This past week, while going through a box of old papers, I ran across a folder containing some poetry I had written in 1991. I remember this having been a stressful period, and I had been reading a book about writing poetry as a form of therapy. The book encouraged the reader not to judge what he or she might write, and not to worry about the quality of the end results. This was to be about process rather than product.
I recall working on several pieces and eventually typing up nine of the poems. I also created an accompanying collage or a drawing on each of the nine pages. I photocopied about fifteen sets, which I titled “Millrat Therapy“, and sent them to friends and family. I guess that was part of my “therapy”. (It appears that I removed the illustration I did for Art in the Second Grade, which I believe I later re-used in a piece of artwork.) So after sleeping in a blue folder for twenty years, here are a few of the batch. If you click on each image, it should become larger for easier reading. Thanks for your interest.
Bob, really enjoyed these, but not while thinking about the reality of your experiences, that’s for sure. That kind of honesty, I find, gets more and more difficult to express as I get older. It’s really cool that you saved these, and have that kind of detailed record. I had some things like that once, but more a book, and it found its way one year to a fireplace while I drank a Moosehead Ale and enjoyed the warmth of the fire. Rock on, brother! Oh, by the way, if I remember correctly the poem about the second grade ended up in a piece you showed at the Cultural Center in your solo show. When I was installing your show I stopped and read it. I think it had some crayons in a plexiglas box…a very cool piece of work that spoke volumes to me as a result of my own Catholic school experience. Happy New Year, man.
Thanks Mark. What a bummer about your book. You are not alone, however, in doing spontaneous moves like that. And yes, I forgot! That piece at the Cultural Center did include the poem. What a memory you have Sir!
Beautiful example of spontaneous bibliotherapy!
Thank you Loren!
Bob,
Thank you so much for sharing! As for “Art In The Second Grade”…I’m so glad that I’ve had the opportunity to give what I hope are extremely opposite experiences to my Catholic school students. BTW Tomie dePaola wrote and illustrated a childeren’s book about his elementary art experience in the first grade. I read and discuss this book with my students. Check it out.
One of the numerous Bob Villamagna fans,
Angela (aka strawberry)