Allan Margolies Aug. 5, 1942 – Sept. 15, 2022

Allan Margolies, his unfinished life review from his journal, printed by hand in all caps, found in his apartment.

Born Brooklyn, N.Y. 1942

Graduated New York School of Interior Design. Became in charge of display for Van Leigh Furniture, the largest designer showroom for home furnishing in New York. Then became a junior executive at David Laurence Roth, Inc., an upscale interior design firm and antiques’ dealer. Then opened a boutique with a friend, one-of-a-kind clothing, crafts, art, and imports from around the world.

I worked at a disco at night, and for a few years in collaboration with Dime, National Sound Systems, and designed the displays for the Pioneer Electronics show that took up the entire ballroom of the New York Hilton.

My apartment building was to be torn down and I got kicked out by hired thugs. We moved into our shop. A month later learned I had to close shop, the city was tearing down our street for a Civic Center.

We were taken in by Marshall Baker a theatrical writer, who acted as a mentor, working on his varied creative projects. Worked for National Association of Men’s Sportwear buyers, sorting new seasons’ clothing, going on photo shoots arranging clothes for the models.

Became a member of the Angels of Light, a radical theater troupe. Did some theater work in productions for the theater for New City and La MaMa. Learned to crochet, made paper flowers sold them on the street, got involved in the natural food movement. Worked for a friend, in the first whole grain organic vegan bakery in New York, helped create the first free community garden in New York, now a city landmark.

Traveled for about two years. Became head cook for a macrobiotic commune in noisy Le Grande and lived in Paris for about six months. Then to Italy, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Nepal and Thailand.

Returned to New York, became involved in Angelica Restaurant, started by Jack Albert and Bruce Ferenaugl (Eden) becoming the first totally organic restaurant in New York. Moved to Eureka in 1981.

Bought property off Rock House Rd. Our little valley became a neighborhood of solar homes and organic gardens designing and helping to build my own home was my major creative endeavor, and with no electricity. We cut the lumber from a local sawmill by hand. I used natural non-toxic paints, varnish and stains.

I worked for Mary Jane Beggs, an artist with a gallery in her home on Spring St.

I crocheted practice things – hats, scarves, bags and backpacks which I sold to people I knew and contributed my work to many fundraisers. I cleaned houses, painted interiors, did gardening, cooked vegetarian Sunday brunches by donation at the Old Red School House, made knishes for the Pita Hut.

Cooked at Sweet Dreams, was a member and performer with the Eureka Springs Players, participated in many parades. To earn more money went to Florida and New York where I had connections – painted homes and gardened.

 Moved to Fayetteville for a couple of years to work. I made tofu and granola for Summercorn, then as a cook at Gaylord’s Mountain Café.

Donna of Still on the Hill had a gallery on Dickson Street and carried my crochet work. When my home became livable, I started making collages from scrap lumber, broken furniture, shells and stones and found objects which I gave to a number of friends. Some were in a show at Mud Street Café.

I was in a show at The Space and a number of shows at Brews. For eight summers I was the vegetarian and special diet cook at Summit Camp in the Pocono Mountains, and for a few years helped Eden make and sell flowers for a Renaissance Festival in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Now that I live in town, I have done many collages on cardboard. It’s recycled, it’s free, and not considered precious. To take something of little value and turn it into something out of the ordinary is magic.

There will be an art retrospective and memorial for Allan in November, time and date to be announced.