The Story of a Painting
The lost art of forgotten art
What follows is a lightly edited journal entry from June of 1994.
I had helped a friend move and got this painting, which still hangs in my garage, as compensation1— I wrote about it almost 30 years ago.
Today’s song addition to the “Mixed Up Files” is an instrumental from around that time that I have no recollection of writing or recording.
June 2, 1994
Loi2 called on Monday.
He was moving that evening and needed some help.
It’s become something of a tradition that I help him move. I went out for coffee first & told him I’d help him after that.
Finally got in touch with Loi after cleaning my bathroom.
He told me to come over in 15 minutes. I went off to Loi’s apartment at 2442 N. 13th St.
Loi’s sunporch lacked windows and had an impoverished look to it.
The neighbor porch was leaning to the street and was populated by somehow uniformly obese women.
Loi’s apartment, naturally, was chaotic.
Martin, his Czech roommate, was moving out as well, and things were generally quite sloppy.
Martin has quite a collection of skin mags.
Loi had over 200 pieces of art, an encyclopedia set, five garbage bags full of clothes, a full closet rack of clothes, art supplies, a TV, and tons of other books.
ATK3 had a few knickknacks left behind that we had to deliver as well.
On the phone, Loi had predicted “one big trip” or maybe “two medium trips.”
Try, rather, three big trips.
I didn’t mind three trips really but I kept saying for kicks: “This better not be more than two trips!” just to see Loi acting apologetic or surprised at the largeness of his possessions.
And then we had to find ATK to get the key to get into the new place.
He was at BW34 in Dinkytown with Jeff from Duluth.
We got the key, hit the place & loaded Loi’s stuff into the basement.
The landlord was giving a massage in the next room so we had to be quiet.
We did this three times, checking in with ATK (now at Kinko’s) on each run to make sure he didn’t still need his key.
Loi offered me gas money for the work but I asked for a painting instead.
He actually gave me two—one still wet and on the rack, the other rolled up on cheap cloth.
He told me I had essentially saved the paintings as he’d have otherwise painted over them.
END.
I remain your humble servant,
OX&C,
Faux Jean
Here is today’s song with a little video of the painting.
It may eventually be for sale.
Loi Sinnell, a painter friend who’d emigrated to Duluth in the 80s.
Our good friend, Alan Thomas Kramer, is referred to as ATK in this journal entry.
A buffalo wild wings kind of joint.