I first met Jack Bush a few times a week for about six weeks before I even knew his name. It was 1965 and I had just been rejected by the OCA. Feeling lost and unsure of my next steps, I remembered reading that artists often gathered at the Pilot. So, I made my way there, usually a bit too early in the day due to my factory shift. Sitting at the bar, I noticed a dapper man in a grey suit with steel grey hair and a perfectly groomed mustache. He was sipping on a martini, and something about him caught my attention. We struck up a conversation, and I was immediately taken aback by his profound insights on art. This was a level of conversation I wasn't used to, and I found myself thoroughly enjoying it. We ran into each other several times, and each encounter left me with a newfound appreciation for this man. It wasn't until a couple of weeks later that I discovered the real artist hangout at the Pilot - the big, dark back room where they rarely appeared before 5pm. It took some time, but eventually, I managed to break into the artist clique back there. One of the first friends I made was Jerry Santbergen, who was also a bit of an outsider at the time. One day, Jerry and I decided to grab lunch at the Pilot. As we walked in, I spotted my friend Jack at the bar. I said hello, and he responded with a sly comment about me finding some artists to hang out with. We made our way to the back room, and it was then that Jerry exclaimed, "Wow, you know Jack Bush? He's a pretty amazing artist." I was taken aback, realizing I had been talking to a true master without even knowing it. From that day on, I became good friends with Jack. We would often chat at the bar, and he always made sure to invite me to his art openings. He was a joy to talk to, and I will never forget attending an opening with him at the Mirvish Gallery. Even though the gallery owner, David Mirvish, was not pleased with me taking up Jack's time, he couldn't help but be drawn in by Jack's charm and conversation. Jack never felt entirely comfortable at these events, but I was grateful to have his company. He was truly a remarkable man, both as an artist and a friend.
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