Art Nuko — He Told Us So
Malcolm Parry as editor of Vancouver Magazine from June 1974 to December 1987 and August 1989 to September 1990 had the door to his office open at all times. People from everywhere, be they painters, politicians, thugs, wrestlers, writers, ladies of the night, etc and etc were ushered in with no, “Do you have an appointment to see M Parry?”
Because in those days the magazine was thick with editorial paid by advertising there were many photographers and illustrators dropping in.
One of them was Carl Chaplin who was a master of the air brush. Because of my receding neurons (none are being replaced) my memory for the man is spotty.
He often talked on how we were going to be soon obliterated by nuclear bombs. He told us (at the magazine) that he was going to go to the Yukon Territory and live in an underground bunker. Around 1986 he was known as Art Nuko because he published a series of postcards featuring major cities (in brilliant, lurid colour) with an atomic bomb mushroom about to devastate them.
I have one postcard for which I paid $1.00. His webpage will not open so I wonder if he is alive or perhaps smiling in his northern bunker as we all wonder if President Trump is going to press a button.
Addendum:
I called up Thor Froslev at the Brackendale Art Gallery and he told me Chaplin is alive and well and living in Chase, BC.
This site is working.
Originally published at blog.alexwaterhousehayward.com.
