Visual Artist, Malcolm Alexander — Image by kenne
When we moved to Tanuri Ridge in Tucson in 2010, one of our neighbors on the circle was Malcolm Alexander, soon to become one of my most unforgettable people. He was our neighbor for three years before he moved back to Santa Fe, where he passed away at 89 in 2014.
“What’s the latest gossip?” was a common greeting from Malcolm as he set outside his home smoking a cigar. The irony was I never knew him to gossip. He seemed to enjoy the quiet moments sitting along smoking a cigar; however, he required a lot of social stimulation.
Schooling was difficult for Malcolm, who suffered from dyslexia that so affected his life by providing many challenges he learned to overcome. As a poor reader, he disliked writing and public speaking. Yet, in addition to becoming a successful visual artist, he was a writer and public speaker. Malcolm wrote in his memoir, “To Reason Why:”
“Many dyslexics have not been as fortunate as I have been. Many spend much of their lives in severe depressions, struggling endlessly, like Sisyphus, to roll their stone uphill. Too often, they are rolling the wrong stone, as I did, before fulfilling my dream.”
His story was not dissimilar from my own. We can overcome our difficulties only by faith, kindness, and the assistance of the exceptional people we have met along the way.
“Being an artist requires enthusiasm more than discipline. Enthusiasm is not an emotional state. It is a spiritual commitment, a loving surrender to our creative process, a loving recognition of all the creativity around us.
I am an inveterate collector, collecting experiences. As a collector, I have come in contact with many remarkable people, which I have come to realize is my great interest in life. It is not art that interests me most, but people.”
I shared more on Malcolm in a September 12, 2013, posting:
https://kenneturner.com/2013/09/12/artist-malcolm-alexander-moves-back-to-santa-fe-continuing-the-march-to-a-different-beat/
— kenne
Blessings to you and your wonderful mate! I continue to enjoy your posts and photography. Although we have different perspectives, those differences make for a wonderful life. Happy NEW YEAR and much more! I shall raise a glass of wine in your honor tonight!
In a life in Alabama, DuPage Country (very conservative country outside of Chicago), Louisville, Bowling Green, Bryan, and Conroe I continue to ask why I love most, let politically we tend to see the world completely differently. That social mystery is not new to our times, religious writing speaks to this human characteristic. Still, I believe the times they are changing.