brave john callahan

I just learned that John Callahan died today. I wish him peace.  Deep peace and freedom.

Some years ago, after I returned from NYC, I was hired to help John develop an email newsletter (The Startled Pig Humor Club).  His brilliance pivoted on his visual humor and the scraggy quality of his line.  It was my job to help him develop a voice to use in his newsletter.  He didn't use email then, but I had to make it all seem as true as possible.

He was ornery.  He hated computers then.  He loved some women but didn't have much patience for "women" back then.  He also hated how trendy women in NW Portland took walks with their dogs and picked up baggies of their dogs' poop.  He just couldn't believe that all these beautiful women were walking around NW Portland with bags of shit. 

I was touched by all of the art in his home about Humpty Dumpty.

Working with him, though, was a dream.  I had spent my whole life helping people who were creative-but-wordless find their own words, then worked with children's book illustrators in NYC to help them express their creative processes, and then I met John Callahan.  Every part of our professional relationship was difficult.  He knew why I was there but hated me being there.  He hated that I was an older, round, feminist  woman.  He hated that I challenged him on his declarations and insensitivities.  He hated that I wasn't beautiful, wasn't afraid of him, but still liked him anyway.

I admired him for being a true citizen.  He watched cable news and talk shows.  He developed a personal perspective about the big and small issues in the world.  Even when I didn't agree with him, I admired the chain of his reasoning.  He always made reference to anecdotes and relationships in his own life.  He never shot off opinions that weren't considered somehow in his own body.  In this way, he was vulnerable and powerful.  Honest, always.

I really understood how to make the line quality and angry humor of his cartoons come alive in straight text.  I loved surrendering my own politics to do good work for him.  I loved being in his company because he was honest about himself and what he thought he saw.    He allowed himself to be present in his art.  And many times he could see through the bullshit better than the rest of us.

Carry on, John.

Comments

[Account Deleted]

It’s a terrible tragedy that John Callahan has passed away. You can help remember him by contributing to his memorial website at http://johncallahan.people2remember.com/