"THE RAINBOW IS A BIG, WONDERFUL SYMBOL OF HOPE AND THE UNITY OF MAN."
-- JULY 1975 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC VOL. 148, NO. 1. --
I wish to thank all the friends of Thom and I and the followers of the Rainbow to bring this web page into existence. I know that many of you have wanted a place to purchase his art, and to have a place to remember his laughter and love. We have lost a large amount of his art and reproductions to a flood and a fire, so all that remains are treasures that I have protected and cared for as if children. Like our children, as time goes on we must allow them to go and make their way into the world. So be it now with Thom’s rainbows. Thom’s creation of ‘pocket art’, his 2” square paintings, came out of the peoples’ art movement of the early 60s. In those days we could not physically touch art. It was in galleries and museums away from the everyday people. Thom wanted people to touch and interact with his art. Thom started painting 2” squares of beautiful landscapes and a few with rainbows on watercolor paper He would cut them out and leave them on tables, mailboxes, give them to hitch hikers, and hand them to some people who he could see needed a lift. Because he did not sign these small treasures sometimes people would find him and thank him for the 2” rainbows. It became apparent to Thom that the rainbow as a symbol was needed to lift all peoples’ spirit.
Some called Thom the Johnny Appleseed of rainbows. Where he planted the rainbows grew joy, hope and love to nurture the human spirit in a world that challenges us on our path. He painted as many as he could to give away. He was true to his Eagle Scout upbringing. After many years people just called him “The Rainbow Man of Cape Cod”. It was exciting when Thom’s work was hung in the Folk Art Museum of the Smithsonian and he was featured in the 1976 Bi-Centennial Edition of National Geographic magazine. The N.Y. Metropolitan Museum of Art sold his art in their gift shop. St. Martin’s Press published two books of Thom’s art. We have a few copies of “10,000 Rainbows” for sale on this web site.
I met Thom in the spring of 1971 when I was in Provincetown with my young son, Jim, for what was to be a three week’s stay. I was not interested in any involvement after my divorce. I had grown content with myself and had my life mapped out and wished for no complications. One day at a friend’s restaurant I saw Thom was sitting at a table with a gypsy scarf over his head, wearing an earring, jewelry, reading a newspaper. I liked suits and ties and 9 to 5. This was not my style. One look and my heart pounded. Thom and I were so much of the same essence. We laughed the same, we loved the same, and we even cooked the same. He smelled right. He loved Jim. I never left Provincetown and we were married in the spring of 1972. And even with his death in 2009 he is still half of me, perhaps the better half. What a journey. He was never just mine. I always shared him with everybody. Now it is time to share him again.
I have jumped up to reach the invisible world to bring you this web page filled with his spirit in each piece of art. We will grow as we walk the Rainbow Road. We will laugh, smile and share life’s stories of love, hope and kindness with each other. Thanks to all those whom have made this journey possible and all of those who have waited patiently and for all those who are new to Thom’s art. Let there be rainbows forever to brighten our spirits.
WORKS FOR SALE
