I just met Tom recently at a photo-meet-up group,,,and was fortunate to spend some quality time with Tom before he passed away, photographing him and learning who he was through his art work. I went to Tom house to see his art and where he worked. I went to City Hospital to see his murals. I was helping put a show together of the last 52 years of his art work with Paul Gingrass and Barbara Valentine, who started this project for Tom. I was with Tom at the Worcester Art Museum on Thursday April 3, 2008. I photographed him while he was teaching the last print making class for that session. After the class ended I spend the remainder of the day with him until 7 pm helping print a wood block print, making some posters, and a banner,,while learning the process and the techniques he used. It was a very intimate time ,,,we talked as artists about our work. He was very excited about his up-coming show, and I was very excited to be involved. We made plans to meet the following day to finish printing,,, this time we would be using color,,,,we plan to have lunch and talk some more,,,I went to the Art museum Friday and waited for Tom, he never came,,,,I sat reading,,,, took a few more pictures,,,,, it was very quiet,,,and waited,,,I left him a note on the table next to his things,,, telling him I was there,,,,,
I am honored to be helping put this show together, and to meet show a wonderful, caring giving individual,,who would give you the shirt off his back,,,
I am also honored to be the last one to be doing art work with him,,,
Tom Lewis will always hold a special place in my heart,,,and will be sadly missed,,,he was a good man,,I was lucky to have met him,,,thank-you Tom!!!
Trisha Barry