Joseph L. Kagle, Jr. Peace Essays

“In a journey of peace, some individual flash into your life and then as suddenly are gone, and then there are other who light up the space where the two of you exist and the afterglow stays with you for a long time. This is the case of the Texan legend artist, Bob “Daddy-O” Wade. Daddy-O was a character larger than life in Texas (and that is saying a great deal about him), not just because he created gigantic works of art (like his seventy foot high saxophone in Houston) but because his personality drew others around who also make large strides across the Texas landscape. You need the exceptions to the “rules” to learn what your personal rules are in living.”

Excerpt from a letter to Joseph L. Kagle Jr. Director of The Art Center of Waco. from Bob Wade’s lifetime friend, Bubba Jay the Third (Kagle’s imaginary friend):

“Ya know that Bob “Daddy-O” Wade was not born of a human woman.  It is said that he spring directly from the brow of an iguana princess, much as Aphrodite sprang full born form the thoughts of Zeus.  Ever since that mythic beginning, a major theme of his art work is homage to his mother/creator, the iguana princess, discovered under a well-kept bed in one of the hotels his father managed.

There are stories that Bob's "Daddy-O" nickname was a mantra spoken by early Texas Indians to conjure forth the spirit of the iguana. My name and Bob's are spoken slowly, with many sounds for even simple words like "O", not a name run together as in some Eastern United States cities. Here it is common to have multiple names, like Bubba Jay, Bobby Joe or Daddy-O. Therefore, Wade's full name should be exhaled slowly, the normal Texas way, with air coming out in a slow, study breeze that reminds one of soft winds over the Central Texas plain. Being the son of an iguana princess and not connected to any human creative process, my friend may be thought of as different. But he is simple as Texas is simple and complex as Texas is complex. Even being the son of an Iguana Princess, he has good manners to humans while still following his own creative, reptilian path. As one other Texas buddy says, "Bob is not strange. He is Texas. You can't be upset about callin' the cat black." Sure enough, like the tumbleweed of this Great State, he gathers things as he rolls along. "Selects" is not a verb in the tumbleweed vocabulary. "Daddy-O" is pure tumbleweed.

So, you see, Bob or "Daddy-O" is an iguana prince, heir to the throne of the plains, the desert and the hills. Art is in his blood. Texas iguanas are the didactic symbol of pure living, in a metaphorical sense. I've heard him say that over a beer or two, visiting other royalty from his days at the University of Texas. He never forgave his alma mater for choosing the long horn instead of the iguana as the school's mascot. Bob's philosophy of art and life can be summed up in this mystic poem of the 13th century Persian writer, Julalladain Rumi: "Birds fly in great sky circles of freedom. How do they learn this? They fall. And having fallen, they are given wings." Or this bumper sticker under the gun rack on my rusted pickup: "To learn to fly, take yourself lightly."

Bob is Texas; Texas is "Daddy-O" Wade. You know, "Bigger, taller, more outlandish," or as Bob satirically calls it "The Texas Mystique." Through the years, our tales about each other have grown too. I can't tell now what is fact and what is made up. I surely believe Bob when he tells me he is an Iguana Prince, only son of an iguana princess, born in a hotel room, educated by itinerant cowboys and trips to Mexico. I do not, though, believe him when he says his mother is the Funky Muse. Maybe his father, but I know for sure that he was created from the nature goddess herself. Give my love to Bob on the opening of his exhibition in Waco. They fit together. Also tell him he still owes me ten dollars for beer that I bought in Juarez.”