This poem I wrote at learning of the death of Vlad Quigley. It is followed by a short Bio I found on Tumblr.
O, VLAD QUIGLEY!
You have passed into the realm of Gothic Harmony,
the well of eternal Repose.
How well I remember our first encounter.
My second friend on myspace.
How you put me in your comic strip
and my image was seen around the world.
How we conspired to meet.
I would sail across the ocean-
across "The Pond" - across "The Deep" -
in a coffin made of black oak and crystal,
lined with black velvet and silk -
and you would take me
on the Post-Punk tour of London,
do an in-person modeling session,
discuss the British meaning of everything,
recollect the 80s "scene",
pull some obnoxious Gothic caper,
and revel in our
Cosmic Aries Twin-ness.
You loved and accepted me,
and then Patrick, and celebrated Dane.
I loved you. Especially your faults!
They were what made you exciting,
and learnéd, and an ICON.
Your artwork made you famous and
"Varney the Vampyre" captured me.
You were my "inside man" in England
and I was your "inside man" in the US.
You grew ill.
You lived with crippling pain.
And then one day... you quit me.
It was a shocking turn.
Your words cut me
as they lashed about the internet.
Severed me from your life.
My wounded heart ached
for understanding the Why.
Months passed. A year.
You did apologize
but it was never the same.
My lacerated heart forgave you, Vlad.
It also educated me.
Taught me to value the moment
and accept the changing nature
of living ones true self.
Today, Patrick called.
"VLAD died."
I felt nothing at first. How is that possible?
I felt relief. You were no longer in pain.
I felt remorse. We would never inact our plan.
I felt the slipping away of dreams and plans
that ultimately were never to be
but inspired our friendship.
And then,
I felt nothing.
After some hours,
I feel my tears are preparing to stream.
Maybe in a couple of hours
I will tremble with the deep realization
that you are no more.
I will weep, and cry, and dance.
I will Goth Dance.
O, VLAD QUIGLEY.
-Beverly Van Pelt, July 26, 2019
Very Short Bio (Looking for longer one)
17thC Restoration Punk Art by Vlad Quigley @VladQuigley @PunkRockClub
https://www.tumblr.com/vladquigley/116491614103/17thc-restoration-punk-art-by-vlad-quigley
Disabled artist Vlad Quigley made art installations in Brick Lane, art for Babyshambles & raised awareness of Native American women's civil rights for a decade.
Due to illness, he hasn’t exhibited in London in 6 years and hasn’t been seen in public in 4 years (at X-Ray Spex singer Poly Styrene’s funeral - who modelled in his art)
Where Vlad’s art celebrates women he is Facebook’s most banned artist, falling foul of their policy that bans the female form yet allows violent imagery & genuine beheadings.
Vlad's models are Americans Princess Farhana (who revived burlesque in the 1990s), Russ Meyer legend Kitten Natividad, “the reigning Queen of Burlesque” Angie Pontani and Native American actress Donell Morgan.
Vlad is also the official artist for Rubella Ballet… the 1970s day-glo London punk rock pioneers of goth & rave.
Vlad Quigley is listed in Who’s Who In Art, he has been published worldwide and has exhibited in the UK, the USA and France.
His period costume art is set in the 17th Century English Restoration (reign of King Charles II) and is highly influenced by two working class 'Restoration Punk' pioneering female icons: Nell Gwyn and Aphra Behn.
"When I open up my Facebook newsfeed in the morning, two things are sure to raise a smile either Vlad Quigley has posted a new drawing of an impossibly pneumatic Pirate wench or, alternatively, he has once again got himself banned for his insatiable need to post pictures of scantily-clad ladies. Anybody who upsets the mandarins of taste on such a regular basis deserves my unerring appreciation. Amazingly, he achieves all this whilst under the severe handicap of being an Arsenal fan. Saints preserve us! Arrrrr….." ---Steven Severin, Siouxsie & the Banshees