Dave Heath RIP

Dave Heath's book Multitude, Solitude is a must have for people who like books of photography. I never met him but we corresponded and I am tremendously sorry that he is gone.

Marty
 
helenhill said:
My condolences Vince.... RIP Mr Heath

Did not know of him till YOU ... Simply ADORE his opening shot in the Article,
Will look for his book, a must to have

He looked like a Happy Soul for all his early hardships in Life
One can understand his love of 'Isolation' , the sorrows of Rejection and his Great 'Eye' depicting the World around him


I can see his Influence in some of your photos.
You were graced to share each other's Company
Click to expand...

Thanks Helen -- in that opening photo (The Vengeful Sister), Dave saw himself as that little boy on the ground, and the girl was one of his foster sisters in Philadelphia. I believe MOMA has a copy of it.

Honestly, I don't think he was overall a happy soul. He seemed melancholy, almost tortured, but he told me that if you didn't have some kind of torment in your life, you wouldn't have that drive to be creative. Almost like creating art was a 'working through', and the torment was the motivator. I tend to agree -- I think life needs to be a bit 'unsettled' in order to fuel that creativity.

He was a tremendous teacher (I had him in 3rd and 4th year undergrad at Ryerson 1992-1994, and he was one of my advisors in 4th year), and he definitely made more than a few students cry with his brutal, yet truthful assessments of their work. I count myself among one of the 'criers'. A fair number of students avoided his class because of it, but I only wanted more (I think it toughened me up). I also think that he tended to devote more attention to those students who he felt really cared about their work and truly listened to his critiques and words of wisdom. I'm fortunate to be able to say that I was one of those students. In 3rd year, I did a little 'photo essay' on his class -- maybe someday I'll scan all the prints and post them here.

In late 1993 Dave wrote a heartfelt letter to my father encouraging him to support me in my desire to go to grad school to get my MFA. I found the letter a number of years ago among my father's paperwork after he passed away, and I still have it.

We did stay in touch for a few years after I graduated, and we socialized some, but we eventually lost touch in about 1999.

I had an original 1965 copy of his 'A Dialogue With Solitude' book (paid $150 for it from Strand Books probably 20 years ago), but ended up selling it to a collector in Rhode Island -- fetched $2000. I still have a copy of the reissue from the year 2000. Even the reissue is over $400.
 
My best teachers were the ones who weren't afraid to give it to you straight. You did good, Vince, by sticking with it, and listening carefully to his critique. Just knowing he took the time to write your father that letter shows how much potential he saw in you, and wanted you to have the opportunity to be the photographer/person you've become.

My condolences on his passing, to his family, and to you.

PF
 
EDIT: My memory failed me on this. When I did my class work on on Dave Heath it was earlier than I had remembered. It was probably closer to early 1960's or mid 60's. I didn't know him like Vince or Helen did since I only spent a short time talking with him on 2 or 3 occasions and I didn't get to experience what he was like as a educator. My experience started as a visual report for a photography class and several years later it became the subject of my Masters thesis. So, it comes down to the fact that I can't claim to really know him.

So sorry to hear about Dave's passing Vince. I wrote a masters thesis on Dave Heath back in 1969. I had met him and I told him what I was going to do and he was flattered by my decision to write about him. He sent me boxes and boxes of original photos to make copies of for a slide show of his work. He even came to my presentation. I had made a sound track on reel to reel tape that was synchronized to the slides projector. The evening of my presentation and at the last minute the r/r tape recorder ate my only copy of the tape and it wouldn't work. I told Dave, who was sitting in the audience, and he asked if I had the manuscript and yes, I had one with me. He volunteered to read what I wrote about him as I showed the slides. I was sweating bullets. No pressure there is there? The entire thing was a success. The following day Dave and I drove to Lincoln Nebraska where a friend of his was teaching photography at the University of Nebraska and we did the slide show while he recited my script a second time.

He was a lovely man, very smart and self taught. I was struck by his brilliance and humility. He will be missed and he is loved by many.

Rest in peace Dave and God Bless. You made this world a better place and gave so much to those that knew you. - jim
 
I didn't know him (I'll do my homeworks) but I know from my experience it is always very sad when someone who is a mentor for you pass away. My condolences Vince and my prayers
robert
 
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