ol' Roff's blog

‎”What is that!” a not too bright passer-by asked. “Is it alive?” as he stood near but but too close. Edging a little closer, “Is it edible?”. Shaking his head he was stunned, “How did that squirrel turn to wood”, talking to himself as he walked away!—happened Saturday at about 3:00pm in front of the gallery as we were shooting photos of Bruce Azevedo’s squirrel—see category Bruce Azevedo–carver.

What a great family! Little Georgia Sudduth was a sweetheart. She was O. C.’s wife. She was petite with a heart of pure gold! My how they loved Brandon. They would all make over him! He was about 13 when we first started visiting the Sudduths. Georgia was always so concerned with him! Southern Hospitality at its best!

Georgia was the first to pass away. She was sorely missed on our subsequesnt trips!—

During 1995 or 1996 I drove from Stockton,California  enroute to FolkFest in Atlanta. I stopped to meet Jimmy Sudduth, the great Black artist  in Fayette, Alabama. Jimmy immediately took out his wallet and handed me $20. to have dinner on him. I poliitely refused. Jimmy insisted on putting me up in a motel. He got in my pickup and we drove to downtown Fayette.We stopped at the motel and Jimmy looked at me for a few seconds, then said, “You know, I think we might have the wrong motel”.  We then drove to a motel on the edge of town and Jimmy felt I would be more comfortable there.  Slight racial difference. I loved Jimmy Sudduth!

Roff Graves True story—This evening I was having dinner with Angela and Albert at mar y tierra restr in Lodi. This nice lady said to me “My daughter thinks you are Santa Claus! I went and knelt by the little girl, speaking gently. I then returned to our table and took a dollar out of my wallet. Returning to the little girl I handed her the $1.00… bill and wished her “Merry Christmas”! Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus!

On our first trip to Georgia, I guess my grandson Brandon was 13 years old, when we were spending the night in this sleezy motel. (I was never much for wasting money on a place to sleep) It must have been midnight or so when Brandon woke me up. “Grandpa, Grandpa, call 911!”. I asked Brandon what was wrong. “He is killing her! He is killing her”, Brandon replied! From the next room, we could her a woman screaming, “Oh my God, Oh my God” “Oh Oh Oh my God”. I assured Brandon that it was OK, not to worried. I had a little bit of trouble sleeping as I kept wondering how I was going to explain this to my oldest very religious Seventh Day Adventist daughter, Wendy, Brandon’s mother!

We just added Levent Isik to our gallery. Check out his fun paintings that are enroute!

Roff Graves Watch for ties to my website for a video which I expect to start producing soon. It will feature different artists, carvers, etc such as Bruce Azevedo. He will tell stories about his life in San Quentin and will be untold stories about Richard Allen Davis, the Murderer of Polly Klass—also Richard Ramirez, The Night S…talker. His personal experiences in 12 different california prisons

Roff Graves So, it was about 15 years ago when I talked my daughter and son-in-law to letting me take my 13 year old Seventh Day Adventist grandson to Atlanta with me for Folk Fest. I thought he would enjoy learning about some of the better things in life. And he thoroughly did! The wonderful women at Hooters in Amarillo loved him and pampered him, spoiling him for life!

Bruce Azevedo introduced Victor, a new artist, to our world–watch for his work–great!

I took my two grandson to see John Abdul today. I wanted them to see the only man I have ever known who had been shot point blank in the stomach with a shotgun—and lived to tell the story! I bought some more sculptures today–at a much higher price than yesterday.  John had money in his pocket today and that definitely affected his prices.  And that is true!