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A Tribute to Carly, by Greg Vander-Haeghen

11/3/2022

 
If you don’t get out of the box you’ve been raised in, you won’t understand how much bigger the world is. –Angelina Jolie

She was a unique woman who lives on in the hearts and minds of countless individuals. Indeed, people respect and appreciate this exquisite, soft soul, one who not only walked the walk, but gave so much.

The Preceding is True, while the Following is Not:

For purposes of anonymity, let’s name her “Carly.”
“Carly” was born in a megalopolis and has always adored massive-sized crowds.

In fact, when given multiple opportunities to immerse herself in either performance art, assemblage, sculpture, painting or drawing, she’d instead opt to go to either Disneyland or the Department of Motor Vehicles. For this thoroughly-conventional woman, the more time waiting in lines, the better. Color her “pedestrian.”

But “Carly,” was much more than a wait-in-line individual. She was a fervent supporter of “Group Think.” Her favorite quote was from Nikola Tesla, “Always follow the herd.” Or was that from Emily Dickinson? Or Maya Angelou?

Other notable favorite quotes include “Supersize it!” by Henry David Thoreau and “School’s out for Summer,” by Horace Mann.

From The Half True Department:

“Carly,” was a “Human Swiss Army Knife,” in the sense that she was a versatile artist, with an impressive skillset, and one who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from two of the worst art schools in the country.

Her works are owned internationally, while her heart remains in the big city. She dislikes the desert due to its lack of
skyscrapers.

With that said, the desert is oddly where she was an apprentice for Nigel Puma, a world-renowned sculptor who created a ten-acre, sculpture park made exclusively from found objects.

During the apprenticeship, Carly learned how to work with a variety of materials, and most importantly, how to connect the objects, be they through welding, cementing, wiring, plastering, sewing, Gorilla Gluing—etc.

As a performance artist, I intuit two words related to her work: honest and profound. That’s what I’d imagine a Carly performance would be. Lots of singing, storytelling, dancing and pounding of a Native American drum around a bon fire. If someone knew how to create a “Happening” it was Carly.

She was an activist for the Arts—and as an educator, had the dishonorable distinction of being awarded as an Emeritus Professor of Art. She taught everything from art history to sculpture to Zen Lawn Bowling to Claymation. She taught outside of the box, but had little interest from her students.

Now for the Truth:
Sue Clayton
12/3/2022 02:54:28 am

Carly reads like an intriguing, complicated personality.

Greg Vander-Haeghen
12/3/2022 09:24:01 pm

You're spot on, Sue. Indeed, to know Carly was to know an intriguing, multi-talented soul who was comfortable with being both simple or complex.

David Milner
16/3/2022 07:14:12 pm

Read it twice, maybe thrice. I like the humour. Peace and love.

Greg Vander-Haeghen
16/3/2022 11:53:15 pm

Thank you, Dr. Milner. I'm glad you liked the 'humour.'


Comments are closed.

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