Alcoholism Support Group

Just found this, and maybe you can see the spark. Jules himself as an old man:

http://www.elpais.com/recorte/2007...

That picture was in his gallery, I noticed it. He seems focused. Would have loved to known him. My absolute best friend is 70 years old, and full of grace and wisdom. He is my non AA mentor. He has lung cancer and it will destroy me. His picture is in my photo's.

amazing what we have in our minds when we clear out the evilness of what alcohol clouds it with.I agree we can learn so much from our elderly friends.We have a man in our 1 meeting been coming there since june 13 1976.now that is someone to learn from.

Mr. Nemo, sir:
Are you new to this site? I've only been here for over a month. I have very much enjoyed your posts, and responses to the other members.
I am sorry for your lost, he was a talented artist, I'm sure that is a void that is not replaceable. The wildlife photos on your profile are so beautiful and peaceful, I've saved them, to remember the beauty in life, that you magically captured.
If you are new, welcome, if not I'm glad I noticed your post, thoughts, and profile. Peace be with you sir. Tammie

Hi Tammy,

Yes, I'm new to this site. I found it day before yesterday while doing a Google search for something else. I read several threads and realized that this place is really alive with some very warm people and interesting. I moderate a 12 discussion board on another website that has a different overall agenda, and this is friendlier, busier & better by far.

Well dear sir, on behalf of all of us, I welcome you, and look forward to your wisdom and insights. Tammie

Thanks, Nemorino, for that very inspirational story about Jules. I've seen his work before. I, too, am an artist and have just over a year of sobriety (this time around.) I am just now getting back into the studio as a sober artist and it is a trip to see what I am producing. For me, i now have a sense of faith in my process of painting. It is all about living in the present moment and painting what i feel. Before, when i was drinking, it was all pre-conceived ideas and trying to make deadlines for an upcoming show. The process correlates so much to the twelve steps that is freaks me out! (in a good way.) Sorry for the loss of your creative friend. I'm sure that you both had some very inspiring conversations.

One of my favorite authors and influences in my young life (long, looooong story) wrote this, and even though I'm sure I read it when the book came out in '61, it resonates with me in sobriety more than ever:

"It is not humility to insist on being someone that you are not. It is as much as saying that you know better than God who you are and who you ought to be. How do you expect to arrive at the end of your own journey if you take the road to another man's city? How do you expect to reach your own perfection by leading somebody else's life? His sanctity will never be yours; you must have the humility to work out your own salvation in a darkness where you are absolutely alone...

"And so it takes heroic humility to be yourself and to be nobody but the man, or the artist, that God intended you to be. You will be made to feel that your honesty is only pride. This is a serious temptation because you can never be sure whether you are being true to your true self or only building up a defense for the false personality that is the creature of your own appetite for esteem. But the greatest humility can be learned from the anguish of keeping your balance in such a position: of continuing to be yourself without getting tough about it and asserting your false self against the false selves of other people."

Thomas Merton, "New Seeds of Contemplation," New Directions Publishing Co. 1961, p. 100-101

artgirl,

I do have one more story for you. Jules was a huge fan of Beverly Sills, except that he didn't know her real name, and at one point in the 1060s he had lost an LP of her doing "Carmen" that was out of print. Finally, as a last ditch effort to find a copy, he called her office in New York and told the receptionist his name and why he was calling.

She put him on hold and a minute later Sills herself came on the line. "Jules Olitski, is that really you? It's me, Bubbles Silverman. You were my babysitter when we were kids in Brooklyn. Do you remember?"

Needless to say, that was a day he never forgot!

That is a great story! How interesting that two very creative people grew up together.

Love your wildlife photos, Nemorino!