Dear Lisa...
I just received the news that Georg is painting on higher
planes. I will miss his amazing
spirit. However, as with all great
artists, his spirit will hover as long as his work exists. I have an original
Vihos hanging in my home. It's one
of his parakeet series. It makes
me smile every day. I also have a
framed poster of his early work of St. George. Doesn't make me smile... I think he would be appalled if it
did... but it does encourage me to
look into the dark corners of this complex existence. Georg always challenged me to think. And Georg always inspired me with his
burning passion to make art.
But most of all, I remember Georg when I was about 15, and I
knew I wanted to spend my life working in the theatre...my art. And Georg was the only person in our
parents' generation of family members and Greeks who got it. And not only did he get it, but he
encouraged me to follow my passion...to make my mark on the world through the
creative spirit that was bubbling up in a clueless teenager. I can still remember the exact time and
place, and the determined look on his face and that inimitable twinkle in his
eye.
Heading into the arts was not a very popular path for a
young Greek-American, especially when there was a perfectly good family
business to enter. But Georg took
my side in front of my entire family, and challenged me to own the artist that
was trying to emerge from inside this sensitive kid. Well... I just turned sixty, and so far, I have had a most
wonderful career in the theatre.
I've made a living for 35 years, making art on the stage, and doing what
I love. It hasn't always been
easy, but it has always been glorious!
What I lucky man I've been.
And now I am directing and teaching theatre at Hollins University, and
helping young artists connect with their passion. I've picked up Georg's drum...and the beat does indeed go on
from generation to generation!
The artistic spirit has ignited so many days in my
life...and I often remember that day when your dad smiled at me and helped me
see that I could be an artist! A
bit of his spirit has always existed in my work, and will continue in every
performance I help create. I was lucky to have Georg in my life. He is one of my greatest heroes. He was a true gift to me and to the
world!
Please give my love to your Mom and Illia, and your entire
family, and let them know Georg's light will always be twinkling on the stages
wherever I work.
Love,
Ernie
1 comment:
It's an odd thing, being an artist. Creating art--be it painting, drawing, music, writing, or whatever one's art may be--is a challenging thing. To use a cliche, it's a labor of love. Sharing that art with others can be, for many artists, quite painful. But sharing craft and technique with a fellow or blossoming artist is where, I feel, the real excitement sets in. Artists love to learn, and they love to teach. Georg is an outstanding example of this.
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