Bubbleology

April 2001

We all meet a new twister here and there. Or, if you go to a conference, several hundred at once. Recently, I met two very excellent one-and-two balloon twisters, Gerry Loos and Kurt Martell, alias Gerry and Hermey.

It's amazing, really, how much you can learn just from a few encounters. You can learn a new dog, or a whale, a fish· magic. Sharing is one of the many wonders of life, which is why I write an article, why many of you publish books, so you can share what you know with others.

"Hermey," or Kurt, is from Minnesota. I met with him last fall, and again in March, when he visited Oshkosh. We met him through the BHQ list. If he ever comes to your neighborhood, be sure to meet with him· and ask about the chicken towel trick.

Gerry contacted us after some friends of his asked him if he had seen my articles on BHQ. He lives in Milwaukee, WI, and is orignally from Oshkosh (Where I live). He wrote books on Balloon Twisting, and is currently working on a balloon twisting CD tutorial. He's amazing with one and two balloon figures. My favorite is the woodpecker that actually pecks. He recently met with Arthur Tivoli in Europe.

The Ness family, another group of twisters I met over the list, also lives nearby. I got to work with them on an occasion, and wouldn't mind doing so again. We both had a chance to share our creations. The Ness's are excellent clowns and balloon artists, and if you're in the neighborhood, hook up with them.

Plus, all of you out there. Every single balloon artist or sculptor I met at T&Jam, Twist & Shout, saw on the list, read a book· you all helped me, though you may not know it. And I would have only met you three times, twice, possibly even never before in our lifetimes, and you have helped me so greatly. Thank you to all of you.

The moral of this article is: What has the BHQ Website and list done for you, and what have you done for it?