Author: Malika

Al would often regale me with all the magical plans he had for 33 Flatbush and the upstate property to host and support artists and creatives. I loved his huge beautiful work-worn hands that felt like tough leather, and the way he would glean treasures wherever he could find them and then offer them up for anyone who needed them. He didn’t bat an eye when I was pregnant and turned up at 33 Flatbush on my due date having realized that I really had to move out before the baby came. He just helped me throw my many boxes of stuff in the back of his pickup and made space for my mum and I to squeeze in the front with him as he drove us home and regaled us with stories of his Brooklyn/Syrian heritage. He was a really special man.

I used to go and get coffee at the coffee shop inside BRIC. I’d often bump into Al bringing trash up or down in the freight elevator, and he’d give me a ride up or down, which I always enjoyed because that elevator didn’t have any walls which was both thrilling and terrifying to me

One day at DaMM (c. 2017), I told Al I was taking some classes at FIT for fun. He then produced this ID card from his wallet. Good lookin’ fella, as always.

this is the best Last Supper photo i have seen! don’t know who took it but it’s a gem.

we have been friends for so many years. John and Al since high school. here are some photos from over those years and one of John and Al on scaffolding on 33 Flatbush.
we miss you Al….

Al grabbed my finger and the sharp knife as he told me NOT to move and would bandage my cut with a natural fuzzy brandade! – Oh man!!!

I can hear Al giggling!
Taking both of us to slingshot the weighted ‘Messenger line’ through the ‘Crotch’ of the trees to hang the Skypod treehouse 2017.

We have had so many little adventures here at High Valley. City-boys playing country-boys. Teaching ourselves how to use the chainsaw, moving boulders and tree stumps with the tractor or one of Al’s trucks. And recently trying to keep the chickens from being eaten by Mr. Fox that lives here also.

Al and Fifi lick the bowl clean, no need to waste water washing-up!
Al always lit up the evenings around the new folks, especially if they haven’t heard his stories before 😉

Magical water

Can you hear Al saying this?
We’re gonna make this farm an incubator for the arts and sciences and we’ll start with an assortment of forty chickens, two goats and one big sweet dog that will live in the fields with them and protect them from the mountain lion and coyotes!