Morrie and his bride of 75 years, Betty Photo: Gary Friedman, LA Times (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
It’s been quite a year for Morris Markoff. First, LA Times columnist Steve Lopez paid him a visit and wrote a profile of Markoff’s adjustment from Silver Lake to Downtown LA. A couple months ago, national press swooped in on the occasion of his 75th wedding anniversary to wife, Betty. Now, this just-turned-100-year-old is having his first art show. (t must be a trend! A few weeks ago we profiled an 89-year old artist having his first show.)
If you’d like to shake the hand of a centenarian, head downtown on Wednesday from 5-8 pm to party with Mr. Markoff and admirers at Chinatown’s Red Pipe Gallery, which is exhibiting 20 of his artworks for a limited time only. (Markoff is emphatic that the works are not for sale. They are to remain in his family.)
I asked the century-old artist what it’s like to publicly unveil his work at this age:
KCRW: Why a show now?
Markoff: Accidental circumstance. (He and his wife met the gallerist on a bus; she was charmed by him and moved by his work once she saw it.)
KCRW: What made you start expressing yourself artistically?
Markoff: A toilet I fixed. (The pleats of the floating ball inspired him to work with found materials.)
KCRW: How is making art different than your profession (Markoff ran an appliance store on Melrose)? Similar?
Markoff: One is inspired and the other a definite job.
KCRW: You got media attention last year on your milestone anniversary. And now this. How does it feel to be in the limelight?
Markoff: Exciting at my age. Basically, an ego trip.
KCRW: What words of wisdom do you offer, as an elder statesman, to anyone who wants to create… but doesn’t?
Markoff: Desire won’t do it. When the inspiration comes, it will.
Red Pipe Gallery, 978 Chung King Road in Chinatown 5-8pm Wednesday
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KCRW has decided to cancel this Sunday’s Good Food PieFest. We are aware of the campus protests at UCLA and believe it’s in the best interest for all to cancel.
PieFest is a beloved KCRW community event. As such, we will be looking into a possible reschedule and share the details as soon as we can.
