This evocative image was taken in Shaver’s home in Wisconsin sometime in 1961 or 1962.  From left to right, it shows Richard Shaver, his mother Grace, Dorothy Shaver, and a friend, Richard Horton.  Dorothy is holding Horton’s daughter, and the photo was taken by Horton’s wife (sorry, I don’t know their names!).  As Horton says, “I don’t know if Dick ever commented on all the white stuff, but I can imagine to what he would ascribe it .”

I’m sure we’ll return to Shaver again; but that’s it for now.  And by the way, I neither ridicule nor romanticize him for his schizophrenia.  It’s a disease; like everyone, he did what he could with what life gave him.

(Posted by Doug Skinner; thanks to Richard Horton for the photo.)