My Art Patron – Bob Hamilton

The last time I saw Robert Hamilton, he took me out back and showed me his new greenhouse wherein he raised orchids. Bob loved a challenge. There was no doing things the easy way. My friend was brought up to be an heir of Berkeley’s scientific community. He is at home in any lab. When I visited him at the glass blowing lab at Corey Hall, it was like being in his living room. There was a lens grinding machine. I never called in advance. I would just show up, and I had Bob’s full attention. This beautiful man was my patron. Ten hours after we met, he has taken me to the Berkeley Arts Supply Store, and told his friend to supply me with all the tools of my craft – I would possibly need. He was my equipment manager. He had asked me what I wanted.

“I want…