This is a portrait of Anthony McDaniel, a beloved colleague at Lieff Cabraser and band mate in the rock band The R-23s. I started this portrait of him in July, 2023. Anthony passed away suddenly last week, which sent shock waves through me. He was so alive, so present, so huge in my psyche, I've been grappling with the fact that he is gone since then. He was the heart and soul of The R-23s, and now it is changed forever. That commanding presence will never again be encountered in his office, walking down a hallway, having a quick chat in the kitchen, and most of all interacting with in real time in music. I was sensitive to his struggles with being an imposing black figure in a white man's world. In a better world, he could have just been himself, which would have been wonderful to behold. Instead, he carried himself with a dignity and formality that must have been a constant strain. We're all confined to our cages, after all; that is, until we're not. RIP, Sir Anthony.
No comments:
Post a Comment