Curing Cancer One Masterpiece at a Time!™

I was a twenty-something candy salesman in freezing Buffalo, New York, when fate knocked on my door. My friend Patrice raved about her new boyfriend, Ed, urging that I meet another artist. Reluctant yet curious, I agreed to meet Ed in my unheated basement studio.

This blond stranger wearing a thick black motorcycle jacket strode in and made a beeline for my canvas. "What's this?" he asked with equal enthusiasm and aggression. I braced for critique from what Patrice described as "a passionate painter." Instead, a kindred spirit emerged as we discussed our favorite creators. Duchamp's daring captivated me; Ed leaned toward de Chirico. Though his technical prowess awed me, art, philosophy, fishing, and life enthralled us equally.

Then Ed shared his creative stagnation, mainly due to battling poverty. On impulse, I grabbed my checkbook. "Wait to cash this," I instructed. "Just start painting again." A Seat for Victor blossomed from those sparse funds – a meditation on life's simple beauty.

Decades later, I reconnected with my friend. His talent still staggers me; now, his paintings grace my collection. Ed perpetually evolves, not defined by medium or style. The red hat bobbing in Place to Keep Knowledge encapsulates his spirit - a pop of color in a dazzling sea of potential, always sailing toward fresh inspiration.

Though not North Carolina, Ed represents the exception warranting inclusion. Investing in his genius early on ignited a flame helping power my creative quest. That makes Ed Besh essential to cancerART - the friend who sparked everything.

Here are some paintings from EdBeschArt that remind me why I love him and Patrice. BTW, A Place To Keep Knowledge is the painting of the red hat caged on the beach.