For a brief summation of Noel study his arm. The tattoos are
telling, the Rimbaud/Chewbacca tattoo taken from a drawing by Will Yackulic
itself leads to entire essays of meaning. But perhaps more telling is the fact
that, before the market came along and overdid the little squeaker, Noel added
Sponge Bob to make it a triptych . But the mass marketing of Sponge Bob was too
much for Noel, so he covered it over with Joe Brainard's version of Ernie
Bushmiller's Nancy smoking a cigarette. In other words he took Sponge Bob's
spirit and gave him the kind of balls ain't no culture going to mass
appropriate. The Nancy tattoo also serves as both a reference to Noel's love of
the nancy boy culture, which he comes by naturally as the son of a gay man.
This goes deep with the relatively straight Noel. He was once in a great band
called "Fag Team" for instance. And, even more telling perhaps, he
was the only man I know of who worked at the Lesbian run co-op sex shop
"Good Vibrations" in San Francisco. The dykes took Noel in as one of
their own, probably because he is also the son of a lesbian. The Nancy drawing
also fits nicely next to Will Yackulic's work because Yackulic is the natural
artistic descendent of Joe Brainard. (Insert essay exporing the richness of
this coterie here.) If you travel a little further up Noel's arm you'll see one
of Noel's son Ursen's drawings copied in tattoo ink. Probably the greatest
tattoo I have ever seen. The "thank you!" rose tattoo on Noel's arm
has a great story behind it too. The "thank you!" rose is ubiquitous
on plastic bags in San Franscisco, especially donut bags. Noel decided to make
a book out of a dozen different renditions of the "thank you!" rose
he found around San Francisco. Turns out he could only find 11 for the longest
time. Finally, on his 30th birthday, he found the dozenth. Then he had one
more, the 13th, designed by Will Yackulic. This is the one he sports on his
arm. When Noel dies they should stuff his arm and put it in the S.F Moma, or
maybe more appropriately in the Met.
Noel
continues to inspire my writing. Here's 3 poems that I wrote thinking about
Noel.
Symbol
for Noel Black
The range is
wide. One end of the spectrum presents a situation
in such a way
as to imply an enhanced knowledge about the other end
of the
spectrum, such as clouds invited to investigate emotions.
The Hand of
Man is steam, a rather laudatory, admiring view of itself, steam.
Similarly,
the pistol on the lazily insolent hip of a common fund of attitudes
(sheathed but
flaunted). One feels one know exactly how the strikers might fare
at this man's
hands.
The juke box
level of a cult, a religious light emanating like a holy aura,
the bizarre
ecstasy of roadhouse Americans, building up.
In fact, one
can become a whole era.
from Men Who Found Out
Note for
Noel: none of the ladies
were dancing
tonight at the double L,
but I heard
one of them speak of the
fictional
character who's real.
I spoke
through the glass, "who!?"
"Steve
from Blue's Cluse," she said.
"Steve's
gone to college," I replied,
"and his
little brother's taken over."
"How do
you know. Do you have kids?"
"Nah, I
just pay attention to the Clues."
"Do you
want to marry me? she asked.
I parried,
"Sponge Bob is my favorite."
"Sponge
Bob is hot," she agreed.
"Do you
know what Sponge Bob
said
today?" I asked.
"No, what?"
"He
said, 'This is no ordinary, average,
everyday
darkness. This is...
ADVANCED
DARKNESS...'"
She seemed to
understand. She said,
"Clifford
is my favorite." "Why?"
"Because
I like big red dogs."
I considered
for a moment,
"Yes,
I'll marry you."
I imagine I'm
writing this
for Black too,
the Black of K.O.,
all lyric and
lusty,
coming soon
to premier
doggy porn
at the Castro,
(Same day
DeSilver
gets hitched,
so I won't be able to
go)
For Black and
Blue
Books, for Price
of a ring, dear.
And perhaps
even
for the Russian White
against whom I just
defended
Zhivago.
That's enough
for tonight.
This can't be
for everyone.
If so I might
lose you,
Black of K.O.,
and a dozen or so
more, too.