1984

1984. I escaped the army to spend two days in Amsterdam. This artist, chalk sidewalk drawing, did this in front of me. I planned on walking all over the city, I was transfixed. Cried on the street, just watching it happen. Few., very few coins dropped in the buckets.. then RAIN came.. I mean strong rain.. I finally was able to have the artist, agree to take a “tourist” picture for me.. this one. then rain came, WASHED all this down the drain.. almost immediately… I being young. to art expression as this.. asked, as my heart was hurting for this guy’s effort, work, talent. all gone in a minute. I asked.” what now?” HE gave my largest lesson in art.. he said.. ” Art is not yours, Art is meant to be shared. .I said. but “you can’t share it now!”. and then he got really close to my face, he made me look back at the space the piece was.. and he almost whispered in my ear.. ” did you like it?”. I said yes! .he continued, even closer and more determined in my ear, “then, I shared it.”, and then he kept on , “if you hold on to everything of beauty so tight, in life, that you are sad when it is gone, then that means you must appreciate it more, the short time we have them.. Art fades he said, memories. don’t.. . that was a day.. it really happend, I will never forget it.then he grabbed a piece of chalk and went to work again. it is WHY I love art, music, stuff. now.. so much.. I am taken right back to this moment. with this guy. every day. every creative moment… so glad I got this shot…