10,474. THE ARTIST KNOWN AS DENSE FOG

THE ARTIST KNOWN 

AS DENSE FOG

Yes, I knew him but he wasn't me. 

His name was Eddie Testo, A half 

Hispanic from Harlem, but more 

like a Hispanic half from Harlem.

It was in his mix, not his DNA. All

tight, white chinos and little Beatle

Boots together. He talked fast and

stirred paint with his sticks.

-

I guess you could call it 'painted';

whatever he did was lively, but sour.

Bitter. Only every once in a great while

was there a form or an object  -  mostly 

it was great splotches of running color.

I used to say, 'Eddie, you've captured

the Revolution with this one.'  He'd say,

'My name's no longer Eddie, remember?

And I missed it by a mile but thanks.

For my people.'

-

I never understood him, and now I

can realize what he was: a 1950's

leftover in 1965. Fastidious. Current.

Gay. And calm. An out-of-date 

Beatnik with all that aplomb.