A memorial celebration for Mac McGill, a longtime East Village artist, activist and homesteader, will take place tomorrow (Jan. 31) from 1–4 p.m. at St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery (Second Avenue and 10th Street).
McGill, a native New Yorker who passed away last fall, was a familiar presence in the neighborhood for decades through his creative work and long-running advocacy around housing and environmental issues.
6 comments:
Mac was a unique artist, illustrator, as well as fair housing advocate! Long ago, he was a guest artist at ABC No Rio working with HS students as part of a free Saturday art, community, and portfolio development classes I co-developed & co-taught for Cooper Union Art School. He was wonderful with the students! Mac was one of the many persons, black & brown, too often not credited for their part of the efforts in lower Eastside and downtown areas who fought to protect rights to affordable decent housing from the 1980’s onward, against the gentrification that would take over those areas. Rest In Peace & Power!
Martin Albert McGill (Mac) was my younger brother. Being just a year apart, we grew up close. Although poor, in a single parent houshold (our mother was a widow) we had a great childhood and grew up happy with our sister and two other brothers. He was a prankster as a youth and was just fun to be with. He ended up living and dying in the place where he loved the most, Alphabet city in Manhattan. When I moved to Yonkers, he called it Bonkers. He is survived by his wonderful wife Kathy and three children. I really miss my brother.
condolences for your loss. thank you for sharing a piece of his, and your, story here. may his memory inspire more folks to fight for their own neighborhoods! even in bonkers :)
Was a wonderful moving tribute to a unique and talented human.
A calming presence, extremely talented ,let’s keep his spirit alive
Mr. McGill, Condelences to you and your family. I wrote the comment above. Thank you for providing background about your and Mac’ life! In his decades I feel glad to have met him a number of times in L.E.S.and worked with him! I am so very sorry for your loss. Mac contributed so much good to this world. Best further to you, his wife & sons, and others who loved and cared for him.
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