Michael was the Artist GoH at NORWESCON 5, March 19-21, 1982 and “The Mad Poet” was used as the program book’s fold-out cover. The credit on the bacover says “Copyright 1981, 1982 by Michael R. Whelan (first publication).”
How fascinating. I was at the Clark Museum last year and I was fascinated by a portrait of a man dressed as a pilgrim. It was dated, but there's no information about the subject. But he had to be rich enough or important enough for a portrait right? But we don't know who he is, only what he looks like. I'm staring at it and my companion couldn't understand why. But I really, really want to know who that was! Who is he?
The Mad Poet feels similar. It's here, we sorta know why, but not really. What in interesting mystery! The art survives and inspires us years later even when we don't know why it was made. It's such a striking image! I do hope that one day the mystery is solved and the poem located. Maybe someone will see this and will know something.
Michael was the Artist GoH at NORWESCON 5, March 19-21, 1982 and “The Mad Poet” was used as the program book’s fold-out cover. The credit on the bacover says “Copyright 1981, 1982 by Michael R. Whelan (first publication).”
Thanks, Arnie!
It’s really like just a few stairs for me…
How fascinating. I was at the Clark Museum last year and I was fascinated by a portrait of a man dressed as a pilgrim. It was dated, but there's no information about the subject. But he had to be rich enough or important enough for a portrait right? But we don't know who he is, only what he looks like. I'm staring at it and my companion couldn't understand why. But I really, really want to know who that was! Who is he?
The Mad Poet feels similar. It's here, we sorta know why, but not really. What in interesting mystery! The art survives and inspires us years later even when we don't know why it was made. It's such a striking image! I do hope that one day the mystery is solved and the poem located. Maybe someone will see this and will know something.
The painting survives
without knowing
where it first appeared.
That is not a mystery.
That is what happens
when the work
outlasts its context.
— AËLA
Ask Mike Glyer to post this at FILE 770. Surely the collective wisdom of fandom has an answer
Done! Thanks for the suggestion.
That's pretty cool.