I'll never lose affection

"Like Dreamers Do" (detail) original collage by Deco

Far Out

​Just days after presenting my Spring Collage Workshop, I zipped off to the East Coast to participate in one of the best events of the year.  Twice a year, I work at the Fest for Beatles Fans, a 3-day gathering of several thousand fans of the Beatles who celebrate with live music, discussions with authors, and peace and love. We haven’t met “live and in-person” since August 2019 so this event was a joyful family reunion, on the bank of the Hudson River, with a view of the Manhattan skyline.  We all enjoyed singing and dancing and feasting and laughing, but the highlight of the weekend was the live interview with Peter Jackson, the director of the recent Beatles documentary "Get Back" (2021), joined by Michael Lindsay Hogg, the director of "Let it Be" (1970).  Their hour-long conversation was electrifying.

​I usually manage the Fan Art exhibition at these shows. For this, fans bring in their Beatles art – pros, amateurs, and kids – I put it all on display, manage the contest, and present the awards at the end.  I also arranged for a special exhibition of photos by John Hester and had a continuous presentation of the slide shows of fan art that I developed during the pandemic lockdowns, when we had our Fests online.

 But the real Art Room gem was the a/v presentation Psychedelic Art and The Beatles. ​

Psychedelic Art and The Beatles

Marlene Weisman beside her Psychedelic Guitar (acrylic and collage). Photo credit: Bob Krasner

Deco, in the Art Room with the Psychedelic installation assembled by Deco and Marlene

​Graphic artist and collagist Marlene Weisman and I collaborated to research and create a show which explained and revealed the powerful Psychedelic Art movement that dominated London of the 1960s.  This is a little explored subject in the Beatles world, despite the impact that the Beatles had on it, and how they supported the most influential arts collectives in London.  Our audience was blown away.  We plan to present our material again, augmented with more research!
Our next Beatles Fest will be in August, and I will keep you in the loop.

Deco and Marlene Weisman, revealing secrets of Psychedelic Art and The Beatles, at the Fest. (Photo credit to Bob Krasner)

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​May is for Mothers

Mothers Day is approaching, and ​I have plenty of items that Moms would love in my Etsy shops – prints, cards, journals, and posters. But today I want to tell you about a wonderful not-for-profit organization that supports families with newborn babies, Many Mothers.  As a volunteer for this group, I visit the homes of families with infants and help support the parents – sometimes I hold the baby so an exhausted mom can get a nap or a shower; sometimes we have tea and I listen to a parent’s birth story. I visit for 12 3-hour sessions. We feel that these home visits help ameliorate postpartum depression. To help fund our work, Many Mothers is having an online auction, running the last week of April, full of gifts for mothers of all ages.  We have exquisite quilts, restaurant and health club gift certificates, paintings, and jewelry.  I miss my mother, and I honor her life by supporting this flourishing organization.

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Of special note are these artists who I asked for donations: Maurice Oliver, Diana Oliver, Hillary Vermont, and Paul M. Walsh; they contributed CDs, hand painted cards, paintings, and hand-crafted silver jewelry. You can also buy directly from them before or after the auction - they would love that! A shout-out to Mark Lapidos of The Fest For Beatles Fans who donated Beatles items. So cool!  Check out their websites and then make some bids on the Many Mothers auction, April 24 to May 1, in time for Mothers Day!

Artists included in the auction:

And more art coming...

Deco and friend, 1978, Beatlefest, The Palmer House, Chicago

​Now that I am back in Santa Fe, I have projects to complete before preparing for the next Fest For Beatles Fans, and additional Psychedelic shows.  I will presenting my Galactic art in a special format.  Stay tuned - I will let you know!

Love and Peace,

Deco

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