Art, propaganda and pornography presented by the artist sometimes known as Arte Barrato (even misspelled as it is here,) some of it his own work and most of it stuff he appreciates and chooses to elucidate and honor.
Dale Wittig Mansfield Center & Willimantic CT September & April 2016
Mansfield Center
Willimantic
Joe died today, nearly six months after his beloved daughter, Grace. He
was kind enough to let me photograph him numerous times over the last
year. I knew him for close to forty years and will miss him for all his
remarkable contradictions. Because he was a master cabinet maker, I'm happy to say that the last time I saw him he had a hammer in hand. I was helping him put away his tools because a storm was coming.
He also went by the name of Gabriel Garcia when working for Sid Roth's Rollo Productions,
but with most of the many photographers and filmmakers for whom he
posed and performed he employed the professional moniker of
José. He boxed professionally and exhibited those skills in many of the films he made for Old Reliable and AMG,
as well as his more amateur talent in wrestling. He displayed the body
of an athlete and the sexual predilections of an ardent bottom without
ever diminishing his genial masculinity. I hope he’s still around
somewhere. I like to think of him settling in the San Fernando Valley
or the Inland Empire.
Who list his wealth and ease
retain,
Himself let him unknown contain.
Press not too fast in at that gate
Where the return stands by disdain,
For sure, circa Regna tonat.
The high mountains are
blasted oft
When the low valley is mild and soft.
Fortune with Health stands at debate.
The fall is grievous from aloft.
And sure, circa Regna tonat.
These bloody days have
broken my heart.
My lust, my youth did them depart,
And blind desire of estate.
Who hastes to climb seeks to revert.
Of truth, circa Regna tonat.
The bell tower showed me
such sight
That in my head sticks day and night.
There did I learn out of a grate,
For all favour, glory, or might,
That yet circa Regna tonat.
By proof, I say, there did I
learn:
Wit helpeth not defence too yerne,
Of innocency to plead or prate.
Bear low, therefore, give God the stern,
For sure, circa Regna tonat.
Mel Roberts said in an interview, a few years before he died, that he gave Butch his porn name as insult to anti integrationist George Wallace, Governor of Alabama at the time (by which I was able to date the pictures.) Butch was an unapologetically gay university student recommended to him by a common friend. Roberts paid models $25 an hour for the shoots.
Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775 - 1851) Watercolor and Chalk on Paper Petworth, West Sussex
As I was watching Mike Leigh's great film about Turner last week, I recalled that I had some images stored that I wanted to post here regarding the interiors he recorded in watercolor while staying with his patron, George Wyndham, Earl of Egremont. A scene in the film suggests the possibility of a long past love affair between Turner and a close female relative of the Earl; perhaps some youthful fling between the cockney artist and some fine young lady that has left the woman extremely melancholy. One may see how some of these charming drawings fueled the imaginations of the writer and director, Leigh, and the actor, Timothy Spall.
The short essays and the images I post to this blog tend to reflect my present interests and work. Occasionally I will present my own work in drawing or painting, but more often what one finds here are the sources for that work.
