I hear:
Please don't touch. He is our friend.
Bill Dane

Every time I go out to photograph
I tell myself, .I ought to be able to find possible pictures in any and every 'environment' I pass through, damn it !
What's wrong, Billy Boy ?!
Nothin’.
I just can't will myself to find a picture.
Something grabs me - I grab it !

Bill Dane
I hear:
... if you act right now ...
Bill Dane
I hear:
... I love people who do that ...
Bill Dane
It occurs to me that you all may have small knowledge of my relationship with my brother since '40.
In the presence of his health situation, and given our familial relationships, this may interest you.
There was some sibling stuff, we fought a bit. 
I knew he was more likable.  The parents knew it - ok.
As kids we rarely played together - didn't share friends or interests.  Not much in common.
I played mostly with older kids.  We didn't hang out at schools.  He went to a different jr hi.
Went to summer day camps alone - went 6 weeks to Silver Pines at 11 and 12 years old. 
Went away to Midland for 10th and 11th grades - went into the army after 1 yr at PCC.
I always had jobs - spent small time at home.
Went to Berkeley and Cal in '61.  We had USPS and phones - no social media.  
We didn't appear to care much what each other did over all the years.  I believe we didn't.
One doesn't know what effects 'changes' will present.  
When the father died it meant nothing - dead to me since '38. 
When mom went down it was natural to help my sister deal in my small ways - only 7 weeks.
Mom was also very entertaining as she went.  It was a quiet emotional experience for me.
My life with mom had used up the sub & noisy stuff over the years.  
We were never hugs-close.  Cerebral sharing we did ok.
Now, I don't well understand his diagnosis and prognosis. I do have the general picture.
He trusts you - his daughter and son - to navigate for him.  
I assume he is way more upset and fearful than he presents.
If I can get thru timing and phone issues I call him once a week. 
Talking to him is what you know it to be.
I have always hoped the best for him.
I am not you.  Sincerely Bill.   04/01/14
Bill Dane
Childhood-Story:
1938-1955 Play-Sports-Buddies
Save my life
Bill Dane

Robbe-Grillet, Duras, Beckett,
"Women & Fiction" Anthology,Boll, Pancake, Michaels, Banks, Et Al !

Love 'em - bet I couldn't pass an exam
Loved my Lit class at Cal - flunked it
It's in head somewhere

Bill Dane

Childhood-Story:
1943 WWII Time
I go to neighborhood mail boxes and collect mail for two weeks.
People start asking around about missing mail.
In my secret bushes-hideout I have letters from Sons in the War.
I tell them, "I think I found your letters".
It takes me 'til 1945 to say, "Sorry" to the soldier next door.

Bill Dane
I hear:
... that's the problem ... tooth pulled ... drank last night ...
had a couple beers this morning ... I'm not! ...
Bill Dane
I photograph the way I always have
Walk .Look ...
Walk .Look . ..Release
Walk .Look.. . Release
Walk .Look
Release is good
Bill Dane

Childhood-Story:
1942 Vivid
Building-digging a trench fort in our backyard.
I hit brother-Frank in the head with the hoe - 2" gash, bloody.
He's recovering in his crib after doctoring.
I tell myself, 'This is no accident'.

Bill Dane

Nancy Nick Esther Bill Monet Moses '07

Bill Dane
The BILLDANE.COM:
Nick and I start building this Website in April '07.  
At the point I want to control some ingredients
I poked around "Blogger", the builder site,
and slowly I'm building PET MONSTER and UNITE!
and THE PHOTO ALBUM.
Bill Dane
I hear:
... you know, this tastes just like candy.
Bill Dane

Childhood-Story:
1967 my home & painting studio on Mt Diablo
I'm 2nd year teaching at Berkeley High
Three of us do a 6 session "District Seminar" with Herb Kohl and Allan Kaprow

Planning 'new-life' for the Schools
They fire me for staging lunchtime "Happenings" in the courtyard
The Union! gets my job back
Kaprow in my studio
" ... Bill, best painting I've seen out here in the west. ..."
Loved That Seminar !

Bill Dane
Childhood-Story:
1968 In the hallway at U.C.
Kitaj finds me in the hall with two big paintingsafter sitting-in for our graduate seminar.
"Best stuff I've seen on the west coast, Bill.
You know, the heroics of what you're doing was
accomplished by Kandinsky and Mondrian."
By late '69 this makes sense to me too.
I get a camera and teach myself 
to walk and look and see.

Bill Dane
I street-hear:
... my Mom plans to get something
as big or bigger than we have right now.
Bill Dane
Thank You very much for the Visit !.
And again,
I hope that my sense of this life in the form of these pictures

turns out to be worth sharing.
!حياة. Dure! . 生命!.Maisha!.जीवन!. Liv!..Saol!
Kehidupan! زندگی!
Lewe! ชีวิต! Bywydau! לייווז!
жизнь! Buhay! ζωή! Leben! Vi! .Cuộc sống!Vida! .Vita!

Bill Dane