Farewell Mott-ly

Photographs of the Memorial Parade

Photography by Alexander Hogan

Published: Monday, June 11, 2007

I recall seeing Mott-ly, an artist who opened and operated MoMO Gallery, a couple of months ago in the Crossroads Arts District. As I drove down the block, he rolled along a crosswalk in his wheelchair. A light, steady rain pelted his hair and clothes. The look on his face was determined as his arms pumped to move the wheelchair forward. The moment lasted only a few seconds. He didn't look like someone who would complain about his lot in life. I remember being pleased to see him on the move and thinking how he was a fixture in the arts community.

I learned about his recent death after returning to Kansas City from an out-of-town trip. While I didn't know Mott-ly on a personal basis, I did understand that his death would touch people in the same way that his life and his art had affected many.

He will be missed as part of the local art scene, as a member of the community, and in passing glances where his presence and his art left a lasting impression.

To learn more about Mott-ly, please visit these links:

mottly.com
Kansas City Star
The Pitch