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I have no words ... Except, I am so very sorry ...
John, the photo is raw...and powerful...and poignant...and it's Dave. And it's Dave and you. It's the circle of life, and far too many people prefer to minimize these things and forget it as quickly as possible. There is a lot of humanity in that photo--in the entire series, actually--and if anyone is upset about it, then it should be learning experience for them. The path that was Dave's life was a difficult one, and he followed that path with great dignity, grace, strength, and love. You walked a lot of that path with him, and shared that great dignity, grace, strength, and love with him. I mourn Dave, but I am so glad that the two of you shared so much of that path together.
Love you, Bubba
Love you, Bubba
Thanks, Dean. You interpreted correctly, I didn't post this as an announcement, I figured folks got wind of that Thursday and over the weekend. I posted it as a photograph, thus the different presentation style. As I mentioned when we spoke the other night, I would like the image be discussed in human terms; what it makes people think about, not the knee-jerk condolence.
Maybe this fall in CHI.
Maybe this fall in CHI.
Yeah, I know it's raw. Dave said I had an eye for photography, but I could never pose, only capture.
I'm sorry to catch you unaware, Bill. I thought pretty much everyone knew. Come back, read the other comments. I would really like your opinion of the image.
This is the face of devotion.
I cannot even begin to imagine what you are experiencing, but this gives a glimpse.
You are still in my thoughts.
I cannot even begin to imagine what you are experiencing, but this gives a glimpse.
You are still in my thoughts.
no I knew cause of your previous posting, but I'm visual and this was like suddenly very immediate and powerful
maybe I shoudl say I'm *still* sorry.
maybe I shoudl say I'm *still* sorry.
oh my opinion of the image is that it sums up all the time I've been in your position. there's no way I can provide objective critique.
It's really powerful, and a great shot. There is a work--a photo that many people read as a painting--by AA Bronson that touches on something similar, but I think I am even more moved by this.
Even in death, there is art. There's something hopeful about that.
That is such a heartbreaking image, John. Please accept my sincerest sympathies.
Thank You, Rob. I'll try to get the questions in you email answered in a bit. There's no urgency.
I think it's my turn to hug you, friend.
i'm sorry.
It show the lose that is universal, no matter what the relationship is.
It show the lose that is universal, no matter what the relationship is.
you're thinking of this
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pLux_lA5KdU/TQ6MfKUH1xI/AAAAAAAAAIw/lcWjMyJgdck/s1600/aa+bronson+felix.jpg
I was actually working for them at the time, and what sticks with me most is what an unfailingly kind gentleman AA was.
But furrbear's image above has a kind of raw reality that takes me right back to being in his place.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pLux_lA5KdU/TQ6MfKUH1xI/AAAAAAAAAIw/lcWjMyJgdck/s1600/aa+bronson+felix.jpg
I was actually working for them at the time, and what sticks with me most is what an unfailingly kind gentleman AA was.
But furrbear's image above has a kind of raw reality that takes me right back to being in his place.
I didn't realize you had worked for AA and the other General Idea folks, but it makes sense. I saw this at a retrospective at the MIT List Museum curated by an acquaintance ... it was juxtaposed with a picture, nearly the same scale on a cornering wall, of his partner holding a newborn they were co-parenting with a woman couple (as I recall).
So yes. Death and life.
That was also the first time I became aware of Nayland, via a video he and AA made together.
So yes. Death and life.
That was also the first time I became aware of Nayland, via a video he and AA made together.
I was a palliative care aide at the time - so the work was not art related.
My turn to be humbled. I find AA's photo profoundly difficult to look at, but I also can't NOT, if that makes sense.
I think I'll echo John and offer you a hug.
I think I'll echo John and offer you a hug.
it came just before the Benetton AIDSploitation ads, so unfortunately in a lot of people's minds the two became confused. In fact you could see one of those ads, on a billboard, from AA's apartment soon after Felix passed away.
It's kinda weird, AA and I have lived completely different lives and yet been given many of the same issues to work with.
It's kinda weird, AA and I have lived completely different lives and yet been given many of the same issues to work with.
If everyone concerned was okay with "going political", I think it would be a very useful image for the equality fight.
Even here in "moderate" Minnesota, there's a constitutional amendment on the ballot to outlaw same sex marriage. It seems (to me) to add to the moral argument if you show the human face of what legal second status really means. If people can look at two greybeards at a deathbed scene and still think government should interfere in human arrangements (allowing, for example, hospitals to refuse admittance to an outlawed spouse if parents or siblings request it), then maybe more people can see the moral failure of the law and its supporters.
Even here in "moderate" Minnesota, there's a constitutional amendment on the ballot to outlaw same sex marriage. It seems (to me) to add to the moral argument if you show the human face of what legal second status really means. If people can look at two greybeards at a deathbed scene and still think government should interfere in human arrangements (allowing, for example, hospitals to refuse admittance to an outlawed spouse if parents or siblings request it), then maybe more people can see the moral failure of the law and its supporters.
John, I'm sorry for your loss. May Dave rest in peace.
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