The apprenticeship of Spark Boon was a long and arduous one. Mentored by my pedagogically parsimonious friend David Schoffman, Boon was held at all times at an impregnable distance.
For his part, Boon's fawning obsequiousness verged on pulpy servility. He even took to emulating Schoffman's sartorial quirks and unmistakable speech patterns, complete with Brooklyn accent.
And yet the young Boon managed to glean from the recalcitrant recluse many valuable ideas - specifically about drawing.
Despite the obvious weaknesses in both character and native ability, the young man did, at times, eclipse the older artist. In his conceptual daring, his technical inventiveness and in the sheer volume and speed of his production, Spark Boon has shown a unique and disarming originality.
It seems fairly evident that in Spark Boon the reluctant David Schoffman created a veritable monster.
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| David Schoffman ( l.) and Spark Boon (r.). Location and date unknown |
For his part, Boon's fawning obsequiousness verged on pulpy servility. He even took to emulating Schoffman's sartorial quirks and unmistakable speech patterns, complete with Brooklyn accent.
And yet the young Boon managed to glean from the recalcitrant recluse many valuable ideas - specifically about drawing.
 |
| Mixed media on paper, David Schoffman, 2011 |
Despite the obvious weaknesses in both character and native ability, the young man did, at times, eclipse the older artist. In his conceptual daring, his technical inventiveness and in the sheer volume and speed of his production, Spark Boon has shown a unique and disarming originality.
 |
| Tar and encaustic on prepared birch plywood, Spark Boon, 2013 |
It seems fairly evident that in Spark Boon the reluctant David Schoffman created a veritable monster.
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