Digital Image by kenne
Meditation is old and honorable, so why should I
not sit, every morning of my life, on the hillside,
looking into the shining world? Because, properly
attended to, delight, as well as havoc, is suggestion.
Can one be passionate about the just, the
ideal, the sublime, and the holy, and yet commit
to no labor in its cause? I don’t think so.
— from “What I Have Learned So Far” by Mary Oliver
Swimp Boats At The Rocky Point (Puerto Peñasco) Port — Computer Painting by kenne
Graphic Pen Art by kenne
— Paulo Coelho
Source: William Morrow/HarperCollins
It’s just a little after midnight in Tucson, and I’m having trouble sleeping. It could be that Joy is having surgery later today. It could be that in this age of hand-held technology it was several hours ago I received news alert on the passage of Robert M. Pirsig at age 88.
In the 1970’s I was interested in motorcycles — own a couple. It was a time in which I loved reading about technology and philosophy. So, in 1974 when I read a review of a recently published book, “Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values,” I went out and bought a copy.
The inside cover jacket begins with a quote from the book:
“ The study of the art of motorcycle maintenance is really a miniature study of the art of rationality itself. Working on a motorcycle, working well, caring, is to become part of a process, to achieve an inner peace of mind. The motorcycle is primarily a mental phenomenon.”
What better way to write about the conflict between science and religion, and the nature of Quality in art than to have it as part of a motorcycle narrative of a trip Pirsig, his eleven-year-old son and two friends took from Minnesota to California? As it turns out, the real trip was not a motorcycle trip, but a philosophic trip that centers on an insane passion for truth.
In February of this year, I posted a blog entitled, The Zen of Visual Imagery – Balancing Passion and Obsession, in which I reference the novel I have worshiped over the years. Whether in my own teaching of educational philosophy or photography, I can’t talk about life without referencing Pirsig for the truth. It is time for a Chautauqua.
–kenne
Sunrise On Wildhorse Trail — Image by kenne
— Alan Watts
Female Phainopepla — Image by kenne
— kenne
When we moved to Tucson three years ago, one of the first people we met and established a friendship was visual artist, Malcolm Alexander. Recently, for reasons of health, the 89 year-old Malcolm moved back to Santa Fe where he can be closer to family and friends.
Malcolm is very missed — sights of the lumbering (6′ 5″) big man walking around the Circle; conversations at the pool; knocks at our door seeking help in finding his cell phone and his proverbial question, “What’s the latest malicious gossip?” There were the times we went to lunch and he would ask me questions about my philosophy of life, or the knocks at the door, just wanting to talk, which for Malcolm meant listening and observing — when it comes to people and politics, Malcolm’s more into asking questions than telling you what he thinks, unless it has to do with living compositions.
“To this day I admit, I’m always arranging and rearranging living compositions in my mind: Always. It can be a bit disconcerting at a dinner party when I’m staring at a beautiful woman attentively and she feels flattered until I say, ‘Could you move three inches to the right and remove that goblet from the frame?’ Or to my hostess, ‘You know that painting behind you needs to be hung two inches lower to complement you, and the height of the candlesticks is wrong for it.’ “
Malcolm Alexander — Images by kenne
“I distinguish between ‘living’ and ‘life.’ Living is an encounter. Life can be a lifeless existence in many cases. My art has been the conduit linking me to people, people from all walks of life. I have traveled from boardrooms to blue-collar environments, always looking, listening, and learning that each of us has a story to tell. In articles, I have been referred to as the ‘Studs Turkel’ of the art world.”
— Malcolm Alexander
“. . . most people instinctively choose the security of harmony. An artist will choose chaos so that one can bring a new order and harmony to it.”
— Malcolm Alexander
Images from our “farewell” dinner for Malcolm.
On August 28th, a few friends of Malcolm had dinner at our house, the least we could do to show our friendship and love for Malcolm. As with his work, we hope Malcolm “. . . keeps moving toward a distant, unknown destination seemingly always just beyond his horizon.”
Diane, Malcolm, Steve and Marsha — Playing Bocce Ball On The Circle, March 2012
“My experiences in nature taught me that we are all One. There is peace and unity in Nature. When we destroy Nature, we destroy the soul.”
— Malcolm Alexander
In the brief time I have known Malcolm, I have learned about the man, an artist with a restless mind, yet comfortable in stillness while desiring a lot of social stimulation. In his memoir, To Reason Why, you can see the influence of his lifelong association with Native Americans —
“For from being a brained-numbed soldier,
our artist is actually our child within,
our inner playmate.
As with all playmates, it is joy, not duty
that makes for a lasting bond.”
— Malcolm Alexander
Yes, by friend — “It does not require many words to speak the truth.” (Chief Joseph Nez Perce) You are a man who excels in what you do with a quiet confidence.
May our paths cross again soon.
kenne
“There are moments in our lives, there are moments in a day, when we seem to see beyond the usual. Such are the moments of our greatest happiness. Such are the moments of our greatest wisdom. If one could but recall his vision by some sort of sign. It was in this hope that the arts were invented. Sign-posts on the way to what may be. Sign-posts toward greater knowledge.”
— Robert Henri
This is my third posting on our former neighbor:
https://kenneturner.com/2011/02/01/malcolm-alexander-nobody-ever-asked-me-how-i-felt/
http://tanuri.wordpress.com/2012/01/11/sculptor-malcolm-alexander-pens-his-memoir/
You can see images of Malcolm’s work at the Ventana Fine Art Gallery website.
http://ventanafineart.com/malcolm-alexander
