Tom Jones update Spring 2020
"As much negative input as we are all receiving at this time, whether related to another 'accident' of nature or the intent of evil or political gain, the effect that images have on one's mental and physical health is undeniable. These art prints convey a healthy, lusty optimism and enjoyment of life in ways that are impossible to describe with words. Harry's are the images that moved us forward then and can move us forward now. I hope to have the pleasure of sending you one.
July 2010
“Little did I suspect my frustration with the way others were perceiving and presenting Harry Bush's art would lead me into creating a collection of Harry's art intended to convey my affection and respect for Harry. These prints, almost all uniformly sized for a standard 11x14 matte, are the result.
Harry and I began to correspond in the late 80's and he mentored me by sharing art techniques, critiques, and stories, photos and xeroxes of his past. He was stationed in England, a cute sandy-blond guy with an endearing gap-toothed grin. Later on he settled down in San Juan Capistrano and gardened, had a koi pond, helped his sister who lived nearby and was comfortable enough, never caring much for accumulating 'stuff'. His pension was sufficient. When he enrolled in art classes in the local community college, he was an outstanding success and received much adulation. As happens to many smokers, he developed emphysema and as time went on it robbed him of his energy. Toward the end it was difficult to get up the stairs to his drawing room, and when he wrote long long letters and included original art, he sat by the fan at the kitchen table. Harry and I would swap drawings back and forth until we hit on a solution to a problematic pose or clever idea. Big envelopes would go back and forth in the post with material that he trusted me to send back. Sometimes a drawing was for me to have and keep. He shared all he could and it was understood that his health problems would not improve. But so much encouragement he gave.
Most of the people now critiquing Harry are from milieu in which he was never comfortable. His art is thus judged by their personal experiences and perceptions. None of them, as far as I know, had a career in the military. Describing his art, they use words like black humor, sarcastic wit, nubile boys, youth fixation, even low self-esteem, etc.
But, as Harry said to me, he simply had a talent for drawing the male figure and he saw that almost no one else in the field of gay art could match his talent and he wanted his work seen, thus elevating the genre. The publishers (mostly heterosexual men and women of a certain faith) were only interested in 'the bottom line' and cared nothing for Harry's concerns, only that his sexy visual 'jokes' sold magazines. So of course they wanted him producing more of them . But they weren't just jokes to Harry, they were sublimated sexual energy and a documentation of a gay life in which he had no inclination to participate. Yes, Harry spoofed lust, sleaze, and the effeminate. He was a military man, reclusive and non-compromising with his art. How did he as an artist deal with that Hollywood scene? It was paradoxical - he had to go thru 'them' to get to us. It was a bumpy ride.
Was he happy when his art was mishandled, when visitors arrived only when they wanted something, when other artistic acquaintances passed on, when neighborhood boys stoned his koi, when finally tethered to oxygen? He wasn't and who among us would expect to find him at that late stage otherwise. But would Harry think that the final gifting of his art justified the recipient 'reporting' on Harry's housekeeping or venturing boutique psychological analysis? Enough said. Harry gave it the best he could and his art speaks for itself."
Printed on heavyweight 8.5 x 11 matte finish stock using the highest quality ink.
What is offered is a standardization of format, slightly manipulating and sometimes reformatting the original so that it's extremely aesthetic in a standard and uniform size. The image area is just slightly larger than the opening of a standard 11x14 matte and for use in an 11x14 inch frame. This standardization of sizes will simplify framing or otherwise displaying a collection. (On certain images Harry's name or intials have been added as shown.)
The print is sent in an clear acrylic sleeve, in a double cardboard reinforced envelope, inside an opaque poly 10x13 inch envelope using first class mail. More than one print may be included at mailing, but there is no discount on multiple purchases.