Tomversation

Romero Britto and me.

I was at an event last night with artist Romero Britto. I wasn’t with him, his art was actually being unveiled for our local Coconut Grove Arts Festival.  And it wasn’t really a rant, it was an insult. And not to Britto, but about his work and I insulted his work to my proud neighbor.

Let me start at the beginning.

Britto is all over Miami. The man and his work. Every public facility, hospital, school, train station, etc. has Romero Britto work. His main gallery is on Lincoln Road, but you can see Mr. Britto at all Miami events. And his work is licensed and sold at almost every type of store and that brings me to my jealousy, or my old jealously.

A few years ago, one of my neighbors was getting a Britto painting delivered. It came in a fancy truck, with fancy drivers and handlers and they brought the artwork in with such pomp and circumstance to, I guess, make the $25,000 price tag more palpable.

As the art was going past me and my neighbor, I said, “Oh, you bought that piece of crap?” And his face dropped, I can see it now. He must have felt so bad and I only said it because I had always been jealous of Britto. I always felt that I could do the same thing, but yet, I haven’t to this day.

Years passed and I eventually am glad I was able to tell my neighbor that I was being evil because I was jealous and no other reason. My neighbor died recently, so I always felt good that I told him before he was gone.

Which reminds me of the story of Peter Max who would not let me take his photo at an event, until I strong armed him (mentally, not physically). I’ll tell you about that another time.