1999

This painting of Bernard, my fellow Project Artaud artist, captures a younger version of himself and my memory of him, and us in San Francisco Mission District, over the last 50 years. I wanted to both honor him as his health has declined and to present an endearing image of this African American artisan in his prime and a meaningful example of diversity in art. I miss Bernard in this painting, his mind and body are failing him, and he can no longer live down the hall, although the studio remains his, with all of his art, but in painting this I experience more than the loss I’m feeling and enjoyed our life-long friendship.