Tad's Memorial

a memorial for Tad
the gallery is closed.

December

When you enter our home, the very first thing you see is a ceramic sculpture by Tad, mounted on our living room wall. We met Tad through Patrick and quickly fell in love with both of them. We have other pieces of Tad's and wish we had more.

He, like his art, embodied a deep seriousness of purpose and a lightness of spirit that made being in his company very special.

Our acquaintance was brief - only four years, with hit and miss stays in Silver City during which we got together, and we miss him very much.

Joel and Mason

There are many memories of Tad; however, there's one in particular when I was privileged to see the "artist at work". We were in Tuscany, staying in a remarkable villa outside of Certaldo and it was a warm early autumn day when our group chose to be on their own. As I recall, Tad and Patty Leff were painting on one side of the villa which offered an incredible view of the Tuscany hills, vineyards, farm houses and their signature Italian cypresses. I would say that Tad defined "artistic bliss" that day, goblet of wine in hand, plugged into his iPod and creating these wonderful linear landscapes. Several were spread on a wall, drying and, for Tad, these were just "sketches" for perhaps a later, more defined work. For me, seeing Tad's process, each was a work of art.

Thank you for the opportunity to share a tiny memory of Tad. His compassionate soul will be missed.

Larry McLellan

November

Dear Patrick,

It is not often in one's life that people like you and Tad come along. We will all miss him terribly and our community will be less because he is no longer in it. Although I have not seen you in the past few years I have held you and Tad in my heart and will continue to do so. I love you Patrick and you will be in my thoughts and prayers. We are doing pujas at the ranch for Tad and for you.

Marina

Tad held a special place in our hearts: as friend and comrade, as clay mentor and teacher, as web site creator and advisor, as I.T. specialist and counsel. He seemed to delight in our efforts at SYZYGY Tileworks and supported us, throughout the years, in whatever capacity was needed, as you can see from the above. Over the past year or so, his loyalty to us, no matter his pain and discomfort, never wavered and he was there when we needed him, sometimes to his own detriment, until we said to him enough, you must tend to your own self-we love you, now go. We will miss him dearly and he remains in our hearts.

Lee Gruber and David del Junco

Twana, this is for Patrick, please pass it on to him. Patrick, We are heartbroken and will be so for some time to come. We came to love Tad, and his brilliant work, very quickly, because he was that kind of open, life-affirming person. We will miss him especially keenly whenever we are at home in Silver City. We feel comforted by knowing that you are there, and will be there, for the future.

XOX,

Joel & Mason Tucson

To Patrick, may Tad's spirit be with you for as long as you need him. I'm so very sorry.

Gary A. Shephard

Twana:

Please give Patrick my sympathy and my best thoughts.
Thank you for keeping everyone informed.

Love, Victoria
Victoria Amador, Ph.D

I was so sorry to hear of Tad's illness. Please let him and Patrick know they are in our thoughts and best wishes.

Kathy and Art Eaton

Tad, You won my heart from our very first interaction. When I couldn't get my bedroom furnace to work; and having purchased your former home from you and Patrick, you came running, telling me about it's 'quirks,' and had me warm and toasty in no time. Then at the dog park, when I arrived with my new dog Silver who had never been leash trained, you came to unravel me from her lead which had me wrapped into a knot; and gave me some new dog ownership tips, as well as lessening my embarrassment. And lastly, you seemed so delighted that I had transformed the meditation structure that you created in the front yard, into a meditation garden, which I will keep as such, adding a plaque which says "Tads Garden," as I will always remember the kindness, love, and compassion you so readily extended to me-and all of the many others who's lives and hearts you touched here in Silver City.

Luce

I first met Tad in a writing workshop at some gay NM conference that was held in Silver 8, 9, or 10 years ago. He wrote a beautiful poem about refusing to kill a song bird even though he was a farm boy and supposed to. He liked my poetry too.

Fast forward to a couple of years ago when I started carving wood and was trying to organize some sort of art market at the $1.98. No luck at all until Twana wrote that Tad was offering me space in his gallery! I was flabbergasted by his generosity and asked, didn't he want to see my work before he made that offer? No, he said, he was sure it would be up to my high standards. I can't tell you what that meant to me, as a fledgling, just pick up something and start doing it type person, to have an established, very successful artist whom I barely knew treat me as a peer and give me the opportunity to be visible, and sell.

I asked him about it when we did it again the next year, and he said that I drew different people, that it was good for him, and that our work was complementary. I think of that now as another gift of his to me, the ability to lessen the "ego heroics"? of his generosity into power sharing.

Even this fall, when Tad was quite sick he was very interested in seeing my new work. I won't be able to show him any, but because he taught me how to so graciously share, I will be passing that on.

Michele Connelly

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