Buddha became the enlightened one, under a Bodhi tree.
This is the name taken by native Pittsburgh artist who tragically passed much too soon, the day before Thanksgiving in 1991. If you graduated from Perry High School, Pittsburgh Public Schools, class of 1968, you knew him as Charles Kuklis. An incredibly talented artist, he was always sketching and drawing.
Recently there was an article by Joe Smydo in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about what to do with an artist’s work after they’ve died.
Bodhi Wind painted the murals for Robert Altman’s 1977 film 3 Women. (Click here to read about the movie and see a photo of Sissy Spacek and Shelly Duvall and one of the large murals painted by Bodhi Wind.) He designed clothing for Cher and his work was shown in Architectural Digest May 1978. An archived article in the NY TimesApril 26, 1977 by Jennifer Dunning is online.
A blog by Angeliska shows more photographs of Bodhi painting the murals for 3 Women. We read on this blog that his mother, Jean Kuklis (also mentioned in the PPG article) would welcome speaking of her son and his art.
I had the good fortune to meet Mrs. Kuklis, her daughter and granddaughter, Monday afternoon and got to photograph some of Bodhi Wind’s artwork. His mother generously shared his story and creative artwork and I wanted to share it with you. I had the privilege of seeing pieces he created in high school, too.
She hopes her son’s art could be shown in a large space, a bank, hotel lobby or convention center. Some of the painted panels are big.
Many are painted on wood and interestingly framed.
Readers who would like more information about the artworks should email Bodhi Wind’s family Bodhi.Wind.Art(at)gmail.com.
detail from the Octagonal
This is one panel of a series. Very large. It needs to be turned right side up. I left a bit of his sister in the pic on the right so you get the idea of the scale.
There is some real synthesim going on in these pieces! Very interesting blend of perspectives and dimensions. And the colours are brilliant!
Thanks for sharing this, really..
Although Perry High School was the rival of my high school, David B. Oliver HS and I graduated one year before Bodhi, I do not recall hearing about or seeing any of his artwork at that time. Today you have opened my eyes to this wonderful artwork and artist. It is breathtakingly beautiful!
Beautiful!
fascinating, a very talented and exceptional young artist ….
Wow! That is some stunning artwork indeed Ruth. You are so blessed to haven seen it and captured it so well. Love the Octagonal. Great shots hon! 🙂 *hugs*
Thank you, Ruth. I’d not heard of this artist and his work is beautiful! As nice as your photos are, it must be something to stand before his pieces in person. Wow!
They are glorious, Ruth! That first “lady” portrait really stuns. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Those colors are amazing. Thanks for bring him to our attention.
I attended elementary and high school with Bodhi Wind. We were childhood friends and spent much time together. I remember him well. He was clever, funny and immensely talented. I sat beside him in fourth grade and he was always sketching. His tragic death robbed the world of all the art he had yet to create. These pieces are magnificent!
Hi Vincie, I am writing an article about Bodhi Wind. Could I reach you at your private email?
Yes, Maria, you can reach me at my private email.
As I dont have your private email and understand you might not want to post it here. Could you reach me with just a “hi” at mariagainza@gmail.com and I would shortly answer back? Many thanks Vincie.
you’ve composed a great tribute to Charles Kuklis – for eternity …
Ruthie, thanks so much for the post. It’s great to see more work from Bodhi after only being familiar with the Three Women murals. Seeing what you’ve posted leaves me wanting still more.
Great discovery for me. I thank you.
Gorgeous stuff. Thanks for sharing!
Wonderful works of art. I have never heard of this artist. I am very glad you have spotlighted him on your blog. Looking forward to finding out more information about his art. Pittsburgh is the home of many talented individuals. Thanks for sharing.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
Love the artwork and I loved the story!
Those are very impressive pieces. I have a lot of respect for an artist who can successful work in incredibly large (or small) scale pieces. To navigate extremes well is a skill indeed.
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I am so glad you found my links about Bodhi Wind today. Thanks for the pingback.
Cool.
I knew Bodhi. We met in college at BU and were part of a close group of friends. Later we lived in a commune in Berkeley, CA. We were back in touch for a few years right up until his death. He was a complicated and lovable and talented man. I miss him and often long to see his work again, so thank you for this article. He so deserves this tribute.
Hi MIchele, I am writing an article about Bodhi Wind. Could I reach you at your private email?
Hi Michele, A new post today https://rutheh.com/2018/10/25/a-bodhi-wind-original/
Hi, a few weeks ago I went to an estate sale on Long Island. I was able to purchase 2 amazing pieces of bodhi wind art. I was not familiar with his work until I researched him. His work is so amazing.
Hi Kevin! if you see this: I’d love to see the Bodhi Wind pieces you bought. And discuss purchasing!
Bodhi lived me for the year in NYC before his passing . Most of his paintings were stored in my apartment. His painting, “Drunk with the poison of the passion of six” inspired a dance I choreographed. I felt blessed to know him and to know his work so intimately. His art is profoundly spiritual and of another dimension entirely. Thanks for keeping his art out there…. Raoul
Hi Raoul, Do you know what became of Bodhi’s paintings?
Hi Raoul, I am writing an article about Bodhi Wind. Could I reach you at your private email?
Hi Raoul, Do you know what became of Bodhi’s work that was stored in your apartment. I had heard he had it in a storage locker somewhere in the city and was afraid it was lost forever!! To hear otherwise would be wonderful!!
Hello Raoul A new post today https://rutheh.com/2018/10/25/a-bodhi-wind-original/
I google Bodhi Wind and Geary Holst every now and then hoping to find their art so I was ecstatic to recently find this blog. I lived in LA in the 70s where I first met Geary and then Bodhi who at the time was living in a fixer upper in Highland Park. I bought the vacant lot next to Bodhi’s house on Poppy Peak Drive where I parked my Airstream Travel Trailer while making plans to build a geodesic dome home. I plugged into Bodhi’s house for electricity and spent a great deal of time watching Bodhi work on remodeling the house while working on promoting his career as artist. He also kept a small studio down the hill on Figueroa St where he would sometimes work on projects like his tee shirt line of hardware objects like nuts and bolts which he would package in black plastic garbage bags to deliver to boutiques in Beverly Hills and Melrose Ave. I also remember being fascinated with his process of etching his fantastic creatures on to large glass door panels for Robert Altman’s house. And I will never forget his large paintings that were perhaps 5 ft tall and 7 ft long that were just spectacular beyond words. When I first saw Avatar I could not help but think that their creators were heavily influenced by Bodhi’s work. The similarities are just to uncanny. I was drooling to have one but the $5K price tags were a little beyond my means at the time. I am lucky enough to have acquired a smaller piece he did which was an airbrushed portrait of Geary Holst and a sketch he did while he and Geary were visiting my partner and I in our dome home in Tucson, AZ. I gave up on my dream of a dome home in LA because of the difficulty of obtaining a building permit for such a non-conforming design. When I left LA in my Airstream it was also loaded with some of Geary’s mirrors and a parsons table he made that I traded for my Dodge Dart Convertible that had a push button transmission. When Geary told me of Bodhi’s passing he was unsure what became of Bodhi’s body of work, particularly the larger paintings. Does anyone know of what became of his fantastic art?
What you see on the blog was photographed at his mothers home in Pittsburgh.
Glad you found the blog post about Bodhi today
Ruth
I just came across your writing and was happy to find out more about Bodhi. My partner and I purchased that Highland Park house in 1981 and lived in it for five years. I remember the vacant lot you owned well, but I believe there are two large homes on it now. Bodhi and Geary did an incredible job on the house we bought and although I never got to see any of his artwork, I did stumble on a sculpture of a two-headed horse while living there. Luckily that is one thing that has stayed with me to this day, but I’m not sure Bodhi carved it. Thanks for shedding some light on some very interesting men.
Wow. Its tragic that Chip’s life was cut short. Who knows what he could have done?
On Sun, Oct 15, 2017 at 6:30 AM, Ruth E. Hendricks Photography wrote:
> william gilmore commented: “I just came across your writing and was happy > to find out more about Bodhi. My partner and I purchased that Highland Park > house in 1981 and lived in it for five years. I remember the vacant lot you > owned well, but I believe there are two large homes on ” >
Hi William, I am so glad to hear that kindred spirits got to live in Bodhi and Geary’s work of art and love! When I left LA in ’79 or ’80 it was still a work in progress. I know when finished it was a sight to behold. Geary earned his living doing remodel jobs from Malibu to Highland Park. When I was in Tucson in the ’80s he came and stayed with me for several weeks while he transformed my bosses kitchen and family room into a Southwestern hacienda great room with built in banquets, a kiva fireplace and huge pilar logs for accents. When they left LA they moved to Sante Fe and rehabbed a partially completed home. You are very lucky to have a piece of art as a fond remembrance of living on Poppy Peak!! I know you have fabu memories of such a wonderful and magical place. Bodhi and Geary both are absolutely amazing creative creatures of the universe!
Hello William
A new post today https://rutheh.com/2018/10/25/a-bodhi-wind-original/
Hi David, I am writing an article about Bodhi Wind. Could I reach you at your private email?
Hi Maria, I would love to talk to you about Bodhi! Once you email me I can give you my phone number!! discokachina@yahoo.com
Hello Maria, A new post today. https://rutheh.com/2018/10/25/a-bodhi-wind-original/
Hi Maria, Please try calling me 912-856-2425. Cheers, David
Hi Gary. I recently got two wonderful bodhi. Pieces of art
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http://rutheh.com/2018/10/25/a-bodhi-wind-original/
For anyone who is following comments on this blog post, here is a new post today about an original artwork by Bodhi Wind.
Hi Ruth. I have a few wonderful art pieces by bodhi wind I would like to post them to share with the group if that’s allowed.
Wow ! An old freind passed this on to me. Bohdi, or Chip if you will, and I were room mates in an apt in Boston whilst in college. Later we had adventures in New Mexico and the coast. Lost track after 1970 or so. One of the finest times of my life hangin’ with him.
George? From the apartment in Brookline?
I was probably the last of his old friends to see him before he passed away. I think it was 3 days or so before.
I was lucky enough to get 2 wonderful pieces of bodhi art at an estate sale a few weeks ago.
Hi Nolan I tried to respond to your message about bodhi wind art but there was no link to reply. You can contact me Kevin Kelly at 347-574-7875 thank you.
hi kevin, i would love to see these pieces that you have, are there photos anywhere? been looking for more on this artist
Hi Harvey. If you call me I can send you pics and information. Ty