Kenneth Wells; artist & muralist
Hyfler/Rosner
Saturday, August 14, 2004By Jennifer Meese
CHRONICLE STAFF WRITER
From a 2,700-square-foot mural to illustrations in a popular
cookbook, Kenneth Wells made his mark on Muskegon.
In later years, he left artistic marks on Grand Rapids,
Kalamazoo and across West Michigan, through words, music,
images and teachings.
Wells died Monday at the age of 53 at St. Mary's Hospital in
Rochester, Minn. Wells was reportedly ill for a long time,
but the cause of death was not disclosed.
"He was the most compassionate person and loved by lots of
people," said Jennifer Kadrovich, Wells' companion of 15
years.
Wells, who grew up in Muskegon, was a talented artist,
musician and poet. His most famous artwork locally was the
2,700-square-foot Seaway Festival Community Mural painted in
1982 on the side wall of a restaurant at Western Avenue and
Fourth Street.
Wells received much acclaim in West Michigan for the mural.
But in the late 1990s, he created art that broke barriers:
He became the only non-Tibetan artist ever to make an iconic
Tibetan painting to hang in a Tibetan monastery.
The painting is in India, and was approved by the Dalai
Lama, said Jock Smith of Grand Rapids, Wells' good friend
and neighbor of 14 years.
"For a white guy to know how to do this kind of painting in
a proper way is phenomenal," Smith said.
In West Michigan, Wells painted ceilings from Grand Rapids
to Kalamazoo, illustrated the West Shore Symphony
Orchestra's "Some Enchanted Eating" cookbook, had work in
exhibits at the Muskegon Museum of Art, Muskegon Community
College and local galleries, and had paintings and drawings
in West Michigan businesses, such as the Brownstone and
Rafferty's restaurants.
As a musician, Wells played "mostly guitar, but also violin
and just about any other instrument you could think of,"
Kadrovich said. In 1983, he and a friend recorded an album
of original music.
Wells also was a poet, choreographer and dancer -- and a
Buddhist practitioner. A leader in "Tibet West Michigan," he
spoke about Buddhism to comparative religions classes in
area high schools and colleges. In 1999, he helped organize
a series of West Michigan performances by Tibetan Buddhist
monks. In Grand Rapids, Wells taught meditation classes at
Gilda's Club.
Wells lived in Muskegon until 1990, when he moved to Grand
Rapids.
"He was certainly a good soul," said Peggy Jensen of
Muskegon, a longtime friend of Wells' and collector of his
artwork.
Wells is survived by his mother, Paula, of Indiana; brother,
Keith, of California; nieces Kimberly Gust of Texas, Rebecca
Wells of Texas and Bethany Wells of California; and nephews
Keith of Florida Timothy of the Detroit area and Jeremy of
Indiana.
Wells' cremation was handled earlier this week by Mahn
Family Funeral Home in Rochester, Minn. His friends and
family will host a gathering to celebrate his life at 5 p.m.
Sunday at Gaia Cafe, 209 Diamond SE in Grand Rapids.