I used to do a lot of visual art. I haven’t drawn much since I was about 18. I don’t really know why I stopped. Maybe it was replaced by music or some other equally muse satisfying pursuit. I take photographs occasionally, or maybe they’re all just pictures. It’s all in the wording, really. Photograph is to picture what cuisine is to food, or what portrait is to drawing.

In any event,  I was cleaning up my office at home today and managed to get my scanner back up and running in the process, and decided to take it for a test drive. While I was scanning an old pice of my so-called art I looked at the calendar and realized the date:

December 8th.

28 years ago today, John Lennon ate his last breakfast, gave his last interview, took his final ride across the city, nurtured his muse just one more time in the studio, and breathed his final breath.I thought I’d share with you a morsel from my past: A skeleton from my art closet circa 1987-1988.

Imagine. 

He was the walrus, a working class hero, and most importantly, a conduit of the many positive things humanity can be. He was taken far too soon. The childlike fascination many still hold for his art and words is captured in a very intimate and innocent way in this interview by a 14-year-old Jerry Levitan in John’s Toronto hotel room in 1969:

Craigslist is a sociologist’s gold mine…

As I’d posted on Sunday, I found a brownie - half of one, really. I posted my find, complete with an image on craigslist in the lost and found bulletin board, and basically forgot about it. I was being entirely self-indulgent, and self-humoring, and suspected it would go unnoticed for the most part, perhaps occasionally cracking a smile on the unsuspecting, stone-faced surfer…. I fully suspected that the title alone would have been enough to clarify anyone perusing the lost and found that the posting was likely to be satire. The posting is here if you haven’t seen it, or if you just prefer to be lazy, the content of the posting is as follows:

FOUND: One half of a brownie (DTC area) 

I was at work this morning and noticed a brownie was left on the foosball table, and realized immediately that it wasn’t my brownie, as I arrived to work today brownie-less. If this brownie belongs to you, please let me know and I’ll set it aside the next time I get to work for you to pick up from our receptionist. It’s half a brownie, and as far as I can tell without actually eating it, is chocolate.

To my surprise, I actually got a couple of responses…

About half a day after posting it, I received an email response simply stating “You are an idiot.” I can accept that someone might be compelled to anonymously leave the equivalent of a flaming bag of poo on my doorstep/inbox, but this person apparently stewed on my brownie positng, got really mad, and responded a second time, and in a rather acidic fashion. Again, this faceless, unnamed individual clumsily attempted to eviscerate me to the point that my very existence was questioned. Remember: This is as a direct result of a posting about a brownie. A brownie.

I’ve posted their response in its entirety, minus their email address:

You know there are people out there who are looking for a pet or have found a pet who are trying to do the right thing.  How stupid you are to take up space with this crap.  You must have no one that loves you at all. It  is not funny.  You are the reason things like craigs list do not work the way they should. You are an IDIOT! I will report you until they remove your post.  Real People have feelings you jerk. SHUT UP AN MYOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

SOMEBODY needs a self-help book…

Apparently, craigslist isn’t worried about this naysayer, because as of this afternoon, the posting is still there. I guess this “anger ninja” is in the minority.

Another person replied yesterday. This second persons’ response seemed a little more even-tempered.  In fact, “MB” sounds like my kinda people:

Your “Found Brownie” evoked an enlightening chuckle. When owner is found not all is in vain. A quick zap in the microwave will warm and soften it and it should be as good as the first half.  Milk might help too.  May you enjoy more interesting discoveries.  MB from Denver

Lesson for the day: Don’t take yourself - or anyone else for that matter - too seriously.

PEACE.    

 

Happy birthday John - we miss you. 

See ya there! 

An amazing event. More information is available at the link below:

 www.paint-in.org  10AM-6PM Thursday October 9th, in celebration of what would have been John Lennon’s 68th birthday. The Imagine Paint-In is an event inspired by the desire to commemorate a man who not only helped change the landscape of popular music, but also an an individual who was an advocate of the idea that world piece is in fact attainable. The Imagine Peace paint-In is done in honor of that vision.Come join visual artists, musicians, other peacenicks and John Lennon’s fans for a day of art sharing of ideas and the perpetuation of PEACE…

 May Pang - John’s girlfriend from 1973-1975 - will be on hand to talk with people and sign copies of her photgraphy book Instamatic Karma.

A CALL FOR ARTISTS!!!

I am looking to assemble a group of artists and non-artists alike who would like to work collectively on a larger-scale piece to be created on-site in Civic Center Park on the day of the event - Thursday, October 9th. The nature of the piece is still to be determined, but think of a work of roughly 10′-20′ in dimension.  Ideas are certainly welcome, although I already have a few to work from, and all of them relate to the themes of John Lennon and peace. Contact me if you are interested:

 stevemillin@995themountain.com.

Come on out. Play hooky from work. As John said in the children’s book adaptation to the animated movie Yellow Submarine: ” Why not mix, hook up, mingle?”  …And all in the name of a peaceful existence in the memory of a man who dared to dream… …To IMAGINE…  

On this seventh anniversary of 9/11, take a moment to reflect on what is good in your life.

Never forget, but at the same time, let’s aim for a better world for our children, shall we?

.

May your heart and your day be filled with PEACE…