It’s funny that last night, I was reading this book called, “What We Keep.” It’s a compilation of photographic essays from 150 people who talk about the one object that brings them “joy, magic and meaning.”
And there…was Neil Leifer (!!) and HIS object…and it’s a pretty good one.
It’s funny that he starts HIS book essay with “it’s funny.” It’s also a coincidence (a type of funny?) that way back in high school, I went through this obsessive period of loving boxers, even though I hated sports. I even went to a boxing match in person and yelled for blood like a monster….probably NOT funny.
Anyway, my obsession started with Larry Holmes but was initially sparked by Muhammad Ali who was such a giant of charisma and talent. You were aware of him even if you weren’t paying attention because he was bigger than life. And so 18 years ago, because I love a good obsession, I ended up painting 6 boxers (Ali, Holmes, Foreman, Lewis, Tyson, and Holyfield) on little wooden panels with different textures and twisted metal hangers from an old wooden fence. I wrote a story on each about why I loved them and pasted it to the back.
This wasn’t the best of the bunch, but it happened to have been copied from Neil Leifer’s photo. I never knew the photographer’s name until now but isn’t it funny how things go round…and round…
