Dad's Jacket8 x 6 Oil on Board $1,200 Artist Statement This small series of paintings is a dialogue between my father and I. He worked as a mailman in Lowell Massachusetts for 22 years. I'm happy to say that I was able to work with him for a year of my life. When I was hired the first time to work with Dad it was the summer of 1998, my first summer coming back from college in Boston. My brother and I were both hired as summer help (known as casual). I remember this one time delivering a route in Belivdere, Lowel. I was doing a loop (the term for a street or bundle delivery) and halfway through I had to use the bathroom. One of the challenges about being a mailman is the frequency this happens and that you can not go in the woods or you risk getting fired. |
I walked up to a house and saw a German Shepherd going nuts in his fenced yard. The owner met me at the door to get her mail. I remember saying something about him looking crazy. She replied, "If he gets his hand on you, he'll have his way." I asked if I could use the bathroom as this is the only option a mailman has.
As she let me in the front door, her daughter let the dog in the back door. Well, guess who met me at the bathroom? I remember it clearly, the "uh oh" moment. I tried to get in the bathroom as quick as I could but he managed to bite me... on the butt. The owner asked if I was okay. I replied, "No, I think he bit me." As I looked back, I saw the hole in my shorts on my left cheek.
Weird thing is, I've been bit before by a German Shepherd, but last time it was on the right cheek.
She called the post office and I had to wait for my supervisor to come out. He said he had to take a polaroid for legal purposes. So, in the middle of the driveway, I had to drop my shorts for a photo.
I finished the route because the bite wasn't that bad. The best part was when I got back to the office and walked in the door about 100 mailmen started howling like a dog. It was like a big frat and they were hazing me.
My father approached me with a big smile and asked what happened. He said he had been there for 15 years and had managed to never get bit. I just laughed it off and savored the moment.
As she let me in the front door, her daughter let the dog in the back door. Well, guess who met me at the bathroom? I remember it clearly, the "uh oh" moment. I tried to get in the bathroom as quick as I could but he managed to bite me... on the butt. The owner asked if I was okay. I replied, "No, I think he bit me." As I looked back, I saw the hole in my shorts on my left cheek.
Weird thing is, I've been bit before by a German Shepherd, but last time it was on the right cheek.
She called the post office and I had to wait for my supervisor to come out. He said he had to take a polaroid for legal purposes. So, in the middle of the driveway, I had to drop my shorts for a photo.
I finished the route because the bite wasn't that bad. The best part was when I got back to the office and walked in the door about 100 mailmen started howling like a dog. It was like a big frat and they were hazing me.
My father approached me with a big smile and asked what happened. He said he had been there for 15 years and had managed to never get bit. I just laughed it off and savored the moment.