“They can laugh at me but they can not see me.” Those are the words my old friend, Abstract Expressionist Milton Resnick said to me as I took his photograph. The obstinate, enigmatic poet/painter was the epitome of the Tortured Artist of Integrity… that offered him few contemporary friends but many young hero worshipers.

It had been a few years since I had seen him, but at one time our painting studios were in the same brownstone on 10th street. Seeing and photographing him after so many years away from downtown New York was for me a very emotional experience.

“They can laugh at me…” I knew many people who cursed Milton, but laughter – never! That day, he let me into his soul and I was grateful that he still trusted me. When he could no longer stand upright to paint, he took his own life.