It was slightly after 6 PM when multidisciplinary artist David Lynch arrived at the Tilton Gallery located in New York City’s Upper East Side. Having already seen and enjoyed the exhibition when it opened on March 6th (as visitor #1 ─a minor life achievement!), I was there mainly to shake the man’s hand and maybe snap a picture with him.
I was not alone.
My wife and sidekick in times of mayhem aptly described the events that followed as “Lynchageddon.” From the moment David Lynch entered the former residence of Franklin D. Roosevelt, he was engulfed by flocks of excited fans and he could do nothing but shuffle across the ground floor while being photographed and praised. I overheard someone asking whether the teeth embedded in some of his artworks are real, which he immediately and startlingly denied, as if he’d never do a thing so absurd. It’s been said many times before: this man is so kindhearted and amiable in person, it’s hard to imagine he once gave us Eraserhead to choke on.
Shortly after completing his first round from Tilton Gallery’s main entrance to the office in the back─a trek that took him about half an hour─he reappeared upstairs where the exhibit (and Lynchageddon) continued. Meanwhile, a line of admirers had formed in front of the gallery and stretched all the way around the corner of 76th Street and Madison Avenue. Yes, it would be a long and tiring evening. But Lynch, whose hair was in The Great Wave off Kanagawa-mode, took his time to have a friendly chat with everyone while obliging to every fan’s request. Such as a facial autograph.
One particularly spontaneous request saw him sketch a tattoo on the spot. An hour later, Paul Ketterman headed to a tattoo shop to immortalize Lynch’s Duckman drawing on his arm. These are the kinds of things that happen during Lynchageddon, and they make sense somehow, you know?
Personally, I couldn’t have been happier. Sure, I’d prefer to meet David Lynch under different circumstances (as in: him, me, a comfy couch and two cups of damn good coffee), but my favorite director graciously posed for a photo with me wearing a big smile and he autographed two portraits I had created of him last year. I handed him copies of my shots, which he sincerely thanked me for, but seeing the slightly tumultuous tenor of the evening I doubt he remembered to take the folder home with him afterwards. Before stepping aside for the next fan, I asked David Lynch if he was going to team up with Angelo Badalamenti again. He replied: “Absolutely! I’m teaming up with him tomorrow!” Here’s to hoping they’re bringing back Thought Gang or discussing “new movie” business!
Below are some more photos I shot during the reception, the very last one being a Welcome to Twin Peaks card signed by none other than DKL himself.
» You can visit Tilton Gallery presents: David Lynch until April 14, 2012 (8 East 76th Street, New York, NY 10021).
Fire walk with 
great article and photos!