Thursday, August 26, 2010

Useless tonight


Every night as I write the blog, I ask myself " have I given my readers something to learn?" Tonight I am lazy, You will learn nothing. But you might enjoy a laugh at my expense.
I went to my 40th high school reunion last month, and a woman I saw there e-mailed me some photos taken on a canoe trip 41 years ago, in 1969. This was when I was a junior in high school. Here are some pictures from when I was still young and pretty. Today I look like a statue of this young man, made out of beef jerky. I have the same haircut and glasses 41 years later, that's consistency. I no longer wear that silly bandanna though, who does? It was the 60's after all. I miss the 60's, if you can figure out a way to send me back, I am willing to go, immediately. I will leave a note for my wife and kids.
"Gone back to the 60's.......Stape"

Below is the photo I wanted to show you. I am drawing, or writing on this lovely young woman's abdomen in Mercurochrome. I present this as an early demonstration of my interest in painting. I have no idea what I was writing, or where that abdomen is now.

I will try to be informative again tomorrow. Please read the entry below this one advertising a new workshop in Acadia, on Mt. Desert in Maine.

24 comments:

MCG said...

A photo of you outdoors without an easel in front of you! Shakes my reality up. You look like you are having a grand time here. Fun post!

Ramon said...

haha this is great. In 40 years I'm going to be clamoring to be sent back to the 2010s.

Dot Courson said...

"Groovy" post, Stape... "For real". "Way far out", "Dude"! Looks like you were maybe "piping down" in that first photo...Feeling "Dyn-o-mite" at 15!
Just get you some bell bottoms, a lava lamp and a water bed, and have a "sit in" somewhere to protest 2010 culture. You "dig it"?...
Just take a "chill pill".
You don't really want to go back now do you?
Peace.

Robert J. Simone said...

Jonathan Richman has a song called "1963", which is of course a nostalgic longing for the 60's.

mariandioguardi.com said...

I think a reenactment of drawing with mercurochrome at the Camp workshop is in order. The whole idea of the Camping, painting workshop is a great idea and it will be the best workshop ever. Lucky people who get to go. I know what Ill be missing and I'm in a major bummer, man.

Too bad I can't make that weekend, it's our South End Open studios weekend. I get to show what I did on my summer vacation. Which is not much.

Catherine Meeks said...

I love the last photo...woman toils over laundry while man stands around, smoking, looking relaxed...

Mary Bullock said...

Mecurochrome! Boy does that bring back memories - do they even make that anymore? And as for the 60's, I'm would never want to go back, but glad you have such fond memories of them.

Tim Fitzgerald said...

Stape
I still wear a bandanna every day, I not only look devilishly handsome it helps to prevent any more melanoma's on my neck from working outside as much as I do. Great pictures however. I think we may have learned something in spite of everything. Tim

willek said...

So, evidently, your dislike of mercury, as contained in vermilian oil paint, is a recent phobia, as you seem to have no fear of the noxious element in the merchurichrome you are using in the abdominal exercise.

billspaintingmn said...

Hip and cool was the name of the school. Looks like you went there too!
Today I will go barefoot, maybe tomorrow too!

Mary Byrom said...

Great pictures!

Philip Koch said...

I love it!

My wife has a great button that reads
"Still Living in the '60's Until Something
Better Comes Along."

My sentiments exactly.

Stapleton Kearns said...

McG
No easel, but there were legs holding up an abdomen.
.......Stape

Stapleton Kearns said...

ramon;
Maybe, but the 60's were special. I will tell you about it someday.
..........Stape

Stapleton Kearns said...

Dot:
You don't push the river.
.........Stape

Stapleton Kearns said...

Simone. Great Boston musician.
..........Stape

Stapleton Kearns said...

Marian;
Oh! bummer. I was hoping you would make the scene. Good luck with the open studios.
.................Stape

Stapleton Kearns said...

Catherine. She wasn't doing MY laundry. She looks good doing it though, doesn't she?
.............Stape

Stapleton Kearns said...

Mary;
Do you never long for granny glasses, India print skirts and the Beatles? How about ankle bells, no bras, beaded doorways? Sandalwood incense, Santana and Sansimilla? All we do now is work!
..........Stape

Stapleton Kearns said...

Tim;
Do you mean I could wear a bandanna again?
................Stape

Stapleton Kearns said...

willek;
I was afraid of nothing in those days.I hadn't thought of it, but Mercurochrome must have contained mercury.I guess that's why I haven't seen it in so long.Can it still be made at home from compact fluorescent light bulbs?
..........Stape

Stapleton Kearns said...

Bill;
I went barefoot almost all the time in those days. It wasn't unusual, no one even noticed it. There's something that has changed.
.......Stape

Stapleton Kearns said...

Mary;
Thanks.
...........Stape

Stapleton Kearns said...

Philip:
No one who didn't experience has much sympathy for us secret recidivists.They need a Whole Earth Catalog!
...............Stape