Friday, May 11, 2012

A Man Among Men (x2)

"A Man Among Men: Don't Get Caught" (in the fine print at the bottom)

This is one of my late friend John Larson's paper collages from the 1990s. John was an artist, a character, a friend. He first came up to me in a little dive bar in Manhattan, the Tunnel Bar, while I was playing pinball one afternoon. I was quite the pinball player back then—I knew every machine inside-and-out in the bars and clubs I hung out in. John and his boyfriend, Bruce, became two of my best friends that day and for years after, in fact, Bruce and I still email each other these days. The times we enjoyed together in the East Village, the West Village, Chelsea, all around the town, will more than fill a chapter. We wandered the streets of the Village at all times of the day and night, on our way here, on our way there. We knew so many street characters they called us by name when we went by. We took cabs everywhere, too, and once picked up a hitchhiking RuPaul before she became famous. John and Bruce came up to Connecticut for a visit once and no one could organize a closet faster or better than John, lol.

I can't help but smile whenever I think of John even though his life was taken too early. I think that's the sign of a life well-lived and lives touched in a great way. This collage dates from the time President Clinton was going through the Monica fiasco, and I'm so happy to still have a piece of John's work. I've "framed" it in a vintage basket, and my largest Wishnik Troll, sitting in a needlepoint pocketbook, keeps watch over it. RIP, John, you were a man among men, too : )

My 1991 late night/early morning pencil, marker and crayon sketch of the Tunnel Bar in the East Village of New York City where I met John and Bruce in the late 1980s.

10 comments:

  1. Raising a glass to your wonderful friend Casey...
    I can hardly wait for that book of yours! When the spirit moves you, it will be done in 24 hours!!! :)
    Mare

    ReplyDelete
  2. CASEY, AS OF YESTERDAY GRAMPS AND I WERE MARIED 54 YEARS. I'M WITH MARE, PLEASE FINISH THAT BOOK SO I CANREAD IT. TIME IS SLIPPING PAST FAST FOR GRAMPS AND ME. OF COURSE MARE AND I WANT TO BE REMEMBER IN YOUR BOOK. YES WE DO! LOL

    GRANNY

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MARRIED NOT MARIED. FINGERNAILS AGAIN HITTING KEYS

      Delete
  3. thanks, Mare! It's actually about 200 pages right now, but I'm guessing I will write about 1000 and then edit it down to 250. Of the current 200, maybe 25 will make the cut.

    ReplyDelete
  4. LOL MAKE IT IN LARGE PRINT FOR OLD EYES. GRANNY

    ReplyDelete
  5. Congratulations, Granny! 54 years, that's nothing to sneeze at as they say! I hope you had a nice dinner and got some nice flowers!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. WE DID AND DAUGHTER AND GRAND DAUGHTERS CAME OVER TO EAT WITH US.GRAMPS AND I CLICKED A PEACE OF CANDY TOGETHER. LOL

      GRANNY

      Delete
  6. That is one heck of a drawing. I'm a big fan of landscapes and drawings, especially the ones in which you discover a new object when seeing it again. The Village is a wonderful place and you're so lucky to have lived in the city and experience the frequent nightlife.

    RIP Johnny.

    This song has nothing to do with your friendship, but It's the only good song about a John that I know about with a touch of sadness.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtJZ0Z2kh6g

    ReplyDelete