Bukowski's father at the art museum

Socratease

Socratease

Slimedog, I'm guessing that Hank inherited his movie star looks from his father? He says in Women that his mother was a good looker.


Thought I'd look up the typical duties of an art preparator these days:

... seeks an art preparator to install artwork on- and off-campus. The person in this position is responsible for the unpacking, hanging, installation, de-installation and packing of artwork for exhibition on- and off-campus.

Duties include receiving and unpacking all works for the exhibitions department, ensuring that all works are in perfect condition, and informing the exhibition registrar in the event pieces are damaged. Other duties include monitoring galleries on a routine basis, assessing spaces for necessary maintenance, and checking security of installed artwork.

A bachelor's degree in a related field or related relevant work experience is preferred. Valid driver's license preferred, heavy lifting required, and willingness to travel as necessary.
 
mjp

mjp

Founding member
You know, I was just looking at some old pay stubs, and it turns out that I worked at LACMA with Bukowski's father too. I was the Airflow Design Specialist. I activated a complex and sophisticated battery of electric fans when the temperature got too hot. And I had to monitor the fans too, throughout the day.

Bukowski Sr. handed out pamphlets, as I recall, and mopped up puke and urine on the days the kids came from the schools in the surrounding neighborhoods. He would sing as he mopped, a song that said he wrote himself. He always sang it in a very bad Irish accent. Went something like, "Cry me a moppy rag o' shame/bag me up like a dime store trollop/take me out to the ballgame/give me ass a wallop!" And he would get to the last line and laugh and laugh and we would all stare at him.

I remember taking Bukowski Sr. out for a beer one night after work, and he started crying. I hit him in the face with a beer mug and told him to stop acting like a dame, and he snapped out of it. Then when I turned my back on him, he hit me over the head with a flashlight and kicked my knees from the side to take me down. As he fell on top of me, I reached for the legs of a bar stool and managed to bring it down hard, across his back. He yelped, and I took the opportunity to jump up and kick him repeatedly in the neck. We went back and forth like that for a few minutes, then I stopped because I was thirsty, and I said, "Bukowski, I'm going to the bar for a drink. Don't follow me and don't try to stop me." And he didn't.

The next day at the museum he showed up wearing ladies sunglasses and white tape across his nose. I laughed at him and he choked back a tear and said, "Leave me alone, I'm an artist."

Well I felt so sorry for the poor schmuck that I left him alone. The next day I saw him drive by the museum in a milk truck. He still had the ladies sunglasses on, and three cats sat in the open door, licking the air.

Don't know what to make of that, but that's how it happened, and I will swear out an affidavit maintaining it is so.
 
Rekrab

Rekrab

Usually wrong.
Mjp: I always wondered how Hank senior ended up driving a milk truck. Thanks for that firsthand account.

I looked through my old paystubs but all I found is that I've worked at the same damned job since I was six years old.
 
C

conl

I haven't been on this site for a while, and, I've got to say, this was a really cool post!
Many thanks to both Rekrab & Slimedog for the insights.
 
Rekrab

Rekrab

Usually wrong.
I was amazed when I stumbled across Henry Bukowski's name in those old art catalogs on Google Books. Google Books is like Disneyland for me. The stuff I find there is incredible.
 
bogthing

bogthing

Jeez, this is the best. Someone who actually worked with the beast. Funny, he reminds me a lot of someone. I remember in Ham On Rye?... he remarks about the old man, saying something like, "what is with me, why am I in their way" or something to that effect.

Always could relate to that.
 
Ambreen

Ambreen

Sordide Sentimental
Slimedog, do you remember me ? I was the young woman who was waiting for Buk senior outside the museum at the end of his duty. His mistress. I perfectly remember you :)
 
mjp

mjp

Founding member
No one ever remembers me. I was walking up and down Wilshire boulevard wearing nothing but a sandwich board that said, "THE END IS NEAR!"

What do you have to do to get noticed in this town?
 
Ambreen

Ambreen

Sordide Sentimental
To kidnap cats, for instance :mad:

hoochmonkey9 said:
dude, that was me. Ambreen had the clown mask and chain saw.
Click to expand...
Oh yeah, a mix between John Gacy and Leatherface ! I'm honored !
rox.gif
 
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