"Collaboration"
For more than seven years I have carried on a collaboration with the Brooklyn based painter M.P. Landis. Our work together has taken on many forms. Michael is a wonderful photographer and has shot publicity and abstract shots of almost every band I've played in. He has done paintings for a half dozen of my record covers and he's painted live when I've performed. We worked together organizing performances, workshops and tours through our non-for-profit Jump Arts and in recent years we have been working on films together. Michael's paintings hang on the walls of my home and my music often plays in his studio as he paints. A true symbiosis.
In August of 2005 Michael and his partner Sarah invited my wife and I to move in to the brownstone they manage in Brooklyn. We now share an organic garden, have many meals and holidays together and often have movie night at the house. An extension of our friendship and collaboration. Four months after we moved in Michael had kidney failure and he began dialysis treatments three times a week.
Eventually we all have to watch our friends and love ones become ill and we almost always are helpless to provide anything more than emotional and logistical support. I am one of the lucky ones in that I can help my friend. This coming Monday December 4th I will be giving my friend my left kidney.
Michael and I see this in many ways as another collaboration. Although it is different than making a film or art piece, so much of it feels the same. A process with a reward and a chance to learn and grow.
Your support and prayers through the surgery and recovery mean a lot. We are accepting well wishes and donations (details below) at our home in Brooklyn. We are both very proud of the work we have done together over the years. Please take some time to look at our websites and many videos. (Links here)
Thanks for reading,
Tom
Michael Landis
Tom Abbs
39 Hawthorne Street
Brooklyn, NY 11225
mplandis@gmail.com
tomabbs@gmail.com |
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UPDATE 12-18
I wanted to thank all of you responded with donations and notes of support in the last couple of weeks. It has meant so much to Michael and me to have the support of the community at this time.
Also, there is a nice article in the New York Daily News about the two of us. You can view it online here (http://www.nydailynews.com/boroughs/story/479479p-403357c.html).
We are both home now and doing well. The kidney transplant on December 4thwent perfectly and both our recoveries are going great. Aside from some indigestion some soreness I am feeling fine and I even started jogging and biking again. Michael’s surgery was a bit more invasive so his recovery is slower. He has been doing lots of walking and is getting stronger everyday. He should be feeling much better in a couple more weeks. For the next month or two Michael will need to keep a close eye on his fluid in-take and out-take and he will go to the hospital twice a week for tests and to adjust levels of anti-rejection drugs with his insulin.
In this time of recovery we are still in need of help. We are trying to raise money for lost wages, occurred debt, transportation and other expenses related to recovery.
You can make a donation by following the instructions below.
We also need:
*People in the NYC area that have access to a car and would be willing to drive Michael one-way or both-ways to a doctors appointment. (Mondays & Thursday mornings)
*People who would be willing to help Michael with organizing the papers/bils/artwork that has piled up since he’s been sick. (both in his studio and at home)
*People willing to make us a home cooked meal and/or do basic housecleaning. We’re all a bit physically/emotionally exhausted and don’t have much energy for chores. Special thanks to John, Jane, Ryan and Jeb for taking such good care of us in the first week.
Our partners Sarah English and Jennifer Kjos have been amazing during this whole ordeal. It is hard to express how grateful we are to them. They have been so selfless in their care giving and when we’ve lacked confidence they’ve given us hope and guidance. Please help Michael and I show how much we appreciate by sending notes of support to seenglish@gmail.com and jenniferkjos@gmail.com. Gifts and flowers can be sent to 39 Hawthorne Street, Brooklyn NY 11225 |