…there just aren’t enough adjectives for me to begin to describe Mason Williams, composer and performer of the mega hit ‘CLASSICAL GAS’, winner of 3 Grammy Awards, the most played, most loved instrumental hit of all time.
Add to that so many other accomplishments in art, comedy, poetry, books and script writing. Did you know Mason is a brilliant conceptual artist with many collaborations with long time friend artist Ed Ruscha? His irrepressible sense of humor has inspired countless works of art with possibly the most famous ‘BUS’ the huge installation in the permanent collection of New York’s Museum of Modern Art.…..perhaps you saw it when it was on loan to the Los Angeles Museum of Modern Art in 2007. There’s a great picture of it on my blog ‘DID you KNOW’ posted August 17, 2009 along with a few of Mason’s limited edition word plays. I could go on but suffice it to say you won’t meet a more talented or greater guy. I’m honored to call him friend, collector and supreme booster.
Mason and Karen, his lovely and talented wife live most of the year in Oregon so when I was sent an invitation to attend the opening of ‘THE EAGLE ROCK ROCK and EAGLE SHOP’ I was delighted beyond description. Let me explain….
In ‘64 long time friend Ed Ruscha had a studio in Eagle Rock and Mason,with his usual sense of humor, joked about the play between the words ‘Eagle’ and ‘Rock’ conceiving of a store that would literally sell eagles and rocks.
Another friend of both artists, designer/artist Bettina Hubby became enamored by the concept and conceived the store as an interactive community-enlivening project.
Mason wrote the following poem for Hubby:
Back in 1964, in the days before either Ed or I got famous
Our plays on words, when they occurred, served to entertain us.
For example, as a sample:the town of Eagle Rock
Brought to mind, the two combined, a shop
with both in stock
Pieces of eye-ther and both to-guy-ther-
whatever shrieks to you
‘Palindromically’ clever, words of a feather….
doozies of art derring do!
Thanks to Hubby, who’s uber exuberant
artworks of collab co-op
For the eagle collector and rockhound prospector,
After 48 years…there’s a shop!
~ Mason Williams
3rd week of January 2012
I’m just about besides myself with joy!
With lovely wife Karen, a talented artist in her own right and brilliant besides. She was a prosecutor in Canada.
Here we are with Pat Rude…the greatest raconteur I’ve ever known.
Wait Pat, do you believe this?
The necklace is made of rocks and we couldn’t figure who would be strong enough to wear it.
Meet Arlyn…how cute is she? Everything was working from the bag to the shoes…so fun!
It was sooooo crowded….the vibe was ‘60’s all the way….
Thank you for the CD Mason…I cherish each and every one. Brings back fond memories of listening to you play in your home/studio. What a privilege.
Fun projections outside….
I guess sheer glee is the only word for this one!
Time to say goodnight….
For more information:
Nan,I was a student of Ron Pekar at the Art Academy in Memphis and would like to contact him via email,can you help me,please?Wendy Ballard (Fifty8facets@cox.net)
Thanks A Million!