For years I wrote a column called Oldest Woman on the Web. Like everything we did online, this was a blog before there were blogs. Under pressure from my friends, pressure from my now aging body, pressure to continue something cutting edge that I did while co-hosting Neofiles with the famous RU Sirius, I'm starting this blog. The subjects may be art, technology as it applies to normal humans, reconcilling our dark sides with a drive to survive, messages from other planets, death (get over it), and humor.
For an introduction, I give you this interview by Miranda Knickerbocker. Years ago an editor gave Miranda an assignment to find an unknown
woman and write her biography and see if they could turn her into a "star" by telling her story. That project never reached the bright lights but she did discover her subject, Sherry Miller, in her painting studio in Portland, Maine. Since then Miranda anonymously followed Sherry's aesteroidal journey from Maine to California, from art to technology and back to art, from light side to dark side and back. Here is an interview Miranda recorded with Sherry in July, 2006.
How do you feel about living in Marin County without a face lift or a tummy tuck?
I use duct tape. I've always used duct tape. It works perfectly, is non invasive, takes inches off all parts of your body. Used in excess it can add inches to your partner's anatomy. It's very inexpensive and now comes in colors. If you leave openings at the right places you don't have to remove the duct tape while making love.
You may live thirty more years. How do you feel about this portion of your life?
It's not a piece of cake. We no longer eat cake. But we eat roast beef, and oysters, and shrimp and matzo balls. I'm fortunate to be very healthy. The only medicine I ever take is expensive tequila (or Lobster Prozac). It is not covered by the new Medicare Drug Program. The only problem with these years is being chased by so many men with strange sexual proclivities. I often can't run fast enough to get away but I hate the videos when I see them afterwards. I think I'll start doing a cooking show.
Who is your favorite dress designer? Are you a fashionista? Do you have a foot fetish?
Manolo Blahnik came over for kishkas the other day. I made them in the shape of high heeled green leopard sling backs. He loooooved them. These days I take exquisite old clothes fromSt. Vincent de Paul and rework them into fashion statements with antique lace, seed pearls, ostrich feathers, and old velvet patchwork patterns. These pieces are usually worn over tie-dyed nurses uniforms. I may have my third collection shown at Sweetwater Café in Mill Valley California in conjunction with the Film Festival opening (2007).
Who is your favorite author?
Kate Braverman. She interviewed Marilyn Monroe and a whole new Marilyn was born. Now my ambition is to interview twenty famous women and put the interviews into their Hospice files. The Case Manager can read them the interviews just as they are approaching life on the other side.
Do you believe in UFOs?
UFOs? You F__k Outside? I do too. Good. Let's f__k. Seriously, I not only believe in extra terrestrials; I am one. I come from a small planet in the Andromeda Galaxy called Zurc. I've been on Earth for about fifty years and have been an AOC (Agent of Change) the entire time. All my work began to manifest around the year 1992 when technology began its break away from human control. I laugh a lot when I hear people discuss the issues like drilling for oil or human cloning. There are technological processes already active that are rebuilding the world from the inside out. For example, don't go into your bank's vault by yourself or visit the engine room of a seaworthy vessel. They are no longer what you think.
Do you have a partner in crime or are you into all these things on your own?
I am able to take different parts and different qualities from different partners and then in my psyche reassemble them into one wonderful entire perfect being. I've been doing this all my time on earth and I've come up with the most superb partner ever. Incredible brain – much smarter than I; sees things I can't imagine. Another with perfect unfailing humor in the most sober situations. Another with a body that obeys every command. Another with genes that regenerate everything he ever needs. And a dancer. And a painter. And a translator of Russian. etc etc etc ….
Do you ever get tired doing these interviews?
Lie down now. I'll do the rest in the dark at 2 am.
End of interview. Write to SherryArt.
Oh yes … And Sherry is a painter. There will probably be too many paintings posted in these blogs. Thank you for reading.
Self Portrait. 1985. Oil on Canvas. 16" x 20"
Collection of J. Daniels, Union, Maine