Comments on: Gordon Dring, The Godfather of Gladstone Street http://www.artlurker.com/2008/09/gordon-dring-the-godfather-of-gladstone-street/ A Miami based contemporary art newsletter / blog Thu, 23 May 2013 15:04:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Richard_haden http://www.artlurker.com/2008/09/gordon-dring-the-godfather-of-gladstone-street/comment-page-1/#comment-1090 Richard_haden Tue, 09 Sep 2008 23:04:45 +0000 http://www.artlurker.com/?p=489#comment-1090 I think it was Plato, maybe Xenophon, or another Greek, who told a story of Socrates surrounded by the usual suspects / audience of mostly young(er) eager to learn, students and followers of Socratic dialog...as the usual the setting included a wise man to whom Socrates would slowly deconstruct and expose... except that in one unique story, the older Greek gentleman at the center of the group, is not so wise. As best that I can remember (citation needed) the older gentleman whom the character, Socrates, usually tore to shreds, remained off limits to the usual mental anguishing syllogistic debate. The allegory is used to teach humility. To make a long story short, the saying: 'Can't teach an old dog new tricks' may have emerged from that sentiment. As the moral of the story was to teach those around him the uselessness of trying to remake or mock another man's belief for the mere sake of ego...especially an uninstructed, naive elderly centenarian who managed to live a descent long and seemingly prosperous life? ...something like that. Gordan Dring is like that example to me. Living isolated and on the fringes of a sophisticated cultural art world...As outsider, he is not doing so bad. I'd be interested in his pharmaceutical cocktails though--those colors are very rich. Thanks Hunter S Tom Richard Haden I think it was Plato, maybe Xenophon, or another Greek, who told a story of Socrates surrounded by the usual suspects / audience of mostly young(er) eager to learn, students and followers of Socratic dialog…as the usual the setting included a wise man to whom Socrates would slowly deconstruct and expose… except that in one unique story, the older Greek gentleman at the center of the group, is not so wise. As best that I can remember (citation needed) the older gentleman whom the character, Socrates, usually tore to shreds, remained off limits to the usual mental anguishing syllogistic debate. The allegory is used to teach humility.

To make a long story short, the saying: ‘Can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ may have emerged from that sentiment. As the moral of the story was to teach those around him the uselessness of trying to remake or mock another man’s belief for the mere sake of ego…especially an uninstructed, naive elderly centenarian who managed to live a descent long and seemingly prosperous life? …something like that.

Gordan Dring is like that example to me.

Living isolated and on the fringes of a sophisticated cultural art world…As outsider, he is not doing so bad. I’d be interested in his pharmaceutical cocktails though–those colors are very rich.

Thanks Hunter S Tom
Richard Haden

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