S Clay Wilson was trying to get home from a friend’s house November 1, 2008, the night his life changed. We will never be certain if he fell or was attacked, since he has no memory of it. The numerous injuries on his face and head made him look like he was beat up. Two good samaritans found him unconscious between parked cars, face down in the rain, and called an ambulance. (I have tried to find them in order to express my gratitude for saving his life, but have had no success.) He’d suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury, bleeding in three hemispheres of his brain. He spent three weeks in a coma, and we had no idea how severely impaired he was for many months. Once he began to speak again we realized he hadn’t just “awakened” to resume life as it had been before.
We’d been flirting since we met in 1968. I have been living with him now for ten years, visited him every day for the year he was in the hospital, and brought him home to take care of November 10, 2009. This is a daunting task, but one I am devoted to.
The days he spends drawing are his happiest, but I don’t nag when he chooses not to work. He has done about 15 drawings since last summer, and still has incredible talent. He loves movies, so we haunt the libraries, renting up to 20 at a time. We usually begin viewing them in the late afternoon. We exercise every day, take walks, and friends sometimes take him to lunch, museums, or art shows.
He is very quiet now after being a motor mouth all his life. But he is not a blank slate. His short term memory is shot, and with aphasia, often has trouble expressing himself. (I frequently “put words in his mouth” to help him but he’s usually able to tell me if I got it wrong.)
I have put together a Special Needs Trust for him since he is no longer capable of earning a living. He will need 24 hour care from now on since the little details of daily life are a mystery to him now, and he is easily confused. This gifted artist worked as hard as he partied and was a playful, brilliant person. Although he is still capable of worrying about the future, he does not fully understand what has happened to alter it. He is now in need of help. This is a tragic turn of events for a proud man.
The Trust is set up so it can only be spent on him. We pool our meager resources for basic expenses. I hope people will find a way to donate what they can to give him a better quality of life and assist in his ongoing care.
The address of the Trust is www.sclaywilsontrust.com
Or mail to PO Box 14854 San Francisco CA 94114
Thank you!
Lorraine Chamberlain
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July 19th, 2010 at 7:24 pm
Wilson had such an impact on my generation, and by extension, on American culture. A brilliant artist with a rapidograph, a great friend to us and to our children, and a true topical and comic bluesman in art and in life. All good wishes to you both, Lorraine!
Mark and Katha, Johanna and David Dalton, Seattle
July 25th, 2010 at 11:14 pm
Happy Birthday Wilson, I happy to see you are home and doing well.
Love to you,
Marianne
July 31st, 2010 at 4:52 am
God bless you Lorraine. I loved this man’s wild work years ago and still do.
August 2nd, 2010 at 12:52 am
So glad you took a look at this updated version. Glad to hear from you! xoxo L
August 5th, 2010 at 10:48 pm
Hello Lorraine,
Thanks for updating the site and for taking care of S. Clay. You’re a tough lady and I salute! Love to you both.
~Dennis
August 12th, 2010 at 7:10 pm
Dennis, Thanks for your post! Wilson and I were married on Tuesday, Aug 10th. I’m going to try to upload some photos on here. It was truly a happy day.
August 13th, 2010 at 9:39 am
Very, very glad to find this info. I’m 41 now but I’ve been a fan of S. Clay Wilson’s work ever since I was 10 & stumbled across a copy of Zap #4 (I know, I know — perhaps growing up in Lawrence KS (where I later learned Wilson spent some time in the 60′s) helps in terms of context?). It’s safe to say that I had never seen anything so undiluted & visceral, and I can claim w/o exaggeration that his brilliantly contorted & densely-packed art has remained deeply etched into my poor brain ever since. Hooray!
So yeah — thanks so much for posting this update and I sincerely extend all of my best to you for the care you’re giving him. Good stuff.
August 13th, 2010 at 5:37 pm
Congrats to you and Wilson, Lorraine. He is lucky to have you by his side!
Sending all sweet thoughts -
Karin (Green) Moss
August 14th, 2010 at 11:45 pm
Great to see triumph over tragedy! One of the unique talents of this age. All the best to you both.
Love the shot of the old fellas at the hospital. And those socks…
Peace!
August 17th, 2010 at 10:18 pm
Lorraine: Wilson has a lot of friends and I happily have been one of them since Kansas days. As you know we shared the Leo spirit and spirits for many years. And yet today, amongst us all, there was no one capable or willing to take care of him 24/7 (understandable of course). And so I am truly appreciative that you are doing this for our friend, as I’m sure are all his other good friends and family. Gracias for doing this. Pam
August 17th, 2010 at 11:40 pm
Pammy…Thanks so much for your words of appreciation as well as your INCREDIBLY generous donation to his Trust! It means the world to have the support of his true friends. He needs so much care and attention, I would be adrift without your loyalty and love. Thank you again. xoxoxo Lorraine
August 20th, 2010 at 9:25 pm
Lorraine, you are a beautiful bride! That fellow you married is really cute too. Only wish we could have been at the ceremony to wish the two of you every happiness. I agree with Pam that you have taken on what so many of would never be able or willing to do. Keep doing exactly what you are doing, and enjoy every minute the two of you share.
August 21st, 2010 at 1:50 am
Doug and I are very happy for the two of you!!!! We wish we could have been with you on your special day…….celebrate each and every day with your love and devotion to one another. It’s the simplest things in life that will bring you the most happiness……revel in each and every moment. Le joie de vivre!!!!!!! Love, Duz and Doug
August 21st, 2010 at 7:45 pm
Congratulations! Thanks for taking such good care of him.
August 22nd, 2010 at 11:37 pm
Lorraine, you appear ever more beautiful, & Wilson looks like a visiting ambassador. I wish you all happiness. I know the past few years have been incredibly taxing for both of you, but leave it to you to find a happy “beginning”. When it comes to daunting circumstances, you have never flagged once in the years I have known you, & I can’t tell you how many times I have held you as an example to myself, & it’s kept me going. I’m a happier, better person for knowing you. I keep you & Wilson in my devotion everyday – gentle sea & full sails & wonderful days all your journey together. All my love, Swan
August 23rd, 2010 at 1:32 pm
I was one of those who never quite understood Wilson’s art, but read his stories in Zap and other places just the same. His influence on the underground comics scene is just now being understood. Good luck to the both of you.
August 31st, 2010 at 7:47 am
Lorraine, may I suggest offering a signed “benefit” art print of some type on this site? I know how expensive medical bills can be. I’ve bought a few signed Wilson prints on Ebay, which may be another good outlet for them.
September 5th, 2010 at 7:07 pm
Thanks Ethan. I may do something like that in the future. Please look at the drawings I am posting on here today. MOCA in LA wants to include the originals in an exhibition next year, and we can’t find who owns them. Maybe you would know? Or suggest whom to contact?