Good Shit: Holy Cats! Gary's in the House! An Interview (Part Two) and another Good Derf Deed.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at 2:05AM Mrs. G. 
First Date-ish
How did you meet the missus? How did you propose to her?
So, like I was saying, I went to Chicago to grad school in special education at Univ of Illinois Chicago. I was a graduate research assistant doing educational research in 5 of Chicago's most horrible schools, in the Robert Taylor project and elsewhere. It was eye opening alright, but it seemed like what kids needed most in those neighborhoods was more safety, peace and quiet around home and also some good playgrounds. The education in the schools was good enough, in my opinon, but if you lived in a neighborhood that was poor and dangerous etc you might also have trouble in school. Anyway, I later taught blind children on the near west side, which was pretty eye opening. (and remember what I said before, we taught at a boarding school later for rich kids....my goodness...) During the 2 years I was a grad student and then later when I was a teacher, there were 2 open studios and an art gallery at the university. The wife was the director of one mixed use studio with ceramics and darkrooms etc, open to anybody. In the fall of 1989, she organized a gallery show I was in, and we met. I showed up with my boxed tea set for the show and she was so pretty I couldn't even look her in the eye, I just literally stammered out 'this is my entry' and ran away, and she was sweet and gracious. I soon became a teacher in her studio and artist in residence and we talked all the time, nearly every day. She had a boyfriend who was a doctor, and the one time I met him he was mean to me. I never forget sh!t like that, and I am certain that his particular voodoo doll has since caused his privates to shrivel up and fall away....if he has not already died of a horrible and painful disease. I myself was also with somebody. 2-3 years later in '91, this friend (one day to become the wife) was breaking up with that dude and I mentioned I was moving out into my own apartment, it was over in my old relationship too. My friend, who is an unbelieveably small person, said "oh! I can help you move, carry boxes and stuff!" and although I did not need her help, we started hanging around outside the university. I asked her to BEAUTY AND THE BEAST around Dec 1, 1991, and we were both teary, and I was HOOKED, totally smitten, lovesick! A couple months later, January 31, 1992, I had a party and she was still there, very late, and was the last person....and offered to help cleanup....and, well, we became an item. I don't remember a proposal. July 4, 1992 we were waiting for the subway after a wedding and were chatting and were like, "Hey let's get married on a cool day like Max and Chris here on July 4th! Let's get married on Christmas!". And we did. nearly 20 years ago......
Wedding Day, 12/24/92
Does she mind that you have been adopted by hundreds of middle-aged women?
If you were an absolutely gorgeous woman, like her, with a sweet, friendly, intelligent outlook, a perfect TEN as it were, or maybe even a more than perfect ELEVEN, and who had a husband who is extremely shy and who hates to be touched unless it is she (or the cat and dog), a husband who is also very loyal and true, you probably would NOT think much about his many imaginary adopted sisters, cousins and what have yous. It is also true that I do not ever communicate anything with anybody else that I would not say with her watching over my shoulder. I also try very hard to be polite and not offend anybody, anywhere, at any time. She does not mind because there is nothing to mind :)
We know you have a massive t-shirt collection. Which one is your favorite?
OH, it gets worse and worse and worse....3 new ones for my recent birthday! I LOVE THEM: the wife gave me a new Snoopy tee, also a Godzilla tee (Deb K. over in Japan saw mine and got one for herself!) and yesterday I wore the one, probably my favorite, a new MICKEY MOUSE TEE! Holy cats, I love Mickey....
Gary, back in the day
What is your idea of a perfect evening?
WELL, for example, on my birthday we could have done anything but I told the wife I wanted to bake cookies with her. So we drank whiskey and baked chocolate chip cookies! That is pretty flippin' awesome. For an outing, me and the wife loooove the burrito place or Thai joint down in Ithaca with the movie at the old Cornell Cinema....that is a very big deal to me. I don't get out much ;)
What’s your favorite cartoon?
I really liked Felix the Cat when I was little, more recently, if it counts as a cartoon, you KNOW I love Wallace and Gromit! Total artistry.....
Where do you hope to be in ten years?
Well, still here in Ithaca making the art, you know? It would be nice if the wife, who is several years older than me, could retire early from her VERY IMPORTANT jobby job....
Amazing image created by resident derf ~annie...thanks ~annie!
Are you really willing to host a Derf gathering at your pad?
Sure! It will be summer, and barring rain, we have the greatest yard for sipping chilled adult beverages and eating the boatload of cookies etc that I plan to bake :) I would absolutely love to meet Canada, Penn and upstate NY Derfs, and yaaaaay, Mrs G! I should mention, thanks to blogging, people from around the world, I kid you not, have come here to meet me. The very first was a customer from Toronto who asked to come for the weekend....she came, we all had a blast. Karen C, Kcinnova or Spokalulu, brought her whole family up from Virginia for a weekend. So, well, despite my shyness I keep telling you about, I would be delighted to see one and all :) I can give some demos in the studio before I have that chilled adult beverage too....
You know we love you right?
I have gotten to know so many delightful people thanks to hanging around Derfwad manor, what, 4-5 years? I am VERY grateful for the fun, humor, the outlook, the discussion and support, and yesssss, I wuvs you too :)
In addition to sharing intimate, charming details of his life, Gary has offered to do a fundraiser to help fill up Mrs. G's gas tank for the I Am a Derfwad 2012 Summer Tour. Check out his sweet wares (sale proceeds go to the Derf Travel Fund) here. This is the fourth item Gary has donated, and Mrs. G. thanks him a lot. UPDATE: The mugs sold fast which means Gary is an amazingly generous donor.
To read more about Gary and his lovely, whimsical work go to....
You can also check out...
Reader Comments (14)
OH! We love Wallace and Grommit here too!
Thanks for the interview Gary - it was fun to read!
Holy cats, here tis! Thank you :) The donations, btw, on the first items not including the shipping and fees, netted nearly 100 dollars for Mrs G, so this will give a chance to go over 100! Thanks all!
oh, and btw, my website is www.garyrith.com which leads to my daily blog etc too :)
so sweet and romantic :-)
OKEY DOKEY! The fundraiser pair sold right away, thanks derfs, esp. the derf in Georgia who plans to use them to serve Mrs G this summer :) That brings the total raised this way to about 120 dollars (not counting shipping etc cost which was extra). I am pretty flippin' excited about how easily that went!
Thank you. We are romantic. I am one luuuuuuuuuuucky dude!
Gary, man, that was was fast! You are the best. Thanks to the Georgia Derf--can't wait to sip out of those mugs! I'm sorry I forgot to link you, G. Fixing that now!
Gary - loved your description of your very special relationship...loved your latest contribution to the "Tour" but I still lust after that rabbit teapot and need your thoughts on a gift (must be small) w/ "if frogs could fly" for a sisterwoman" in Olieveri, Sicily...I know it's usually pigs flying but the "evil eye" is alive and thriving in her town of 600 Italians - she is the only Protestant but has won their hearts and minds..drop me a line...
Oh, I like this! I always read Gary's comments, so I knew a bit of his personality, but this fills in some nooks. Yay Gary! Also, I didn't previously know how talented you were, my, my!
Wow, that pair of mugs sold before I could even look at them!
I think we overwhelmed Gary when we showed up at his place with my family of tall people, but we had a wonderful time in the super-hot studio taking turns at the wheel (seriously, it was probably over 100 degrees in there that day) and meeting his lovely wife and Penny the Beagle.
http://kcinnova.wordpress.com/2009/08/19/wwc-97-vacation-edition/
http://grpottersblog3.blogspot.com/2009/08/kc-comes-over.html
i love gary and his missus....i'd love to do a homestay with them, not only for the great company, wonderful pizza (i'm sure!) and a chance to see if i could do me some pottery, but also because they seem like just the nicest people ever.
and that Godzilla t-shirt?
total awesomeness. totally.
great interview!!!
Hooray!!!! I'm glad you don't mind being "adopted" by us middle aged hussies. How did I miss your birthday???? Happy belated wishes, friend. I raise a glass of the good stuff (bourbon, of course) in your honor!
Mrs G's mom...I have driven past Oliveri many a time on my way to Patti!
I miss Sicily...you should go and visit your friend. It's an amazing place...
I missed those mugs? You snooze you loose around here. What a generous thing tho - Gary you're a gem.
Darla
If it wasn't so far from here to Ithaca . . .!