Dominic: prisoner, artist and patient
Dominic Marak was in Oshkosh Correctional Institution. He died of mantle cell lymphoma on 10/28/21. He was only 55. Donations can be made to Forum for Understanding Prisons, 29631 Wild Rose Dr, Blue River, WI 53518.
Saturday, November 27, 2021
Saturday, November 6, 2021
27 September 2021
I have
painting I have been working on but there was stuff with the foreground and
background. I honestly did not think I would finish it.
My health
went downhill to a point that I could not do more highly technical stuff.
Yves Tanguy's work popped into my head and I decided to use Tanguyesque imagery
to solve my foreground and background issues.
It is
working, and "Still Hunted For Their Pelts" looks like it will actually be
completed. That is pretty cool.
1 October 2021
I spent
most of the day letter writing to my dear friends. Dancing to songs while
paralyzed, and just enjoying the day.
Life is
still good.
The eyes
are starting to get buggy again, and I believe staff think the end is really
not far off. Not by what they say, but their actions.
We shall
see.
2-3 October 2021
We stopped
using the lift to move me to and from the toilet, and are just changing my
soiled diapers. My mobility is minimal.
One of the head
nurses was very honest with me. She said my cancer is advancing
rapidly. All those periods where I nod out will mean I will go into a coma
at one point.
I do not
know if I will get any more work done.
I hope I do
not get too sick for awhile, because this place is like an old age home and
many of the guys are nice. It would be nice hanging out with them for
awhile.
I watched
Svengoolie tonight and it really lifted the spirits. That was just what
the Doctor ordered. I feel so much better.
3 October 2021
I have been
in the emotional dumps for awhile now. I watched Svengoolie last night
and it lifted me to the heavens. Thank you, Svengoolie!
I am going
to die, but it is not today. Get over it.
Life is
good.
I have been
talking guys ears off, which I do not normally do. My guess is my
advancing cancer is affecting my mental behavior.
4 October 2021
I went to
see my parents on a visit today. It was magnificent. After the
visit, the officers dropped me, moving me from a visiting chair, to my regular
chair. My back hurts a lot.
Next time
we will use medical staff to instruct them through the process.
On the
visit it was obvious how much in love with my mother my father still is after
over 56 years of marriage. It was beautiful.
The way he
brushed her hair out of the way when putting her medical mask on.
Then he hurried to the bathroom after she used it, because of her walking
difficulties. It was simply amazing.
I remember
treating people like that when I first met them. Here he is fifty-six
years later and the flame still burns.
It is a
great American love story.
Thank you,
Dad.
6 October 2021
As I have gotten closer and
closer to death, fewer people have tried to save me. What a relief that
has been.
25 September 2021
I spent most of the day organizing some of my stuff. I have my cubist self-portrait ready to ship out.
I was looking at it today and I believe it could be slipped into the 1918 Armory Show and no one would realize that is painted in 2021.
I really like the piece.
My self-portrait in-the-style-of van Gogh has been an entirely different story.
8 October 2021
I erased by accident my entire folder of sudoku and all log posts with it. One of the more tech savvy guys said he would try to help with it.
Carla said she has an appointment with the lawyer on the 18th, but worries we do not have enough time.
Never thought of that.
The nurses and doctor want me on a cycle of two hours in bed because I am holding so much fluid. Yesterday they were doing something and I dropped my leg. It caused a splash. Not joking.
dominic's art, a few photos
Solitary confinement, Dominic draws the cell: https://solitarywatch.org/marak1/
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I went to see my parents on a visit today. It was magnificent. After the visit, the officers dropped me, moving me from a visitin...
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We had an exceedingly strong storm come through last night. We lost our power through the night, causing too many of the grown men on...
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I have painting I have been working on but there was stuff with the foreground and background. I honestly did not think I would fini...