VALI

"Brooches and finger rings not less than nose rings and tattooing, are tokens of the primeval savageneness which ever slumbers in human kind civilized or uncivilized". - Herman Melville.In this lifetime I was fortunate enough to know the reknown painter Vali Myers for the last ten years of her life. From the moment we met at her first Art exhibition in Melbourne we became friends. As I entered her exhibition a voice rich with Australian character floated through the air toward me. Her first words to me were "I luv ya hair darl!!!!". At that time I had long braided multi colored locks complete with the odd plastic black cat sewn into my hair. I sat with her and one of the first things she told me about herself was off her preference for the company of animals to that of human beings. Vali in turn re-ignited the love of animals I had known so naturally in my childhood. I can now say that my closest and dearest friends in this life are Animals and that I have a personal totemic relationship with animal nature ; an issue reflected poignantly in Vali's unique painting style. Like an Animal she could smell/sense the creative spirit of fellow journeymen. Much to the enrichment of my life she selected me as one of her fellow travelers. I have a much treasured note she wrote to me a year or so before she passed on where she refers to me as a fellow traveller. I have adopted that phrase myself when I speak of other "fellow travelers". That phrase for me is one I use with highest terms of endearment. If I ever refer to you as a fellow traveller then I am passing you one of my highest compliments!Vali Myers was and still is an extraordinary spirit. Though we no longer have direct access to her in the physical plane, via her creative legacy we all have access to a very potent creative muse who is one of hostories most amazing examples of fearless bohemian spirit. She followed her unique creative vision relentlessly. Vali loved people from all creeds and walks of life. She had complete faith in the power of the individual and had no tolerance for the dogmas associated with socio-politic norms. She is a living inspiration for each person who walks their unique path in this world. She certainly was no Saint and would be the first to refute such a proposition. She was one of the roughest diamonds I've encountered. Oh but was she a great thinker and theorist. She was incredibly well read and versed in the history of various cultures. Her knowledge of Elizabethan history was unmatchable. Her love of the Romany culture unquenchable. Her love and knowledge of the classic poets suck as Yeats, Keats, Poe, Rimbaud, Baudelaire, Rumi and dozens of others was unmatchable.As per Vali's Iast wish I was among the dozen close friends who travelled out into Port Philip bay to scatter her ashes into her beloved ocean. That day I watched and spoke with other close friends of Vali's some of whom I knew and some who I had only heard of. I played the "silent witness" and listened to the recollections and stories being passed around. It was then that I realized that we all had a unique relationship with Vali. To my mind this speaks of the breadth and depth of Vali's multi-faceted personality. She was indeed the person's person. She loved people. One of her great catch phrases was "fuck love ; it's a load of shit ; I make love with my friends!". And so she did. We were all so very lucky to walk with her for a time. I was a little late in learning that Vali had Cancer. I did not see her in hospital but we spoke on the phone several times in her last two to three weeks. Among other things she made it clear to me that she wished for me to engross myself in my creative work ; something she had always pushed me to do. My work was something she had a personal interest in and she acknowledged that it had power and was something which had to be done. She also made it clear to me that she wished for me to assist in keeping her legacy alive. I know that she wished for several of her friends to play a part in this matter. Hence this myspace profile is one of the mediums where I will assist in making her legacy accessible to the world's vast population of dreamers, unique spirits, personal visionaries and anyone who has tasted the sweetness of walking the line alone. To be outside of the tribe is a blessing. Vali was an an adept in embracing the journey of one.