Where The Dads All Go
When I was growing up, kids mostly did their own thing. And with as little parental involvement as possible. But if I did need my dad, I knew where to find him. Most weekends he would be found in the deepest, darkest recesses of our home. In a cramped and dusty in between place … which led to our basement laundry room. Today, this is what might be described as a health and wellness retreat. But back then we called it by its old name, its secret name – a man’s cave.
A Boy Can Dream
This book is about a childhood dream of having your own secret space. A dark, dusty, and cramped place to call your own. Hidden away in the unfinished recesses of suburbia.
Not that I would ever go near my dad’s secret lair, he had a foolproof child deterrent system - ‘70s country music. Hoyt Axton, Charlie Pride, Tanya Tucker … to a kid of the ‘80s that music was kryptonite. But the few furtive glimpses I managed to catch sight of changed my life. I have rarely seen my dad more focused, more at peace, and more alive then when he was in his man’s cave – working on his hobbies .. his art. His projects were numerous and varied. Beadwork, leatherwork, woodwork, you name it.
I can’t tell you what an inspiration that humble room had on me. It was always my dream to one day have such a wonderful space of my own. Yet, I never pulled it off. Although I have had many great art studios, I never could achieve that rite of passage. However, I can draw about it. And share the idea and the dream, with this book.
The Little Coyote Cannot Wait
An underground kids story about sons and fathers.
A self published zine by Mike Kerr
Release Date TBA
Although the idea of a man’s cave might be controversial today. Even by some other name it can be a positive place of creation, meditation, and inspiration. As an art teacher I see so few young men pursuing the arts. Which saddens and worries me. Without exaggeration art saved me, it was my life. I said as much on my first day attending art school, and yes, the other students let out a mighty groan! But it is as true now as it was then. Art gave me purpose, a direction, and a reason to be. And I still think it can do the same for some of today’s generation of boys.