After 32 years of performing as Rinky Dink, Humor Technician (clown), Arthur(itis) and the usual aging ailments continue to creep up on me. A man I met thirty years ago told me, “I didn’t know growing old was going to hurt so much!" Now I too have my good days and my bad days.
For those who may not know me or the clown, I will explain. I produced and presented 20 to 40 minute teaching programs for school assemblies and church ministry situations. I have also performed for birthday parties and festivals.
As I make this transition from clown back to my artist roots, I meet other artists who look at me strangely when I talk about ALWAYS being an artist. I have painted my face rather than canvas. And I have used all forms of art to produce the programs. Writing: scripts and advertising, sculpture: building 3-D props, painting: I paint those props and my face, sewing: foulards, neckties NO costumes! are all art forms I use. I also use music: for background, and drama and movement: performance.
I don’t usually do the “see my magic trick” routines. I integrate the tricks within the message, so it becomes an integral part of the program. I usually start by writing the script then finding or building the right trick or prop.
For the past four or five years, I have pondered how to downsize my “stuff.” With over a thousand props, it took me two years just to photograph all my “stuff.” I am now in the process of building a web site. I will be advertising my site in trade magazines.By adding pictures of my props you can see some of my other art. There are props from several different shows. I am including a fire fighter’s helmet, look at the shield on the front and the magic trick that looks like a squashed planet earth. From time to time I will show other items I have created.
