Written by Dianne Hicks
My brother Myron L. Green is the second oldest of our seven siblings who has always been an artist. As a youngster of four or five our mother saw the potential he had within him because she was a gifted artist who loved to design clothes. Of course, he embraced that at a young age and was allowed to enter contests and share his vision. His art was always a mystery to the rest of us, but I made it my business to be supportive. And as a result, my walls share his work as well as other artists. My home clearly reflects my heritage and love of African-American art. Because of that, I consider it a privilege to write about this most gifted person. He has been an inspiration to all of us.
Myron has had the good fortune to travel and live all over America and St. Croix in the Caribbean. Much later, he wound up living in the islands because while living in New York City (NYC), he contracted primary progressive Muscular Sclerosis (PPMS), a disease of the nervous system that can be very challenging to live with. Because of it, Myron lost the full use of his right hand and the ability to do some of the fine design work that he was use to doing. He feels fortunate to have gotten sick in NYC, where they test everybody, for everything, no matter who they are. TV show host, Montel Williams, has MS, which is why he champions MS research and treatment. Unfortunately, the mind set in Michigan was that Blacks don’t get a White woman’s disease, which Montel now helps to dispel.
When Myron realized the doctor’s treatment course was a guess, that’s when he moved to the stable climate of St. Croix where he lived there for fourteen years. He was still able to do art while marketing graphics and teaching art. It took six years to train the left side of his body to compensate for the weakness and loss of control of the right side. Maintenance gave way to returning to Michigan for improved state of the art medical treatment. Upon returning to Detroit, he decided to live near the Medical Center where he could take advantage of the doctors, medicine and life support needs. He walks with a cane and uses a scooter to help with mobility. Myron is now part of a study of new medicines for treatment of MS.
Originally born in Detroit, Myron is a graduate of Cass Technical High School and attended the Art School of the Society of Arts & Crafts. He has an extensive background in drawing, painting, graphics, retailing, commercial and wholesale design, corporate imagery and fine art. His work has appeared in Ebony Magazine, in Caribbean shops, in the Penobscot Building of Detroit, and in an Inkster Court office. He created a logo for the stationery of the Detroit African-American MS Society. He also creates beautiful colored masks that are paper pulp sculpture with jewels, raffia, yarn, etc.
Myron’s philosophy is to pursue some passion that stirs your heartstrings and keep it simple. He says, “Mine was art. It’s what I’ve always done and will always do. More importantly, it is my passion and it is what I enjoy doing. Choose something you enjoy doing. The content I require is in my head.” He has found that developing designs on computer helps because his hands shake. He makes use of the tools that are available to him.
Living with a health challenge needs a whole new mind-set. Even a permanent disorder does not have to be a death sentence. His body is disabled, but his mind works just fine. The trick is to keep life simple, uncluttered, and free from depression, which can be overwhelming. The point is to leave room for creative pursuits and positive mental activity. In other words, Myron has taken “lemons and turned them into lemonade!”
