It’s my nephew’s birthday today. He’s very artistic. Come to think of it, we all are.
From a distance, I’ve watched my family grow. I moved to the US before Luke and Lucy were born.
If I remember correctly, my sister was carrying Luke on their first trip to Orlando, Florida.
It was a Disney from the womb tour and it was also the first of many many transatlantic journeys over the next few years. I went home to London. The family came to see me over here. We had a lot of fun. Always.
I don’t go back to the UK so much anymore, for no particular reason. Perhaps just the cost?
My work lately has gravitated me towards the decorative arts and as I squeezed glitter glue out of a tube this morning, I couldn’t help but remember watching my Mum ice birthday cakes. Or for christmas. She could turn a dollop of freshly mixed ‘icing’ – you know, the real stuff, like wedding cakes used to have - in to the most novel and imaginary places perched on top.
In fact, it was much more than a cake. Everything she touched, became more beautiful. More alive. More bright. In the garden. Sew and thread. A soft lacy christening blanket to knit.
I never viewed or saw my mother ‘as an artist’. Whatever that’s supposed to mean or should I say ‘well, what’s one’s supposed to look like?’
But she most certainly was!
And a natural at it.
My Mum, Barbara Ann Bird.
She was also an amazing grandmother to my niece, Lucy and nephew, Luke.
My sister’s family. The Swanns.
Lesley Bird, my older sister by three years, married a Swann.
And a couple of years ago, they flew to San Francisco to visit Auntie Helen.
At the time I was knee-deep in art and photography, ramblin’ all over The City lookin’ for street art and graffiti.
Experimenting with all kinds of stuff. Stencils. Big canvas and spray paint.
Anyway, one of my most favourite places to go was up under the Golden Gate Bridge.
City side.
I knew a path off Crissy Field that led you straight up there. There’s a pretty steep shimmy up a gutter and then you’re there.
‘Oh My God, Helen. where are you takin’ us?’ ‘hey, hang in there – you’ll see. the kids will love it!’
‘I don’t know, this is kinda scary.’ ‘oh, you can do it.’
We all clambered up and looked around at the totally rad sight in front of our eyes. Wall to wall graff on abandoned World War II bunkers. A crazy cool clear look under the bridge. And turnin’ back, an incredible view of The City by The Bay.
Glistening in the afternoon sun. Bathed in color. Lots of color.
Luke turned round and said to Lucy ‘Auntie Helen’s wayyyy cool’. Nah, kids.
I found some old laminate samples and took to painting’ on them. They’re turning out rather nice and I give them out to folks I meet. Especially fellow travellers. You know, rubber tramps….For some of us, it takes a few years to realize the joy of passing time. Just being. By yourself or with company. And have no schedule. I took on a small job, more volunteer because it sure didn’t make enough to cover the stress involved. And I stopped painting and writing. Go figure. It reminded me, once again, that life doesn’t have to be like that. The mad hamster wheel. Runnin’ towards a finishing line…and that is? what death? the laminate samples are small, fit perfectly between your index finger and thumb. I use paint markers, ink, extra fine point metallics. Our friend Ehrlen designs these amazing colorful circles and fashions the loveliest of roses out of gum wrappers. We swap pens, check out new ideas and chin wag for a while. I photographed some of our new pieces yesterday…
my graffiti hunting days have taken me far and wide. nowadays I have the time to unhurriedly sift through thousands of old files on flickr, find the best of the best, crack my knuckles and get down to the business of re-living and writing about such a ‘once odd and unique obsession’. from the simplest of stickers on a lamp post, to a freight train waiting on the tracks or, my favourite, the isolated or abandoned place so out of the way, only the artists know where to go…
my first apartment in San Francisco happened to be in the Marina and had rooftop access just in case there was the odd nice sunset or something. the Marina is built on a landfill in The Bay, sort of like cereal in a box, so you feel any and every earthquake activity…hmmm, reminds me of ‘contents will settle after shipping’. I had left hurricanes in Florida and enjoyed my first real rattler (a 4.8) at 0400 when my pictures fell off the walls…
I have three words for you regarding pet owners, dogs in particular: ‘Best in Show’. And believe me, I mean that most affectionately. I seriously doubt there are many people out there that wouldn’t enjoy, that is get a downright hilarious kick out of the movie. whether you’re a dog lover or not. Growing up we always had a family dog, just the one. It was the ‘kids want a dog but we know we’ll wind up having to tend to them’ scenario with my parents. Of course, that’s more often than not the case, especially with school age and teen children. The last thing you want to do when you come home from school is walk the dog, vacuum up their shedding fur and fix a bowl of food…unless, like me you start sneakily smoking cigarettes when you’re 15 years old and then its a great opportunity to legitimately leave the house and take the dog out. Time to smoke a quickie and rush back to do homework. Was that wrong?
I vaguely remember our first dog, a corgi called Kim. He was pretty elderly and my Nana took care of him for the most part. As an old dog he found youngsters a bit of a pain and would nip at us periodically, just so we would leave him alone and that he could have some semblance of a quiet life.
A dog’s life…
He was always in the kitchen first thing in the morning when we were off to school. He was there waiting for us when we got off the bus and came home in the evening. And he settled down in the same spot every night at bedtime. Faithful. A constant companion. For my Nana he was someone to talk to when no one else was around, the house very still and quiet, even lonely during the day, with us at school and my parents at work. So then there comes the day when He’s not there anymore. He’s gone when we come home from school. No more happy face, anxiously waiting for us in the window. He had been taken to the vet and Dad left without Him. It’s every kid’s worse nightmare. For sure.
It wasn’t very long before we got another corgi from a very sweet family and kennel owners in Wales. They had taken in my mother during the Blitz when she was evacuated from London. My Mum, being the awesome correspondent stayed devoutly in touch with her temporary family and over the years we returned to Pembrokeshire, South West Wales for our family vacations.
The Pembrokeshire corgi is the preferred breed of Queen Elizabeth II and I believe she has about 16 corgis in her household. But that’s not why we made our second family dog one. Pembroke Welsh Corgis are very affectionate, love to be involved in the family, and tend to follow wherever their owners go. They are eager to please and since they only bark when necessary, they make for a very good watchdog.
On the left my sister Lesley, Brandy and I at our home in Newbury, Berkshire 1972
Awesome and necessary qualities for any dog.
For many years I was without a pet. I travelled a lot, worked long hours and felt it just wouldn’t be fair on the poor pookie.
So when all of a sudden I exclaimed to Vernon that I wanted (and had already spied an ad on craigslist) a small dog, there really was no discussion. He felt exactly the same. It was the first ad I saw, for a 4-year-old abandoned Maltipoo. Maltese dogs are the favoured breed of royalty and have been for centuries. Cuddly beyond belief, they are the quintessential lap dog. They have hair, not fur and never or molt. Beautiful! Poodles are the smartest of breeds and also have non shedding coats. They are fun, active dogs that are an absolute hoot to hang out with.
This hybrid breed was perfect for our gypsy artistic lifestyle! We met the lady from the animal rescue she handed the new member to our family straight to me, into my arms and up to my chest. We bonded immediately and over the past couple of months she has become an integral part of our life & family. I never thought I would hear either of us say things like ‘smootchie, woutchie…how about a little supper’. Cooing and ahhhhhing over her as if she’s a new-born baby.
But then there you go. She has become a daily tonic for me with a new name everyday…sugar pie, honeycakes, sweetie love. But mostly she answers to Poppy.
We see her as a huge spirit and that she probably rescued us…
Liz Kelly Zook interviewed me via email. The questions were mainly about art. My art. How I feel? What inspires me?
That was back in July and I was the first featured artist in Furies.
But, what inspires me? Its artists & writers like Liz that inspire me! Furies has become a quality, eclectic and unique publication, so much so, we all want to see it in print!
Liz puts huge amounts of hard work and dedication in to something she loves, displaying a creativity that is vibrant, original and all hers. I am particularly fond of her love and support of local artists…
After all, she was the first to publish my art.
Congratulations on your project Liz.
Vernon & I will have an art sale in honor of your Kickstarter or we’ll empty out the penny jar….
This piece titled ‘firewild’ appeared in Furies Magazine and here in The Contributor, back in August.
Here it is…finally.
All beautifully edited, organized and ready for your viewing pleasure.
Vernon & I have been recording these mini videos for over a year now…they are funny, No! they are downright hilarious.
They were, still are our way of dealing with the hard times. They bring a lot of smiles to a lot of faces too.
We knew that once we were able to invest in a laptop, I could go to town putting them together. In the form of short films each documenting our lives together while facing the challenges of houselessness, severe economic downturn yet falling completely, madly and utterly in love with one another. We are inseparable. A creative force bouncing ideas back and forth between us all day long. Each wanting the other to be the best person they could possibly be.
Vernon showing out gloriously for me. Me, behind my omnipresent camera, ardently filming his every joke, his daily human encounters…his celebration of life by uniting people with humor. His uncanny knack of diffusing any situation with much laughter. Much laughter. His ability to tell a story, sing a song…to pull you, the listener completely in. Just as though you are right there.
I wanted to show the world this amazing talent, this man of sharp and clever wit…this awesome performer who brings such joy to all he meets, everyday.
I wanted to make Vernon Rust the movie star he deserved to be….
