It’s Big Al’s birthday. I remember the date, because it was the database password when I worked at the art museum. Altogether, I worked there seven years, so that string of numbers may be permanently tattooed on my brain. I often can’t recall my phone number, the last four digits of my social security number, or my checking account number, but I will always remember Alain’s birthday.
So, happy birthday, Big Al. You were the best and most infuriating boss I’ve ever had. I will always remember you chain smoking, cussing up a storm, and chugging warm Tab from a 2-liter bottle. You made me laugh and cry and I’m pretty sure I wanted to kick you in the shins at least once a week. You also let me create my dream job, turning what could have been a boring data entry position into one where I got to research, write about, and play with art. And when I graduated and was no longer eligible for student employment, you wrote a grant to keep me on full time. I will always be deeply appreciative for that. Not only was it a wonderful way to finish off my work there, but it let me segue into another university job, which in turn was a stepping stone to the job I have now. Thank you.
This is one of my very favorite paintings. I love the Fauves, and this one is, as Alain would say, “seriously cute.”
André Lhote, Under the Trees I (Sous-Bois I), 1906, oil on canvas, 28 3/4 x 23 5/8 inches (73.02 x 60 centimeters), Ball State University Museum of Art, Gift of David T. Owsley
red paper boat 