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By Jim Carney
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 07:48 p.m. EDT, Sep 28, 2009
There was no way to resist Alfred McMoore.
The man who started out as the subject of an article for Beacon Magazine nearly a decade ago became much more than an eclectic artist who attended countless strangers' funerals.
There was something so deep and essential to this ''outsider'' artist, who spent many years hospitalized and who drew incredibly complicated pictures, that Mr. McMoore became my friend and entered my heart.
I am not alone in mourning Mr. McMoore, who died Friday at age 59.
A wake tentatively is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday, followed by a funeral service, at Stewart & Calhoun Funeral Home on West Thornton Street, where Mr. McMoore attended thousands of funerals — nearly every one for a person he had never met.
I met Mr. McMoore through neighbor Chuck Auerbach, an art collector who helped him sell his pictures. After I wrote about him in April 2000, Mr. McMoore became a fixture in my life.
Occasionally I gave him pipe tobacco, crayons or the 5-foot-wide scroll paper on which he produced rambling, movie-like pencil and crayon drawings — some 50 yards long — of the characters in his world.
He drew male sheriff's deputies wearing fancy earrings and high heels. He drew female nurses with large linebacker arms.
Mr. McMoore loved drawing elaborate lamps, people in caskets with huge flower arrangements, Jesus playing electric guitar and long funeral trains.
His work is owned by a museum in France and has been on display at a New York City gallery. He is listed in the Art in Context database at http://www.artincontext.org.
As a self-trained artist, his works fall into the ''outsider'' category — a term used to describe nontraditional art created outside the scope of official training, often by someone who has been institutionalized.
Mr. McMoore traveled around town on the bus or on his bike and loved to call people on the telephone. Often, there would be 20, 40 or more messages from him on our home phone.
''This is Alfred McMoore,'' he would say into the machine. ''Your black key is taking too long.''
The term ''black key'' was something he used often.
When my son, Patrick, and Chuck Auerbach's son, Dan Auerbach, formed a band in 2001, they thought of Mr. McMoore and came up with the name the Black Keys.
When the two later formed a publishing company for their music, they called it McMoore McLesst Publishing, a tribute to a term he often used to describe himself.
Drawing posture
Mr. McMoore drew his scrolls while lying on the floor, curled in a fetal-like position, with part of his body on the paper.
He bought paper from Ruppel's Art & Paint Supply for at least the past 20 years, store owner Harold ''Harry'' Ruppel said. He got it at a discount.
''He was part of the family,'' Ruppel said.
Barbara Tannenbaum, curator of the Akron Art Museum, called his work amazing and astonishing.
''It is wonderful work about his highly personal version of people and things and business and life in Akron,'' she said.
The museum owns a McMoore scroll and a drawing of a sheriff's deputy.
Mr. McMoore's niece, Ora Walker, said he began drawing as a child — chalk pictures on the streets in East Akron.
Drivers got to know Alfred and learned to give him room to draw, she said.
Barbara Robinson, his caseworker at Community Support Services, an Akron mental health agency, remembers walking to elementary school and seeing him drawing beautiful castles on the sidewalks and streets.
Even though he spent more than 13 years in state hospitals, for the past 20 years Mr. McMoore had not been hospitalized and had been living independently while under Community Support Services' treatment.
Isatou Sagnia, director of regional services for CSS, said a photograph of Mr. McMoore and one of his drawings are on display at CSS offices.
''It is not going be the same without him around,'' said Sagnia, who had worked with Mr. McMoore since he was 19.
She does not understand his fixation on funerals, but said the highest tribute he could pay to people was to place them in one of his drawings.
''If he likes you, he will draw you and put you in a coffin,'' she said.
Dressed for success
Whenever I showed up at his apartment building to visit, he was waiting outside, usually wearing two, three or four coats and often with a cross around his neck.
He always wore a suit and tie and owned scores of suits that he bought at area thrift stores.
''Ain't it a blessing?'' he often said whenever he was happy. And every encounter started and ended with a hug.
Preston Stewart, the funeral director at Stewart & Calhoun, said Alfred was like a ''professional mourner,'' in that he always cried at calling hours for strangers.
Alfred often called Stewart to ask about an upcoming funeral.
''Is it going to be a big one?'' he would ask, Stewart said.
Because of Mr. McMoore's large circle of friends — from social workers and police officers to bus drivers and people he met on the streets of Akron — his funeral could be ''a big one'' too, Stewart said.
The funeral home is giving Mr. McMoore a discounted price of about $2,500 for services.
McMoore had no insurance and had no money to pay for the funeral, his niece said.
Donations for the service can be made to Stewart & Calhoun Funeral Home, 529 W. Thornton St., Akron, OH 44307.
The Black Keys plan to sponsor a showing of his work in Akron this fall. Details will be announced.
Jim Carney can be reached at 330-996-3576 or jcarney@thebeaconjournal.com.
There was no way to resist Alfred McMoore.
The man who started out as the subject of an article for Beacon Magazine nearly a decade ago became much more than an eclectic artist who attended countless strangers' funerals.
There was something so deep and essential to this ''outsider'' artist, who spent many years hospitalized and who drew incredibly complicated pictures, that Mr. McMoore became my friend and entered my heart.
I am not alone in mourning Mr. McMoore, who died Friday at age 59.
A wake tentatively is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday, followed by a funeral service, at Stewart & Calhoun Funeral Home on West Thornton Street, where Mr. McMoore attended thousands of funerals — nearly every one for a person he had never met.
I met Mr. McMoore through neighbor Chuck Auerbach, an art collector who helped him sell his pictures. After I wrote about him in April 2000, Mr. McMoore became a fixture in my life.
Occasionally I gave him pipe tobacco, crayons or the 5-foot-wide scroll paper on which he produced rambling, movie-like pencil and crayon drawings — some 50 yards long — of the characters in his world.
He drew male sheriff's deputies wearing fancy earrings and high heels. He drew female nurses with large linebacker arms.
Mr. McMoore loved drawing elaborate lamps, people in caskets with huge flower arrangements, Jesus playing electric guitar and long funeral trains.
His work is owned by a museum in France and has been on display at a New York City gallery. He is listed in the Art in Context database at http://www.artincontext.org.
As a self-trained artist, his works fall into the ''outsider'' category — a term used to describe nontraditional art created outside the scope of official training, often by someone who has been institutionalized.
Mr. McMoore traveled around town on the bus or on his bike and loved to call people on the telephone. Often, there would be 20, 40 or more messages from him on our home phone.
''This is Alfred McMoore,'' he would say into the machine. ''Your black key is taking too long.''
The term ''black key'' was something he used often.
When my son, Patrick, and Chuck Auerbach's son, Dan Auerbach, formed a band in 2001, they thought of Mr. McMoore and came up with the name the Black Keys.
When the two later formed a publishing company for their music, they called it McMoore McLesst Publishing, a tribute to a term he often used to describe himself.
Drawing posture
Mr. McMoore drew his scrolls while lying on the floor, curled in a fetal-like position, with part of his body on the paper.
He bought paper from Ruppel's Art & Paint Supply for at least the past 20 years, store owner Harold ''Harry'' Ruppel said. He got it at a discount.
''He was part of the family,'' Ruppel said.
Barbara Tannenbaum, curator of the Akron Art Museum, called his work amazing and astonishing.
''It is wonderful work about his highly personal version of people and things and business and life in Akron,'' she said.
The museum owns a McMoore scroll and a drawing of a sheriff's deputy.
Mr. McMoore's niece, Ora Walker, said he began drawing as a child — chalk pictures on the streets in East Akron.
Drivers got to know Alfred and learned to give him room to draw, she said.
Barbara Robinson, his caseworker at Community Support Services, an Akron mental health agency, remembers walking to elementary school and seeing him drawing beautiful castles on the sidewalks and streets.
Even though he spent more than 13 years in state hospitals, for the past 20 years Mr. McMoore had not been hospitalized and had been living independently while under Community Support Services' treatment.
Isatou Sagnia, director of regional services for CSS, said a photograph of Mr. McMoore and one of his drawings are on display at CSS offices.
''It is not going be the same without him around,'' said Sagnia, who had worked with Mr. McMoore since he was 19.
She does not understand his fixation on funerals, but said the highest tribute he could pay to people was to place them in one of his drawings.
''If he likes you, he will draw you and put you in a coffin,'' she said.
Dressed for success
Whenever I showed up at his apartment building to visit, he was waiting outside, usually wearing two, three or four coats and often with a cross around his neck.
He always wore a suit and tie and owned scores of suits that he bought at area thrift stores.
''Ain't it a blessing?'' he often said whenever he was happy. And every encounter started and ended with a hug.
Preston Stewart, the funeral director at Stewart & Calhoun, said Alfred was like a ''professional mourner,'' in that he always cried at calling hours for strangers.
Alfred often called Stewart to ask about an upcoming funeral.
''Is it going to be a big one?'' he would ask, Stewart said.
Because of Mr. McMoore's large circle of friends — from social workers and police officers to bus drivers and people he met on the streets of Akron — his funeral could be ''a big one'' too, Stewart said.
The funeral home is giving Mr. McMoore a discounted price of about $2,500 for services.
McMoore had no insurance and had no money to pay for the funeral, his niece said.
Donations for the service can be made to Stewart & Calhoun Funeral Home, 529 W. Thornton St., Akron, OH 44307.
The Black Keys plan to sponsor a showing of his work in Akron this fall. Details will be announced.
Jim Carney can be reached at 330-996-3576 or jcarney@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Akron, OH
Posted 08:45 PM, 09/28/2009
I believe that this man, Alfred McMoore, is one of God's special creations. I pray that the Almighty has welcomed him with open arms. And I am grateful to Jim Carney for an impressively beautiful story.
rmk/akron
Posted 12:27 AM, 09/29/2009
great story, I knew McMoore casually...he was always a pleasant person.
Posted 01:46 AM, 09/29/2009
that link didn't show any of his art...looks like I'll have to go to the art show
Charlotte, NC
Posted 08:04 AM, 09/29/2009
Rest in peace, kind sir.
Akron, , OH
Posted 08:51 AM, 09/29/2009
Maybe the folks housing his art will step to the plate.
Art is good!!!!
Akron, Oh
Posted 09:24 AM, 09/29/2009
Jim, Please post some photos of his drawings.
Posted 12:53 PM, 09/29/2009
A man who made the best of the broken deal he was dealt. Everyone should show him the same respect he has shown others and cry a tear for him. He would have liked that. RIP.
Norton, oh
Posted 02:44 PM, 09/29/2009
Amazing!
Grand Junction, CO
Posted 03:09 PM, 09/29/2009
A wonderful tribute to a man who touched his community in a good way. Great story, Jim.
Canal Fulton, Oh
Posted 09:16 PM, 09/29/2009
Lets hope the lessons he has taught the youngun's stays inside them and they lead the kind of life he wanted for them.
AKRON, OH
Posted 12:11 AM, 09/30/2009
I REMEMBER ALFRED AT WILLIAMS TOWERS I WAS GETTING MY STUFF OUT OF THE CAR AND HE OPEN THE DOOR FOR ME I WAS GOING TO SLOW FOR HIM HE TOLD ME TO HURRAY UP WOMEN HE WAS NOT GOING TO HOLD IT TO LONG I USTA GIVE HIM POP AND PENCILS HE WOULD SIT IN THE FRONT AND ONEDAY MY GRAND BABY WAS CRYING AND HE STARTED CRYING HE WAS A GOOD MAN, ALSO A FUNNY MAN, HE NEVER WANTED ONE WOMEN HE WANTED TWO WOMEN, I ENJOYED TALKING WITH HIM HE WAS A MAN WITH A VERY SOFT HEART.HE NEVER DISRESPECT, I REMEBER HIM ON THORNTON STREET YEARS BACK WITH HIS BIKE AND HIS PAPER. HE ALWAYS DRESS NICE WITH HIS HATS HE WILL BE MISSED THE FURNERAL HOME SHOULD DO HIS FURNERAL FOR NO CHARGE HE GREW AS A OWNER JUST LIKE THEM HE IS A LEGACY FOR THEM AND THE COMMUNITY HE SHOWED LOVE TO THIS PLACE AND THE PEOPLE WHERE IS THE LOVE, FOR ONCE IN YOUR MEGGA BUSINESS YOU CAN BURY A LEGACY FOR SHOWING UP AT YOUR FURNERAL HOME JUST ABOUT EVERYDAY, BELIEVE ME YOU WILL NOT MISS IT. GIVE BACK TO THIS MAN THAT GAVE TO YOU FOR YEARS, AND ONEDAY YOU WILL FIGURE IT OUT WHAT HE GAVE. THIS IS BETTER THAN A TURKEY,A FAN, A PENCIL,ETC. IF I HAD THE MONEY I WOULD DO IT. HE LOVED PEOPLE BUT MOST OF ALL HE LOVED STEWART AND CALHOUN. OUT OF ALL THE PLACES YOU GUY'S DO THE RIGHT THING. WOW YOU SHOULD FEEL HONOURED
Barnsville, Ohio
Posted 09:47 AM, 09/30/2009
I knew Al Moore and he was truly a wonderful man.
He had a passion for people and Akron has lost a great friend.
akron, oh
Posted 10:48 AM, 09/30/2009
I met him, he cried and I had to explain that I'm ugly, not dead.
akron, oh
Posted 10:53 AM, 09/30/2009
Jim, nice article. Thanks for remembering him this way.
Posted 10:55 AM, 09/30/2009
To empowermentone 1 WHAT?
Medina, OH
Posted 02:06 PM, 09/30/2009
@ Empowermentone1: Picked up a dictionary lately? I highly recommend it. Your first homework assignment will be to memorize the definitions of both "racist" and "hypocrite".
Canal Fulton, Oh
Posted 04:00 PM, 09/30/2009
lol@McNeeky
Bored today empowermentone1??looking for a little attention are we? OK ....your a sad excuse for a human being,no matter what color you are.Pathetic too.Im guessing you didnt get an increase in your foodstamps this month .,or were told your getting cut off been 3 years already?? Isnt that the new law 3 years and your done? so your mad at whitey..
