SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
BOATHOUSE and GROKOPEDIA; LIBRE LIBRIS; A,B+C.
“A culture embracing creativity is a powerful tool to Heal Our World, for nothing ever happens that an artist has not already envisaged.” Stephen Charles Shepherd.
Discovering the (Happy) Boathouse :-
Way back then, a bunch of us, together, Artists, created over 700 B/W Portraits of Famous Actors, Sportsfolk, Musicians. Printed ‘em up A3, packed ‘em flat wih a stiffener card and transparent bag. Salted 72 tourist shops along the East Coast. Sold ‘em retail at summer day events & in Winter evening Pubs. In one of these, a customer said “Y’should see Shep’s stuff - he draws like you do, he’s great, everybody round here knows him” “OK, where can I find him ?” “Dunno…. Round here.” Eventually I tracked him down. Turned out it was my old pal Steve who I hadn’t seen in twenty eight years. And yes his stuff is great.
We spent a lot of time together, became best mates. Joined the Fine Arts Trade Guild together, laughed and drank a lot together. Sometimes his pal Bri would drop by to talk about the Boathouse, so Steve Shep started going there. Then he too started talking about the Boathouse……. Phoned me late one night “Hey Man, er, I’ totally drunk ‘n stoned Man. Me legs ain’t good, no cab cash” “Where are you ?” “Eh ? Oh ! Boathouse.”
I found him in Paul’s, the owner, Caravan. Pair of ‘em beyond speech, just Paul’s giggling and Steve’s roaring guffaws. Three different bands, live, wild, playing house, shed and garden. A huge Bonfire and Loll’s pyro poetry pushing up the heat to the beats. That was my intro to the Boathouse, I was enthralled. I - was - H O M E ! The party had run almost every night and day almost non stop, for almost ten years. Two weeks later the phone rang again……
This above was Paul Burwell’s caravan and residence at the Kingstown Boathouse
Then Paul, in his cups, sat down on the riverbank, and froze to death. Oh Jings ! Oh No ! Unreal ! After the funeral we put a load of his stuff in a boat and sent it downstream, burning. Pauls Viking Pyre.
Now what ?…. Without Paul’s unsteady hand was this to be our paradise lost ? Bri phoned Paul’s sons “Keep it going if you can, rent free forever.” Bri and I set up a not for profit and the party continued for three years. But without Paul’s permanent presence, whenever the site was unattended the thieves and vandals came and stole the gear. We repaired and replaced continuously. And all the while, unbelievers all, every one of us felt Paul’s uncanny powerful presence.
The Gherkins, Boathouse “Barber Shop”
During that time I came to know so many wonderful creative people, including Karel. His arse on the grass, baccy and beer by his boots, in his beautiful battered clothes and hat, beckoning me over for a chat. As Pyrotechs and Pumping percussion flowed we pursued possible poetic painting projects ‘til sunup. He once called the Kingstown Boathouse a fantasy of a strange land. A strange land that must be Groked. An Ancient Rythmic Earthworld for a new society, a story to tell. “You write the book, I’ll illustrate” “Title?” “How to Heal Our Planet ?” “Yup.”
My first Bas Relief Portrait of Karel Lewis
Then Nasty Nigel came along and burned the Boathouse down.
Then Steve O.Dd.
The preacher man grinned, saying “I’ve never played this song at a funeral before…
As “Then I got stoned, then I got stoned” filled the chapel we danced and cried and danced and laughed and danced, danced danced. Together we could hear Steve’s Guffaws. Karel smiling in at from door “Paint my portrait ? “Sure, any particular reason ?” “Front Cover” “Aah! same title ?“ “Nah, Grokopedia” “Yup.” I painted two.
Future Legends will include more on the Boathouse Crew. Excerpts from Grokopedia will appear here as we develop the book together, Grokopedia is dedicated to Paul and Steve, who we miss. May they live forever. Just as the Boathouse lives on, within us, together, forever……
LIBRE LIBRIS.
After Paul’s death I contacted his sons. They wanted nothing of his belongings. They just wanted us to continue. “Use his stuff creatively or sell it to raise funds” One of the three containers on site held Paul’s eclectic library. The rain had penetrated but we managed to save about 5,000 to which I and others have added to and continue to add to. Fourteen years on there are about 1,500 still piled high in my cramped living space, along with many times more art prints. Thanks to Brexit’s awful stupid mess of unclear rules, I lost my right to exchange my drivers license, when emigrating to Nederland - and thereby my ability to get to book & art fairs. Yet I still wanted to fundraise…. Sell on the internet ? I don’t relish a 75 minute daily interruption of my writing or art, by taking one book at a time, in the heat or rain, to the post office. Then I started to think about thanking Paid Subscribers and came up with a single simple solution - LIBRE LIBRIS.
SO, Here’s the plan, my posts remain free to read and comment on. Paid subscriptions are voluntary. I can thank you for your donations by offering you a thankyou gift - ie:- one or two free items sent to any One address anywhere in the world. No charge for postage. Four times a year I publish a list of what’s currently available. If you see something you like just email me an address WITHIN SEVEN DAYS, then the list closes, requests are all mailed together On The Eighth Day. Please note that I rarely have more than one copy of any book, but usually multiple copies of art prints. It may be that two requests for a single item arrive. First come first served….. to avoid disappointment please list four items in order of preference. This means that you will probably receive one, or two. As there is also a possibility that all four choices are already spoken for, you will be given First Choice in the following round.
All books are in at least reasonable condition. All prints are in passepartout card mounts. Prints of my own art are new. Other prints are old stock still in new condition. Retail values are anywhere between 50 cents and 50 euros, but hey ! the Real Value is in the value to our caring sharing community, n’est pas ?
IMPORT TAXES.
I DOUBT; BUT CAN’T GUARANTEE That there will be anything for You to Pay as most nations have a low value threshold, and or allowances for 2nd hand books / other printed matter. I would appreciate it if you could pass me your knowledge and tips on the matter when requesting.
Above is Steve’s take on a Curtis photo, sitting on one of my bookcases. Insert - Steve wearing his “Court Suit” whilst being presented with an arts grant by Caroline Flint, then A labour MP for Sheffield. The venue was a new Arts cafe, just up the road from the Boathouse.
Listings then… Can be found within A,B+C.
Currently working on Arts, Books & Cats :- a new monthly theme to add to Maurice’s Substack, which will include either the current listing or advance notices thereof. A,B+C. will usually be scheduled for the last Sunday of each month, commencing September.
NeXt Legend. 6th Sept. Rescheduled - “Railwayman & Spy” (Samuel Savorie). A self educated linguist son of a canal boatman.
NeXt Article. 13th Sept. Sam can you see that big green tree ? Where there’s water running Free. Part one “Dirty.”
Further Legend. 20th Sept. “Twins of a Stranger. Dry Feet.”
First A,B+C. Sunday 24th Sept. Arts, Books & Cats. (In equal measures). Plus first advance notice of first Libre Libris list.
Further Article. Weds 27 Sept. Sam …. Part two. “Clean.”
So, once again, many thanks for your interest, time, likes & comments. All very much appreciated, A Bien Tot, en Dankjewel !! Live in Peace, Maurice.