Dan Adams: Time to Go

 

Creativity as a human attribute is relatively new as a concept starting after World War II. There was no IQ or SAT for creativity. DanAdams was a self-proclaimed formally untrained artist. But if creativity is making something original and if an artist is someone who thinks outside of the box, if the quality of creativity is judged by authenticity, then Dan Adams is the consummate artist. However, I mainly think about Dan and the life he led as work as play and play as work. There was seemingly no division.

Luckily, I have only been to a very few funerals. They are always going to be emotional roller coasters as we remember the good experiences and we regret lost future times. But we also learn more about the deceased as friends and family gather to rejoice a life.  We in the art world are especially lucky as the talent that infused our lives is on display, with singing and music and poetry as part of the tools of our trade.

Dan's love for Anna Zappoli Jenkins was a beacon and harbor for him. Her son gave full force to this during his memorial by quoting the famous song:

My funny valentine.
Sweet, funny valentine.
You make me smile
with my heart.

Your looks are laughable,
unphotographable,
yet you're my favorite work of art.

Is your figure less than Greek,
is your mouth a little weak,
when you open it to speak,
are you smart?

But don't change your hair for me,
not if you care for me.
Stay, little valentine, stay...

Each day is Valentine's Day.

Anna Zappoli Jenkins

Anna's son Pall Jenkins

Sarah Knapp

Pavel

Ted Washington

Chris Vannoy 

Philip Petrie

Jimmy Jazz

Michael Klam  

 

Dan and his dog picture by Majorie Pezzoli

Studio picture by Majorie Pezzoli

Chet Baker, one of Dan's favorites singing My Funny Valentine