MARCH 2023

Afewmonthsback,Isharedastorywithyouabout friendshipandhowyouneverknowhowarelationshipwill turnoutwhenyoumeetsomeone.ThefriendItalked aboutinthearticlerecentlypassedaway.Iknewitwas coming,butIstillhopedsomehowmyfriendwouldfind hiswaybacktohisoldselfandtheworldwouldberight again.

Inevermentionedthisfella'snameinthatarticleoutof respectforthefamily.Withhispassing,Iwanttosharea glimpseofsomeofmytimeswithVicGibbons.

Myphonewouldring,"Youcomingoverforcoffee?Half coffeewithwaterandmilk,andmaybegrabusatreat!"

TedWilliamswashisfavouriteballplayer. HelikedtheRaptorplayer,"Youknow,theonewiththe headband,"hewouldsaytome.

TheLeafswerehisteam.Afterall,oldMrKellytookhim andDicktoDetroittowatchthemplay…heck,heeven droveMrKelly'scarthatday!

TalbotGardenwasthebestarena.Doverhadholesinthe roof.Iwouldalwayscounterandsay,"Simcoeicewasslow; thatwastheonlywayyoucouldcatchusDoverguys,"and thenwewouldlaugh!

Hispaintingsdrewmein,butsportsgrewourfriendship.

Asanartist,Vic'screationsportrayedmanyfacets:his vibrantpaintingsofwildlife,thecalmingwinterriver runningthroughthetrees,thefarmsettingofsheep wanderinginthewintersnow,hisclassictitledPortDover, tothestunningpaintingofJudge.

Let'slookatthatpaintingforamoment,foritwasthis fantasticpieceofartthatcrackedopenthedoorjustalittle onedayandallowedmetoseeVic'slifewithinhiswork.

AswesatinhisstudiowithJudgedisplayed ontheeasel,Vicexplainedhowtheirhorse, Judge,wassuchasignificantpartofVic, LenoreandJane'slife.Hetalkedoftheir sharedadventuresastheywatchedherride competitively.Asmiletookoverhisface, andhiseyesgrewbrightasthestoryofa particularhorserace,roseandfellandsped along.Itbroughthimbackintime,andI couldsensehisenergyandlovewithin spillingoutasithaddoneonthecanvas.

Hiswordsslowedasthestoryturnedtothe passingofJudge,andVic'sagecreptback uponhisface,hisbodyslumped.Therewas adeepsadnessatthatmomentintheroom, andtheweightoftheemotioncaughtus bothoffguard.IsawVicbeyondthecanvas andunderstoodthatsharingthatmoment wasn'teasyforhim,butheunderstoodhe couldtrustmewithourfriendship.

ItwasthenIrealizedthecorrelationwithin thisstory.Thisstorywasaboutmorethan justJudge!Atthetimeofmyvisit,afamily memberwasexperiencingasignificant healthconcern.IaskedifIcoulddoawriteupaboutJudge,andVicagreed.

Iwenthomethatdayandwrotetwostories, oneaboutJudge,andtheotheraboutthe emotionsbehindthestory.

Afewdayslater,IpresentedVicwithboth stories.Helikedthestraight-upJudgestory, butthesecondoneabouttheemotions involvedwasnothiscupoftea.Iremember hiswords,"Whatthehellisthis?"

IexplainedwhatIfelthewastryingtosay thatday,thathewasdeeplyconcernedfor hisfamilymember.

Wewentwiththestraight-upJudgestory. Thefunnypartwas,Idon'tknowwhathe didwiththesecondstory!

Vicletcertainpieceshecreateddohis talkingforhim.

ManyofyouknowVictravelledalloverthe provincedisplayinghiswork,andIhearda fewstoriesaboutthebigshowinBuckhorn, butoneIwanttosharewasinourown backyard.

VicoccasionallyjoinedmewhileIwasonthe roaddeliveringthemagazine.Ofcourse,he wasalwayswelldressedandhadhis signaturehatonbecauseheknewwewould stopforcoffeeandwantedtolookgood.This onetime,wewereinacoffeeshopinPort Rowan,enjoyingourcoffeeandatreat.A fellawalksuptoVicandsayssharply,"Are youVicGibbons?"Vicslowlylookedupand, withoutmissingabeat,said,"Who'saskin'?" Theguyreplied,"MrGibbons,Iamabigfan ofyourwork!Andmydadplayedballwith yourbrotherandyou."Viclituplikea Christmastreeastheguyexplainedthe connection.ItwasgreatthatViccouldsee peopleappreciatehiswork!Finally,Iwasable todragVicoutofthecoffeeshop.Wegetin thevan,andViclooksoveratmeandsays,"I thoughtatfirstweweregoingtohaveto

Vic Gibbons

fighttheguy!"Helaughedand smiledallthewayhomethatday!

"Everychildisanartist;the problemisstayinganartistwhen yougrowup" ~PabloPicasso.

FromthosefirstChristmascardsVic madeattheageoftentohisfinal paintingLonelyDeer,Vicstayed truetohiscalling.Notmanyofus inlifecansaythat,buthecould!He remainedatrueartistatheart.

Vicgavemywifeafewprintsof foxesandwolvestouseforthe youngchildrensheworkswith.The otherday,alittletoddlerwasinher arms,mesmerized,lookingatthe foxeswhiletheynamedthefox familyafterthechild'sfamily.My wifesaiditwasapowerful moment,watchingtheimpactof hisbeautifulworkstrikingachord withsuchayoungchild.Vic's passionforhisworkwilloutliveall ofusandinspirethenextVic Gibbons.

"Artwashesawayfromthesoulthe dustofeverydaylife." ~Pablo Picasso.

Idon'tknowifViceversawthis quote,butIthinkhewouldagree. Hisarttookhimonalifelong journeythatwasconstantly rekindledbythatnextgreat painting.TheeyesinVic'spictures alwaysbreathelifeintothe moment.Itisasifthewolfis staringrightbackatyou,fullof heartandmajesty.Vicneverhadto worryaboutthedustofeveryday life!

Myfriend,Imissyoubeyond words.Thankyouforyourtime andfriendship,yourwisdomand laughter,yoursupportand guidance.Perhapssomedaywewill meetagain… Iwillbringthecoffeeandtreats!

DaveScott

Vic Gibbons

VicGibbons