<![CDATA[Merferd and the Treetoons

<![CDATA[Merferd and the Treetoons - Merferd Blog]]>Sun, 04 Oct 2026 20:43:22 -0500Weebly<![CDATA[The Freeing Gulshan]]>Sat, 18 Jul 2020 09:51:57 GMThttps://www.merferd.com/merferd-blog/the-freeing-gulshan

GULSHAN / It was the day before I would be paying the debt of my first brick yard family. Gulshan, with her daughters, Saba and Samra, were making 400-500 bricks a day, trapped in debt bondage. Gulshan had labored hard, eleven years, as good as widowed by her husband, who had fled the brick yard. I was pondering how much we’ve been given on ‘our’ side of the world, as I drove along. For the first time on this familiar stretch of lawless highway 70, in north St. Louis, I found myself going with the ‘flow’ of traffic; 15-20 mph OVER the 55 mph limit. Out of the corner of my left eye, there came erratic motions in the left lane, a man pounding on his steering wheel, and hollering, seemingly angry because he was boxed in and couldn’t pass. The family in the van was unaware of the temper tantrum, being had in a car, mere inches from their bumper. At 75 american miles an hour, our eyes met and I shrugged at him in a gesture, of “WHAT”S THE MATTER?” He jerked his finger, back and forth, hard at the van, pounding with his hand, mouthing his torment to me, that they would not move out of his way. I slowed down so he could swing around the family’s van, into my lane and speed his hasty life on. As he angrily gunned his engine, a large black puff of smoke spewed from his shining bright black car. It was Sunday morning, on my way to church, and here I was, sinning, gleeful that the man had just blown his motor. I muttered “I’m sorry” to the Lord, and thought back to Gulshan, and the brick yard furnaces of Pakistan, that spew a puff of the amount of smoke of a blown engine, in a split second.

GU GULSHAN / It was the day before I would be paying the debt of my first brick yard family. Gulshan, with her daughters, Saba and Samra, were making 400-500 bricks a day, trapped in debt bondage. Gulshan had labored hard, eleven years, as good as widowed by her husband, who had fled the brick yard. I was pondering how much we’ve been given on ‘our’ side of the world, as I drove along. For the first time on this familiar stretch of lawless highway 70, in north St. Louis, I found myself going with the ‘flow’ of traffic; 15-20 mph OVER the 55 mph limit. Out of the corner of my left eye, there came erratic motions in the left lane, a man pounding on his steering wheel, and hollering, seemingly angry because he was boxed in and couldn’t pass. The family in the van was unaware of the temper tantrum, being had in a car, mere inches from their bumper. At 75 american miles an hour, our eyes met and I shrugged at him in a gesture, of “WHAT”S THE MATTER?” He jerked his finger, back and forth, hard at the van, pounding with his hand, mouthing his torment to me, that they would not move out of his way. I slowed down so he could swing around the family’s van, into my lane and speed his hasty life on. As he angrily gunned his engine, a large black puff of smoke spewed from his shining bright black car. It was Sunday morning, on my way to church, and here I was, sinning, gleeful that the man had just blown his motor. I muttered “I’m sorry” to the Lord, and thought back to Gulshan, and the brick yard furnaces of Pakistan, that spew a puff of the amount of smoke of a blown engine, in a split second. familiar stretch of lawless highway 70, in north St. Louis, I found myself going with the ‘flow’ of traffic; 15-20 mph OVER the 55 mph limit. Out of the corner of my left eye, there came erratic motions in the left lane, a man pounding on his steering wheel, and hollering, seemingly angry because he was boxed in and couldn’t pass. The family in the van was unaware of the temper tantrum, being had in a car, mere inches from their bumper. At 75 american miles an hour, our eyes met and I shrugged at him in a gesture, of “WHAT”S THE MATTER?” He jerked his finger, back and forth, hard at the van, pounding with his hand, mouthing his torment to me, that they would not move out of his way. I slowed down so he could swing around the family’s van, into my lane and speed his hasty life on. As he angrily gunned his engine, a large black puff of smoke spewed from his shining bright black car. It was Sunday morning, on my way to church, and here I was, sinning, gleeful that the man had just blown his motor. I muttered “I’m sorry” to the Lord, and thought back to Gulshan, and the brick yard furnaces of Pakistan, that spew a puff of the amount of smoke of a blown engine, in a split second.

]]><![CDATA[“St Louis Proud: The Story Behind Merferd” - KMOV TV]]>Sat, 25 May 2019 19:01:55 GMThttps://www.merferd.com/merferd-blog/st-louis-proud-the-story-behind-merferd-kmov-tv

Recently Ray Preston of KMOV, channel 4, did a story,
which can still be viewed on line; “St Louis Proud: The Story Behind Merferd.”

Ray spent an entire morning with my art and Arborculture
Apprentices, Christopher Smith, Nehemiah Stone, and myself.

THIS story begins with the DRIVE NICE sign on highway 70.

One night a man in a tinted widow car road raged one of my daughters on the lawless strip of 70 between the Arch and our city of Ferguson.

So I painted Merferd saying
“DRIVE NICE!”

This sign lasted for three years …

… until Merferd’s old enemies the LOW DOWNS, a graffiti gang, found a way up and tagged over him.

Two homeless friends got up on the roof and painted it white again. St Louis’ homeless love Merferd, and Merferd loves them.

My apprentices, 15 years old Nehemiah (from the south side), and 14 year old Christopher of Berkley, hung around with me for several days …

WHAT was Merferd going to say? He initially was going to say “Welcome to Missouri.”

After discussion with Alderman Bandon Frazier-Bosely, (who is sick at heart with all the crime and murder in north St. Louis), and consulting with a couple other friends …

… He is presently saying “FATHER” along with “Malachi 4:6”.

The West side of the Billboard plugs a St Louis band of a friend of mine.

Ray Preston at the Ferguson Library taking a photo of Ferguson Friend, Dan Williams, known to all as “POPEYE.”

Popeye and his Merferd button may not have made the story, but look for him downtown South Florissant Rd. in Ferguson, by the cabooses, sometime this summer, selling some Merferds.

]]><![CDATA[The end of 'Treetoons Town' & the homeless camps in East St Louis]]>Sun, 03 Mar 2019 21:57:03 GMThttps://www.merferd.com/merferd-blog/the-end-of-treetoons-town-the-homeless-camps-in-east-st-louisChristopher Smith and Nehemiah Stone have been a huge help, wether it has been art, or arboriculture events or helping a homeless friend of ours move to another place. Bebe' McBride's belongings are in plastic bins, protected
on all sides with a few remaining Merferds.

To build a Homeless Treetoon friend a home....
North St Louis lumber, who donates Merferd making wood, also donated the lumber for the building of the teensy house for Bebe'.

Dave never would tell me his last name, or else you would know it. Dave and his gal Bonnie, (now deceased) were featured in the documentary film "Living in Tents" by film maker Paul Crane. I had met Dave at the St Louis International film festival where Josh Herum's "The Man Behind the Merferds" was shown alongside "Living in Tents". The days spent with Dave were full of
laughter. I learned to be very careful about what I said or what I
asked him, because he had an uncanny ability to roast me.

The pallet yard had come
to an end, and Bebe's
hood had become
dangerous. It seemed a
good fit to move her and
the Merfs to safe camp
on the edge of some
woods in East St Louis.
I hired homeless carpenter
Dave, who moved in
with his warm red tent.

The old cast iron fire
pit burning day and
night, cooking and
smoking Bebe's
camp cooking fare.
On the days we did
not do tree work, we spent carving
and painting our
art on a long sturdy
work bench station.

During the stay at camp,
Christopher, Bebe' and me
created over thirty
"Merfmass Trees". Our
friends Don and Barb
Moore sold them, without
any consignment fee,
from their shop on
Cherokee St in St Louis,
"RIVERSIDE ANTIQUES".
Treetoons products will
continue to be made
available there.

We are a little weary playing musical Merferds. All loaded up with no where to go. Trees are calling for them, but our tree customers are calling for us to trim. So many Treetoons and
so little time.

I visited with with Rob Gibson, the first and original 'founder of
the camp. His cozy, tent was home sweet home to him.
On the wall in the background a certificate of his baptism.Channel Four's Ray Preston and his Camera man Steve interviewed Rob the next morning.

The next thing I knew they were over by our truck. Rob asked them if they ever had heard about the Man behind the Merferds. Ray had been wanting to interview me some day and do a story.
He hasn't been released to do it yet. But he and Steve DID
both get a drawing.

]]><![CDATA[MERF MASS TREES AVAILABLE NOW!]]>Sun, 25 Nov 2018 04:26:33 GMThttps://www.merferd.com/merferd-blog/merf-mass-trees-available-nowCreated at “Treetoon Town” and sold at Riverside Antiques on 'Antique Row' on Cherokee street ($50 )

Phil personally creates each unique Merferd climbing up to the star. Merferd can be easily removed from the star and placed on a larger Christmas tree as an ornament if so desired.
Pictured left to right, Christopher, my apprentice, (when not in school), Bebe’, pallett tree, star maker, and tree care helper and myself.. The photo is taken at “Treetoon Town”, part homeless camp.
We are grateful to Riverside Antiques, who is not charging a consignment fee.
We are also thankful that the mayor in East St Louis does not give orders to bulldozer camps to make the homeless go away, as in St Louis.

]]><![CDATA[Josh Herum's Documentary, "The Man Behind the Merferds" has been awarded the MIDRASH award at the 2018 At Louis International Film Festival. This is a high honor. Thank you to all entries, film makers and subjects who participated. And thanks to St Louis]]>Sun, 25 Nov 2018 03:45:52 GMThttps://www.merferd.com/merferd-blog/merf-mass-tree

Tree jobs at never complete without a Treetoon hangin' around with us.

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It’s impossible to separate our tree work from the Treetoons

]]><![CDATA[“The Man Behind the Merferds” is screening with Paul Crane’s “Living in Tents" at the St Louis International Film Festival]]>Fri, 02 Nov 2018 04:36:22 GMThttps://www.merferd.com/merferd-blog/the-man-behind-the-merferds-is-screening-with-paul-cranes-living-in-tents-at-the-st-louis-international-film-festival

Josh Herum and Phil are pleased to announce that Josh's film “The Man Behind the Merferds” is screening with Paul Crane’s “Living in Tents” this Sunday, November 4th at 1:00 pm at the Zack theater at the St Louis International Film Festival.

Visit the event page for details.

How cool, that, (Sunday, Nov 4, 1:00 at the Zack theater,) out of the multitude of entries, for Josh Herum and I to be teamed up with "Living in Tents". I'm still so disappointed with mayors Krewson and Slay, having shut down our city's only 24 emergency homeless shelter, at the behest of a large political donor. Merferd art continues at a homeless camp, across the river, where the East St Louis' mayor visits. She has even cut the grass. On the St Louis side, the mayors send the bulldozers. Instead of the Forestry division saving trees, they are ordered to dismantle tents, and even cut down the trees that shade them.

-- Phil

]]><![CDATA[The Man Behind the Merferd - Next Step: St. Louis International Film Festival]]>Sun, 29 Jul 2018 15:46:40 GMThttps://www.merferd.com/merferd-blog/the-man-behind-the-merferd-next-step-st-louis-international-film-festival

Phil and Josh Heru, are both LIT UP that Josh’s film made it into the St Louis International Film Fest, which will have entries from around the world.

Thank you to the St Louis film fest and Doc Shorts folks at Wash U for the platform that for 17 years has encouraged the great film-making talent in St Louis world.

“The Man Behind the Merferds”
by Josh Herum

]]><![CDATA[7 Short Documentaries Including The Man Behind The Merferds at the St. Louis International Film Festival]]>Fri, 20 Jul 2018 02:36:55 GMThttps://www.merferd.com/merferd-blog/7-short-documentaries-including-the-man-behind-the-merferds-at-the-st-louis-international-film-festival

See the lineup and buy tickets here.

Saturday, July 21 - 2:30 pm
Washington University
Brown Hall Auditorium

The Man Behind the Merferds
A short film by Josh Herum
Phil Berwick, a street artist in St. Louis, uses his paintings of Merferd — a bearded character he has been drawing for four decades — to carry a message of peace, hope, and love to some of the darkest areas of the city.

The 27th Annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival provides St. Louis filmgoers with the finest in world cinema — international films, documentaries, American indies, and shorts that can only be seen on the big screen at the festival.

]]><![CDATA[Merferd at the Pickin on Picknic Fest in St. Clair, Missouri]]>Sun, 08 Jul 2018 22:01:45 GMThttps://www.merferd.com/merferd-blog/merferd-at-the-pickin-on-picknic-fest-in-st-clare-missouri

Phil needed a road crew!

After having spent a long day preparing for the “Pickin on Picknic” fest in St Clair, Phil and Merferd arrived and slept in the bed of Phil's tree crane truck on a comfortable kick back lawn chair. The next day Phil was somewhat overwhelmed. He wondered "if it took so long to prepare and pull the Merferds out of their St Louis trees, how was I going to think I was going to be able to reinstall at the festival by dark?! It dawned on me that I needed a ROAD CREW."

Tim of the Merferd Road Crew

Phil Meets His Road Crew

Help began to come with Tim, who owns his own tricycle people riding company in St Louis. He’d given me a ride once and I tipped him well, and it all comes back! I handed him 20 Merferds and shanks of rope that he helped me deliver to 20 trees!

When Tim stuck his head above that tailgate and asked if he could help if I hadn’t had a ride on his tricycle I would have thunk him an angel sent by God!

Piglet of the Merferd Road Crew

And as I began attempting to do a triple Merferd installation a man appears, digging the Merferds. He tells me he loves to rig with trees. And who was he, other than a man named PIGLET who was the owner of the SHANTI in St Louis where I had performed once or twice!

Big Mike of the Merferd Road Crew

“Big Mike” joins me and Piglet, and the Merferds are in the buddy rigging system now!

Road Crew Member Laurel Lee

I even had help from Laurell Lee!

There were other helpers too - the lady in the straw hat who saw me straining, the man who brought me his chair to stand on ... wish I had photos of them all."

Marvin Rudolph jammin' with the Musical Merferds.

... then Phil went off to ride on a bicycle and listen to the music of The Mighty Pines.

]]><![CDATA[Merferd and the Treetoons in "Picking Up the Trash"]]>Thu, 10 May 2018 16:19:55 GMThttps://www.merferd.com/merferd-blog/merferd-and-the-treetoons-in-picking-up-the-trash

This video is in honor of a homeless friend, BeBe McBride, who has a street cleaning team in St Louis. BeBe is also on my tree care crew. The city of St Louis... certain ivory tower 'rulers' don't have as much creative thought of how to enable the homeless to work, but are thinking instead all the time of how to make them go away. They order the Forestry dept out o bull doze down their tents and their trees.

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