ART CLOKEY

There's an article in today's San Francisco Chronicle

We met Art Clokey years ago.
I wonder if my family remembers it like I do?


We had the pleasure of meeting Art Clokey when my children were young.
A more delightful, welcoming man I have never met.

My sister, who knows everybody in Marin, took us to Terra Linda.
We drove just down the road from ILM with their gigantic ½ built dinosaur in the yard.

A busy man, he took time to greet perfect strangers, welcoming two young women with children in tow.
Steven Spielberg would not have received a warmer welcome.

Stepping into his simple studio, a humble, warehouse office, we saw no framed awards, no photographs of famous friends.
The children shyly took it all in, a little awed, but politely shaking the hand of this gentle, smiling man.
Clokey sat them on beanbags in the tiny, viewing room, to watch unreleased Gumby adventures.

Our questions were answered cheerfully, but briefly.
His interest lay in our stories of growing up in Marin.
We seemed to be the celebrities to Mr. Clokey.

He signed our well-used Pokey, marveling at the clever stuffed toy.
We shyly asked for a photo.
Filling each little arm with Gumby toys off his desk, he joined my sister and the kids as I snapped a few shots.

Unexpectedly, he took the camera and exclaimed,
“Now let me take one of all of you!”, he asked for smiles as he peered though our camera.

There stood Art Clokey,
famous creator of clay characters, beloved by generations,
taking a family portrait, as if we were the VIP’s.

(and yes, I can't find the photo! How frustrating!)