn't coming back and that things would never be the same, and this bothered me. About a decade earlier I had broken down in tears over my parents moving the living room couch, so that gives you an idea of how attached I could be to familiarity. I kept this sadness to myself though, and was mostly happy to see big sis moving on in her life.

Thinking about it tonight I found myself pondering what it was like for younger sister Kathleen when Steve and I went away to college that fall. I'd taken a year off, so he and I ended up being freshmen concurrently. What was it like for Kathleen to go, in a few months time, from having three siblings in very close quarters with her, to none? Did she feel like queen of the castle, lonely, or both? I've never asked because I never thought about it until now. 1983 was the beginning of adulthood for me, really, and all future stays in Berwick were seen to be temporary. Though I'm glad to be out of there now, it's bittersweet to reflect upon it.

Some of you may remember that song by Madness, Our House, which was popular at the time. This was sort of a private anthem to me of these changes. I'd play the video here, but I checked it out and it's very British and would confuse the elders.

Anyway, these are my recollections of May 21, 1983. I'd post some photos, but I'd have to scan them in, etc, and that would suck. I'm sentimental but I've got my limits.

PBS Documentary

I took the day off from work to appear as an extra in a PBS documentary in Allston this morning, an as of yet untitled TV special about some guy named Herskovits, who was an anthropolgist or something that advocated for Africans in the 1950's. No, I haven't Googled him yet, that's why I don't know what the hell I'm talking about.

Though the pay was low it turned out to be an oddly fun day. What made it quirky is that we weren't actually being filmed; we sat at a big table in a board room scene and were photographed while interacting with each other, to be used later in some kind of montage. The director would tell various combinations of people to talk to each other, and they'd photograph us. With no audio involved, we could talk about whatever we wanted, so we all had to strain to come up with stuff, much of which turned out to be awkwardly inane.

For example, we had a meandering mock debate about whether or not smoking a pipe indicated a higher level of culture and breeding, but some of us brought up the corn cob to dispute this. There were some funny people there, but every time we got too funny or started laughing the director would say "too many smiles, too much laughter, this is a serious scene". So it ended up being endless hours of deadpan half-baked comedy that had us all feeling asinine.

But it was okay. Most importantly I met some really nice people, a couple that I hope to stay in touch with ....but you know how that goes, right?

Don't know when this will air, but it was a pleasant diversion, nice to get out of the office for a day.

In the photo I'm wearing the suit they provided. And damn it, it doesn't matter how much sleep I get, how much make-up they apply, I always have dark circles around my eyes. My secret nickname for myself is Raccoon Man.

Here's a Question For Ya:
What Song Do You Want Played At Your Funeral?
Now don't read into this: I'm not thinking about dying. Well, no more than is appropriate. Truthfully I think it's important that we all ponder it daily. But actually, though my standards are fairly low, I've probably never been happier. It's an interesting question, though. We've all been to funerals where some priest who hardly knew the deceased gives some eulogy he pulled from one of those Mad Libs books, trudges through it methodically, then leads the gathering through the same old Amazing Grace that we're all a bit sick of.

I want to have Celestial Voices by Pink Floyd at mine. It's hymn-like, but with a touch of psychedelia, sad in parts, but reaching a joyous crescendo. I love it and would like to go out that way. The song can be played below. Actually, I prefer the studio version, as it's much less thunderous, more choral, but this concert version does feature David Gilmour at his vocal best. Second choice would be No Surprises by Radiohead.

And now for you. What are your choices? Think about it. Your time could come sooner than you think. Don't keep loved ones guessing. Have them put my blog address in their file cabinet with all the other papers. Register now!!

Northeast Prize Show!

Much to my surprise I've been accepted into the Cambridge Art Association's Northeast Prize Show, juried by the curator of the Institute For Contemporary Art! I'm delighted. My humble work #9 Dream is a tribute to the John Lennon composition of the same name, or actually just one verse of the song, which is my second favorite tune of all time. The opening will be on May 30. It means alot to me to express my response to this beloved song, in public!

Other Globe Ad
Here's the other pose that they ran for my real estate ad that was in the Boston Globe. I like this one better myself, though think the sleazery could've been played up a bit more. Still pretty happy with it, though.

All Praise The Baron!

Announcing it on her fashionable blog, http://www.thequibleycorner.blogspot.com/

my friend Carolyn, aka The Baron, is purchasing another work from my Open Studios exhibit, Godzilla vs. Estabrook Elementary School. This is satisfying in so many ways. For one, it pushes my earnings for the weekend close to 600 bucks. Secondly, it's a great feeling to have one's work safely hanging on the wall of a friend.

But this sale is also important because to me it serves as sort of a rebate for the sufferings of Elementary School, kind of like some government reparation to make up for past war crimes. I used to fantasize about Godzilla smashing the school, so at age 44 I made it happen in a little box and earned a few bucks out of the deal. Healing comes in many packages. This to me is one of the major reasons I do art.

Thank you Herr Baron. You've made this aging malcontent very happy.