Walking The Toy Cat And Reciting Algebraic Equations

Mixed Media on Paper - 1984

For a while in the 1980's I had a great painting studio in San Francisco's Chinatown. It was a real dive and that made it perfect. From time to time I used to see this guy on the street, a grown middle aged man carrying a dirty stuffed cat toy clutched tightly to his breast.

He had a determined look and recited algebraic equations to no one and everyone in particular.

I had studied enough mathematics to understand that he wasn't spouting nonsense.

I wondered what had happened to him to cause him to behave this way.