Meet Mark Wallace Maguire

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mark Wallace Maguire. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Mark Wallace, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
That’s a tough question. Part of what many people look at as the ‘magic’ of creativity is usually chalked up to its ethereal nature and how the muse speaks. While I do believe there is a part of that statement that is true i.e. inspiration is an integral part of the process, there are also two other facets I use. Firstly, I believe in using self-discipline with the arts in regard to practice, not being settled with a first draft or piece of music, refusal to use ‘good enough,’ instead of ‘very good.’ As the Irish poet W.B. Yeats said, “Don’t strike the fire while the iron is hot, but make the iron hot by striking.” The idea of practice and pushing forward is in many ways antithetical to the idea of creativity but is imperative. I think if we look at history, we see that unfolding in artists’ lives regularly. Miles Davis practiced and wrote relentlessly as did the Impressionist painters. One must not strive to create one masterpiece, but to continue to create. Some pieces – music, books or paintings – might not have the appeal as others, but they are part of the journey nonetheless. Secondly, I find it is imperative to unplug. By that, I mean not only as far as social media, but to not be connected at all and to go somewhere new. A new view, perspective, and even sounds in our environment can radically inspire. However, if we are tethered to the world per se via technology, it makes it harder to escape and find inspiration.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’ve always found great joy and satisfaction in creating. Through the years, my initial interest in painting and writing gave fruit to small successes. Writing has been very good to me. What started as poetry and short stories in elementary school has provided a rich harvest. Now, I have 8 books published, have been honored with more than 20 awards for my nonfiction work in journalism, and continue to pen poetry and short fiction for publications and journals. My next book, “A Solid Man,” is written in the thriller genre, but contains a subtext of morality and has drawn beta review comparisons to John le Carre. My interest in painting was put on ice for over 30 years, but I resurrected it a few years ago and last summer opened MWM Art Works which is available on artpal.com, an online art gallery. I am also working on moving pieces onto other online platforms and brick-and-mortar galleries in the metro Atlanta area. Along the journey, I discovered great joy in writing and playing music. What began as post-punk two-chord songs in my youth has continued to evolve through the years. I have contributed music to indie films, podcasts and have created commission work. I am working on a new album now that is slated to be released later this year. Using music from the public domain, guest artists from other countries and my own compositions, it is an ambitious project, but exciting. A new part of my story has been my work in videography, livestreaming, and direction. I have been very fortunate to serve as the producer of several wonderful concerts and recitals, as well as my daily work at a church in Atlanta.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
That’s a great question. I think the 3 areas of knowledge that helped me the most were my education – formal and informal, being surrounded by artists and intellectuals who were more talented than me, and playing basketball in my early teens. I’ll begin with education: My informal education was an innate part of me that refused to accept things at face value. Learning the deep whys of everything has been imperative in the shaping of my character. I lived in 7 cities by the age of 14 and my education was dodgy at best. But I had a library card and a deep curiosity and reading greatly helped me. I am honored to serve on the board of trustees for Children’s Literature for Children. One of the key tenants by our founder Kemie Nix is the idea that reading is the key to unlocking a child’s potential and unlocking a world of possibilities around them and that if a child can learn to read they can learn to do anything. I did not really have a formal education until college – which turned out to be a bit of a rude shock! However, my college education led me on journeys to self-realization, opened doors to cultural context and examination, and pushed me to be better every day. I am grateful for both. Secondly, being surrounded many times in my life by people more talented and more intelligent than me has been a great blessing. It has been wonderful to have to push myself and raise myself up to their level which, in turn, raised my own bar of what I would accept of myself. We live in a culture of always having swag and being number one, but sometimes the best thing that can happen is to be humbled so you can learn from others. Thirdly, I was fortunate to play basketball for several years. From a love of the game to a desire to compete, I learned self-discipline, tenaciousness, and fierce competition. I still credit Coach Rodney Webb for instilling this in me. I only played for him for one season, but the lessons he taught me have never left.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I love creative collaboration. The greatest thing about playing in a band is the way you can feed off of each other and other musicians could show you facets of a piece you did not hear. It is eye-opening and wonderful. I find that same joy in writing short fiction with another writer and, as of late, with multi-media work in film and music. I’d love to work with others on some live multi-media projects and plan to shoot a short Shakespeare re-telling film in early 2024. I’m always looking for original and cooperative artists. I’ve had my share of pretension and have little stomach for it, but find me a creative soul with a desire to work together and I’m game.

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