in memory of robert busby
Ruelaine Stokes, coordinator of the Old Town Poetry Series, just sent me this. I can't believe this. I do not have all the information at this time. I am at a loss of words. I am sorry.
Tonight (Wed. Feb. 28th, from dusk on), there will be a candlelight vigil outside the Creole Gallery for Robert Busby, our dear friend ‹ the owner of the Creole Gallery and the host and supporter of the Old Town Poetry Series, who died Monday night. If you have instruments or poems, perhaps we can put them to use.
In creating the Creole Gallery, Robert was the greatest kind of artist. He created. . . step by step, over many years . . . an environment in which people could come together to celebrate art, music, poetry, genuine human connection, and community itself. I first experienced the sweet air of freedom surrounding art at Robert's former gallery on Turner Street, known as Two Doors Down. The performance events there still stand out in my mind as blessed events. Like many other people, I "cut my baby teeth" as a performer at Two Doors Down. It was the place that I learned that the combination of poetry, community, and spirit could give me and others a state of bliss. . . . . that music, poetry and art could activate those blessed moments when one feels deeply alive, whole, and in communion with others.
There is a beautiful quote by Ursula LeGuin. It begins, "Community is the best we can hope for, and for most of us, community means touch, the touch of another's hand, the dance danced together, the work done together, the child conceived together, the sledge hauled together."
Robert had the gift of nurturing and building community, and for that . . . and for the gift of his gentle, wise, delightful self, we will be forever grateful.
Power writes:
Earlier today, my friend Robert Busby was found murdered in the basement of his home/business.
I met Robert fifteen years or more ago… My then-wife rented a building (now home of October Moon from him to teach art. I spent a lot of time there helping her with a variety of things, and on occasion chatted with Robert. I took this photo as part of my The Artists Project exhibit in 1995 (Robert was also an artist).
He owned and restored several buildings in Lansing's Old Town area (Lansing's original downtown years ago) and was probably the most devoted person in turning the area back into a thriving community. I attribute most of the gains that Old Town has made to his efforts. When I first moved to the Lansing area, Old Town (I don't think the area even had a name then, actually) was rife with crime and was a pretty scary place through which to drive, and spending time would not have been something I'd have wanted to do at that time. But Robert made his home there and persisted, making it a very livable place for others.
About six or seven years ago, I received a phone call from his girlfriend, asking for advice with regard to presenting concerts at Robert's Creole Gallery. She and I have become best of friends since then and Robert and I have become better friends. The three of us hung out a little bit in Memphis last week as she and I were attending the same conference. I met a couple of his sisters Friday afternoon.
While I can't claim to have been amongst his closest friends, I can still claim to know that he was about as good a person as I have ever known — generous and kind. For the better, he affected the lives of many, many people, including those who aren't aware of his efforts in Old Town or who might never have known him.
He will be sorely, sorely missed.