Old Pix: Sue Haynes and Willie Wright 1969

Susan and Willie. Susan Haynes. Born 1947, died 1997. She was one of a kind, like all of us, only more so. Creative, flashy, grounded, fiery, collected dolls, loved Willie's children as her own, never forgot a friend, always told the truth. Breast cancer took her. She worked and laughed and collected things and enjoyed life until the last breath. Willie. Willie Wright. William Gathwright. They were together from about 1969 to 1979. He coulda been a contender. Have you seen him? Ask him to call me. I think he's in Providence. Sang as good as Sam Cooke, sometimes better; taught and encouraged many other musicians, including me. Creative, sometimes troubled, always generous. One of the first people to resist the draft. In the 1950's. He never made a nickle from his albums, but today in Europe, collectors pay hundreds for them. When he smiled, people lit up for miles around. Probably still do. Defined dignity and presence.

Back Garden '04

Jamila In Her Plant

The View From Home

Billy on the Train

Riding to Chicago

Kingdom City, Missouri

Mike & Jen 1980

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Brothers for a Century

Donald

Bunnycloud 1970

 

Karmu not in Trance

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Single Parent Balancing Act 1973

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Grandma Fannie 1915

This is my grandmother, Fannie Itzkovitcz, on the left, in drag, at a resort in the Catskill Mountains in New York State, around 1915. Nobody in the family has been able to explain the picture, except to say, "They were just having fun." The woman on Fannie's lap is unidentified.

Icarus 1962

Priman 1981

Cornered 1973

Mothers Day 1973

  

BG & MG

Helen in 1925

  

Now, Robert!

Not Easy

Adam Seeing

Well, You Asked...

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Well, you asked.
The picture is of the late Edgar Warner, also, mostly called Karmu. He died in '89.
He was a witch doctor,healer, teacher, and the guy who finished the job of raising me.
I was drugging, stealing,heading for bigger crime and less and less I.Q. when I ran into him in '69.
He immediately "adopted me" and healed me mentally and physically in about 4 seconds flat.
He was the real thing; an African-American shaman, garage mechanic, who ministered to everyone he came across.
Used to have this funky apartment in Cambridge, Mass, and everyone was welcome. The first time I met him, it was because I was reading this book called "Voodoo in New Orleans." It was an anthropology text by Robert S. Tallant about the practice of "vodun" in this country in the 18th and 19th centuries.
I told a friend about it, and she said she knew of just such a guy. I begged to meet him, and he and I immediately claimed each other as family.
My daughter Jennie is named after him: Her name on her birth certificate is Jennifer Christin Karmu.
When I was in his presence, I always felt 100%+ o.k....no anxiety,no problems, totally safe, totally happy.
He was a real rascal, too, former gun-for-hire, former bad cat, turned Holy Man & do-gooder. Taught me BS, TS and OS. [bullshit, tough shit and OTHER shit!]
The first day we met I took him aside and asked him, "Teach me your magic, ok?" He said, "Sure. Here it is: You just pervade the unconscious with a positive element. If you stay mentally, physically and spiritually above reproach, you can walk through shit and not get your feet dirty.
And above all, MAKE 'EM LAUGH."
That's the whole thing, cat. Do this and you'll be as pretty as 18 movie stars!
You'll have zook and wook, you'll be high flung and high sprung, you'll be an HCC, a High Class Citizen.
" I said, "That's it?" He said, "Yeah, that's it."

Painting: "Column of Light" (1995)

Painting: "Bobby & Carrie" (1981)

Painting: "Eroself" 1980

Georgia Pacific and her Red Nose

JP in Firebird

Dorothy, Coffeyville, Kansas

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Mosaic Bathroom

STOP! In The Name of Love

Peter Pan on a Rail

Saint du Balai

BG on/in Lake Champlain

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BG at 19, smokin' a wooden match

 

Niteshot Arted

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Vermont Christmas

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