Anyone well worth remembering is worth remember well. Such is the case of John Bain (1943-2016).
June 2016, my blog post Remembering John Bain had a far reaching effect fetching comments with an outpouring of love for John threaded through great stories and fond memories. Additionally, Squire Martin Wilkinson felt strongly that there should be an exhibition of John’s iconic paintings of surfers and others who were fortunate to have been painted by him.
Gony Zubizaretta with his portrait by John Bain
Fast forward to September 2023, Cascais, Portugal.
This is where I turn this over to a dear friend Faith Milnes. John and Faith were of the same mind, world travelers, highly creative souls who shared a wicked sense of humor. They surfed, laughed, ate, drank, and cared deeply for each together. Faith was with John through the end, and instrumental in making this tribute and exhibition of John Bain come to fruition.
Selected portraits by John Bain installed at the Hotel Oitavos, Cascais, Portugal
“Thank you all for coming to this celebration of John Bain and his connection to surfing and Portugal.
I should start by saying that I met John shortly after we had both moved to the North Shore in 1973. We were both artists, both had come to Hawaii from the New York City area and both had traveled. I should also add that we both had an appreciation of the absurdity of life. As soon as I met John I recognized that loony sense of humor.
I would often be summoned to that beautiful front yard with “I’ve got a bottle of Bubbly!”. One time when I arrived he introduced me to two newly met fellows: Perry St. Germans, the Earl of Cornwall, and Squire Martin Wilkinson. John and Perry became very close friends and when Perry was able to get the lease for that wonderful front house, it was helpful to John in terms of a secure situation and Perry’s support and whole hearted embrace of the North Shore scene. I remember one year when the Eddie was on and I went by to visit and watch. John and Perry were both in their element, elated by the guests and the action and I think some of you were there.
Even before that I met Joao Barbosa, Tiago Pires, Tó Gama, José Seabra. John was the Portuguese Connection to the North Shore surf scene.
I would like to thank the people who made this exhibition possible and made it happen.
The exhibition also moved up the coast to Boardriders, Ericeira, Portugal. Faith is second from left- and also on John’s lap from a vintage photo shown on screen behind them!
Thank you to Rodrigo Champalimaud and his family for the gracious offer of the hotel for the start of the exhibit. That got things going.
Thank you to the Ericeira Boardriders for also hosting the exhibition and introducing Johns work to some of the up and coming surfers.
Sara Sanz Pinto who has been a ROCKSTAR on this end. I’m not sure if it was my idea or hers or perhaps what the French call a: Folie a Deux, two people with a crazy idea. This would not have happened without Sara making this a truly professional show.
Sara has found us :
Joao Vaz de Oliveira who has designed the amazing graphics and directed the video you’re about to watch.
Catarina de Oliveira to design the installation of the work.
Thanks to:Celma Ribeiro who got the go ahead from the Portuguese Consulate in San Francisco. And worked so hard on the Hawaii end to make it happen.
Dylan Aoki who brought all the work over in two big board bags.
Jim Mensching, we have been biting our nails through the whole year.
Jim Mensching and his girlfriend Sandra
Theresa van Gruenen who has written the biography of John and also done publicity on the Hawaii end.
Jason for his slide show and support.
All of Johns friends on both sides of the world who loved the man and knew him have made this come about. You know who you are and thank you.”–Faith Milnes
Faith Miles (in white) with friends
Wonderful post! Thank you so much!
Hi All: And, especially “hi” to Nanci.
This comment, in a slightly different form, was written at Nanci’s earlier blog entry (June 2016). I am not sure it would be noticed there. I found that site doing searches to learn about John since I recently found a wonderful, signed, original piece John did in 1977 (25 x 18″) for the La Pietra Hawaii School for Girls “Olde World Pleasure Faire.” I found the piece in my storage rental in Seattle that, after ten years, I finally emptied this last October 2023. I have been back in Honolulu since late 2021 and I am returning to the mainland March 2024. I have to downsize now that I am moving along in age…
I am trying to move this piece on to a new owner who would have a much more personal connection to it than by just auctioning it to a general audience.
I offered it to La Pietra, who declined. After a further search I found Nanci’s earlier post, but, for some reason, the search did not show up this post. I am very sure that I bought John’s work at a Rick Ralston (Crazy Shirts) auction in 1984 for the benefit of the Hawaii Historic Foundation. I left Hawaii in 1986. What I took with me was limited, and, so, again, this is a heck of wonderful surprise to me.
I have moved so many times over the years, that I find it amazing (miraculous) that such items as this piece by John (1977) or other items like historic photographs of Bruce McLaren just before he died in a test drive accident in 1970. I had literally forgotten that I even took those pics.
I don’t have a long story to tell, but it is amazing that I never bumped into John since I was a regular at Waikiki surf spots from 1968 to 1986 and a semi-regular to Haleiwa all those same years. Might be that I never really got attached to any break further east of Haleiwa. Once in a while, I body surfed Waimea shore break (no broken bones!). Occasionally, Makaha (no fights!) and Rocky Point, mostly rights. At Haleiwa, I often got to hang out with the north shore legend, Ben Aipa, and I always owned an Aipa Stinger, so, he was sort of nice to me. But, his style of surfing was heavy and aggessive and, along with others, I found myself often dodging his high speed powerful carves. It actually added a lot of excitement to the whole experience.
When I researched John on the web recently, I found entries in the old Advertiser papers about John related to events he was involved with. The La Pietra event poster was done in collaboration with Len Piper. If you were in Honolulu during the 70s and 80s, you might recognize Len Piper’s name – he was the official Santa Claus at Ala Moana Center for several years. He also was famous for a number of shows he put on using human size string puppets. Pinocchio was one of his major productions. It makes sense that Len and John would find each other. Len did the 25 x 18″ drawings showing a map (layout) of the Pleasure Faire.
I would be happy to share a few pics of this piece by John, if there is some way to do that. If I cannot find someone who was closer to John than I was, or who feels a larger emotional connection than any general audience would feel, I will be putting the piece up for auction. I don’t have any children and all my immediate family has passed on. I cannot afford to give it away with my low fixed income these days. I will try to get a page for it posted at my website sterlingimages dot us as soon as I can so it can be viewed.
Without knowing John personally, I can say this, “I, and many of my friends from that era, can tell stories without end about how much fun it was in those days (Crater Festivals!, Santana!), with much more sense of belonging and sharing.” Too many of my old friends have passed on. Too many creative, adventurous souls have disappeared. Thank god, their spirits linger on. This last year has been scarier than ever with friends getting hurt on Maui and a very close friend and his parents, Mikala Jones (who died in a tragic, crazy surf accident).
God bless, best wishes to all, Mele Kalikimaka and Aloha. Ron
Hi Nanci and All: Thank you Nanci for posting my comment here and also at your earlier blog entry memorial to John in 2016. As noted in this and that comment, I found your memorials to John when I was looking to learn about a piece of art I found in my storage unit while cleaning it out in October. I don’t know how to send you pics for posting here, or whether you would want to.
Pics, story and offer are at
https://sterlingimages.us/johnbain.htm
It is so interesting and wonderful that the world is small enough for us to bump into each other and provide surprising discoveries that add so much meaning to our lives. God bless, Aloha, Ron
Hi Ron,
Thank you for much for sharing your wonderful and iconic memories of John and life on the North SHore! I was there from ’84-’95, and feel so blessed to have known John, all his surrounding friends, catching the Eddie Aikau off the point, having him paint our sons on subsequent visits, etc. I do hope that someone finds this post who can love, appreciate and purchase your John Bain poster. I will check out your site that you posted as well. Thank you so much for reaching out. With love and aloha to you Ron!