June 19th, 2006
Larry Luchtel
I’m making great progress on the opera, and I’m taking a break to introduce you to my host here in Palm Springs, Larry Luchtel. Larry has a new home here and is working hard to make it look even more fabulous than it already is. So I sit here and compose, and he works in the yard and on the house.
I have known Del and Larry since 1986 where I met them at Martin Nathan’s home. They’ve been together 34 years and, like Daniel and myself, have an age difference: D&L have 19 years, we have 24. Larry is my age (53). When the four of us hang out, Larry and I call ourselves “the 52s” as we were born in 1952. Del and Daniel call themselves “the D’s.” Together we are the D52s.
I’ve taken many portraits of Larry alone, and I take D&L’s portraits for their Christmas cards every year as well. Here are some pictures of Larry. If you think he looks familiar, he was in many of Tom Bianchi’s early photography books.
Larry’s Crown of Thorns by Roger Bourland.
Larry Vessel by Roger Bourland.
Clem Larry by Roger Bourland.
Larry Aura by Roger Bourland.
Shawl and Candle by Roger Bourland.
Ukraine Larry by Roger Bourland.
June 20th, 2006 at 4:30 pm
Those pictures are simply stunning.
July 12th, 2006 at 8:29 am
[...] My friend Larry looked at this picture and didn’t see it as sexual at all. He prefers the term “heart space” for both the prayerbook image and the one above. He’s right. I’m surprized that if the Eskimos have 130 words for ice that we don’t have more words for things sexual. But I look at it and see it brimming with sexuality. All of Andrew’s (the boy) skin; his musculature; his hair; the chains around his neck and wrist; the color of his hair; his eyes; and the concentration/attention he is giving the the powerful lion. The lion is powerful and dominant, but here, helpless and submissive to one he could easily kill. The pain in his eyes, the powerful muscles, his fur and mane, and then the private underpart of his paw. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not being Tipper Gore in insisting that these photos are not appropriate for young children, I’m just saying we can never prevent young children from being turned on for the first time. More likely it happens in prayerbooks and story books than anything adults are interested in. [...]
April 11th, 2007 at 4:36 am
I am a friend of Larry and Del from way back, when I was a student at the university of Virginia in the 1980s. Unfortunately, I let my contact lapse. I live in London now and have thought of them often. I would so like to reach Larry. I sometimes holiday in Palm Springs and would love to say hello. Does he have an email address? —M Treu
April 11th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
mmtreu: I’m happy to have been instrumental in facilitating a reconnection. They’ve had a great life since you’ve seen them last. RB