OWEN O'TOOLE

Ah, well, I'm about to turn 71 & Owen is still an important person in my memories. He was always so busy with inspired projects, exactly what endears me to people. There was the publication that came in a cereal box with a flap cut in the top & twine holding it shut, there was the tape compilation for John Cage's birthday that included an excerpt from one of my prepared piano pieces. I'm sure I've already shared this but it won't hurt to share again:...

Wow, I am so sad to learn about Owen these so many years after his passing. He was a unique student of mine at the Boston Museum School. I wish I had kept closer contact with him. I will never forget the outdoor projection piece (We Showed 'Em) he and Cecille Fontaine created at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Security was there about 90 seconds into the projected loops.

I'm somewhat surprised that Owen's been gone from us now for 5 years because he's still fresh in my memory. Recently, I was showing publications to a local moviemaker who documents obscure culture that he's interested in preserving & I showed one of Owen's publications. These publications were always originally & meticulously done. I remember one that came in a single-helping cereal box repurposed to be an audio cassette case. As with all great creative people, Owen lives on in the...

I could write an entire book to you, Owen, detailing how much happiness and love you added to my life, and how much I will miss you-my soul mate, best friend, husband, and father of our beautiful son, Evan. I look for you in the sky every evening, certain that one of those bright twinkles is you.

Owen was a major figure in my life for many years. He was a free form radio guy at Tufts & beyond, he arranged a gig for me at Tufts during my 1986 "6 Fingers" tour, we were together at the Boston Bobalon, I was participated in his utterly fantastic "Filmers Almanac" project, he arranged a gig in Portland, ME, during my 1992 Official tour, he published 2 records by me on his great Wafer Face label, I saw him perform the Almanac, the stories go on & on. Owen was a major creative force in DIY...

We miss Owen up here in the woods at KZYX, where he was an engineer at our public radio station. He did a late night show called "Dark Matter," when he wasn't busy fixing our antiquated equipment. He was a joyful presence, always joking and concerned with others. Our hearts break for Pamela and Owen's little boy. We are happy though, to detect a certain amount of 'owen-ness' in Evan. And somewhere in that 'dark matter.'

Our love and thoughts are with the O'Toole family. May you all be ensconced in happy memories of Owen. The Alexanders

Still can't believe you are gone! Music, art, and inspiration will keep us together but your dance upon this earth will be greatly missed! So grateful our lives ignited mutual synergy in many areas of adventure. Thank you for the time we shared. I will treasure it always! Hugs out to wherever you are now!!

I met Owen through Wet Gate in the previous century. His kindness, generosity and curious explorations of film, sound, art, and life will stay with me always. The world lost a unique soul. Alas.