Twelve Days of Sweeney
by Hills Snyder
San Antonio artist, Gary Sweeney, started making Christmas cards as a teenager in 1969, when he lived in Manhattan Beach, California. That first card featured an image of himself emerging from a manhole wearing an American flag shirt and a white double-breasted suit as a ’55 Chevy looms behind him. The driver of the Chevy, not part of the set up, didn’t mind the interruption.
When it comes to Gary Sweeney, most people don’t. He’s a good natured guy with a taste for satire, frequently of the self deprecating variety. The earliest card included here is one he made for his grandmother, Maggie, who he says, “painted like Modigliani.”
He’s continued the annual card tradition since then, with his partner Janet joining the endeavor for the past three decades. Conceiving the card each year is something they share.
The fifty years of Christmas card making has yielded quite the variety, as you can see, and though they all extend from specific sensibilities, sometimes the cards have a wider context. Day Two in the calendar is funny on its face, but the impact enlarges if you consider it’s from the 2008 recession. And at least one seems prescient — 2015’s Day Twelve clusters look like something harder to see than snowflakes.
It seems fitting this year to present a virtual celebration, but maybe next season things will be different, so I’m going to suggest y’all gather with Gary and Janet next Christmas for a sing-a-long. You’ve got a year and thirteen reasons to practice.
Here’s your libretto:
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
A new take on Texas history
On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Two greedy ones
And a new take on Texas history
On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Three fish eyes
Two greedy ones
And a new take on Texas history
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Four Maggie words
Three fish eyes
Two greedy ones
And a new take on Texas history
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love said to me
Janet is concerned
Four Maggie words
Three fish eyes
Two greedy ones
And a new take on Texas history
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Fuzzy foggy moggie
Janet is concerned
Four Maggie words
Three fish eyes
Two greedy ones
And a new take on Texas history
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Seven freaks a-seeking
Fuzzy foggy moggie
Janet is concerned
Four Maggie words
Three fish eyes
Two greedy ones
And a new take on Texas history
On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Eight snaps a-snapping
Seven freaks a-seeking
Fuzzy foggy moggie
Janet is concerned
Four Maggie words
Three fish eyes
Two greedy ones
And a new take on Texas history
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Nine suckers serving
Eight snaps a-snapping
Seven freaks a-seeking
Fuzzy foggy moggie
Janet is concerned
Four Maggie words
Three fish eyes
Two greedy ones
And a new take on Texas history
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Ten, no two, a-thieving
Nine suckers serving
Eight snaps a-snapping
Seven freaks a-seeking
Fuzzy foggy moggie
Janet is concerned
Four Maggie words
Three fish eyes
Two greedy ones
And a new take on Texas history
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Eleven walls a-warping
Ten, no two, a-thieving
Nine suckers serving
Eight snaps a-snapping
Seven freaks a-seeking
Fuzzy foggy moggie
Janet is concerned
Four Maggie words
Three fish eyes
Two greedy ones
And a new take on Texas history
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Twelve tabbies turning
Eleven walls a-warping
Ten, no two, a-thieving
Nine suckers serving
Eight snaps a-snapping
Seven freaks a-seeking
Fuzzy foggy moggie
Janet is concerned
Four Maggie words
Three fish eyes
Two greedy ones
And a new take on Texas history
HILLS SNYDER is a New Mexico based artist, writer and musician. His recent virtual show at Gallery One, "Altered States, Part Seven" can be seen here. A recent article, "Q&A with Hills Snyder" can be found here.
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