While traveling to Europe for our first river cruise in late June 2016 our first stop was Paris! How can you not be happy in Paris! It was my first trip but not my last; hubby had been a couple times before for his work.
I felt like a fish out of water--strange country, strange language
alas, there was a Starbucks! That we knew. We made our way through ordering and as we were waiting for the drinks to be prepared, we sat at a inside table
next to a tall fellow who had his paint pens and markers on this table. I glanced over and then we spoke for several minutes!
Before we picked up our drinks and headed on our way, he said he was sad about violence that had recently happened in Orlando, Florida. Knowing, we were Americans, he handed me this 'graffti' painting done on cardboard from box top.
He said he travels all over the world making graffiti art. A mysterious person for sure. At times, I wonder why we were in that place at that time. I call it “a God moment!”
Pulse Nightclub Shooting (June 12, 2016): A gunman opened fire inside the Pulse nightclub, killing 49 people and wounding 58 others in what was classified by the FBI as an act of terrorism and the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history at the time. [1]
The card he gave me with his artwork.
Of course, we were curious about his work--His artist name was TMNK aka Nobody--his real name was Scott Patterson. Upon our return from the trip, I did some research on TMNK--found he died in 2016--reported as suicide in Sept, 2016.
Recently, I found this piece of art as I was cleaning out our desk--somehow, the painting had become stuck in the back of the drawer. Brings up many wonderful memories of the people who touch your life in unusual ways.
His quote on the bottom of his card:
"I'm Nobody, aka the street artist TMNK. Today I imagined a so-called 'nobody' like me creating a smile on your face with this small unexpected gift of art. Well that smile, for however long it radiates on on your face is my newest street art masterpiece and I proudly sign it "nobody did it."
Rest in peace TMNK
