He's The Greatest

There’s no such thing as too much adulation. Stephen Daiter Gallery had a one man, Art Shay photo show. It did include one picture each by Henri Cartier-Bresson, Weegee, Robert Frank, Walker Evans, and W. Eugene Smith for historic interest. I said, ''If everyone shows up who says he will, they won’t fit through the door.” They all showed up, but it is such a large gallery, they all did fit in, all 500-600 of them. I shook so many hands, smiled and smiled and wished I knew who many of the congratulatory people were. There was a cross-over of customers to my rare book shop and Art’s photo collectors.

Tony Fitzpatrick returned to Chicago from his trip to NY a few days early to be able to attend the event. Can’t overlook Tony. Tony is a large man. A big man. With a wool hat on his head. He looks like a truck driver of a moving van. Tony is an actor who writes his one-man plays and performs them on stage. On the stage he floats. He is mesmerizing. After Tony’s show I bought one of his published art books while in the lobby waiting with a crowd for autographs. He recognized Art by reputation, we had lunch with him sometime later, and now here he is at Art’s show. We will have lunch again we both promised.

Tim Anderson, artist, was there. Some time ago we had dinner in a group and Tim drew a profile of Art on a napkin. They passed it down to me and I protested, “You don’t have the nose right. Art has a little nose, not bulbous.” He asked for the napkin back, wet the nose and corrected it. I said, “Now you can sign it,” and after he did, I very carefully tucked it into my purse. I haven’t seen it since. Probably, unthinkingly, I pulled it out to wipe a dripping nose.

Another couple put off their trip back to their home in Paris so they could attend this show.

A young lady rescheduled her long-planned trip to Europe to attend Art’s photo show.

Billy Corgan was there surrounded by awed rock music lovers. The Smashing Pumpkins were memorable. Billy is writing and traveling, performing. Can’t miss him in a crowd either. He’s the very tall, adorable fellow with the shiny bald head. (On him it looks great.)

Someone pointed out a runner-up Nobel Prize winner in cancer prevention research. I was impressed. See, you don’t have to be in the arts to want to look at Art’s photos. I could list the people in finance, but I won’t. I can’t overlook the divorce lawyer –- stunning, tall, slender, her long, straight hair flowing past her shoulders. That’s a divorce lawyer?

Look at all the people asking Art for his autograph!

Let me report that Art is NOT impossible to live with after all this adulation. Ladies, you know what I mean.

--- Florence

Comments

[Laura]

I wish we had been there, Florence! Looking forward to seeing the show when we come next month. Laura XOXO

[beth]

Sounds like a fun group! Hope to come visit soon and get to check out the show as well.

best,
Beth