Name: Jacque Keller
aka: That lady with all the tattoos.
Occupation: Currently; artist – watercolors, acrylics, tattoos; reporter for the Wet Mountain Tribune; assistant librarian at West Custer County Library.
Age: 57
Hometown: LaGrange, Illinois
Role models: After thinking about this for days, I don’t seem to have one which could account for my fumbling, stumbling life. I could name any number of artists and authors I admire but what do I really know about them and how they do what they do?
Star sign: Capricorn
Favorite thing about living in Westcliffe: The mountains, air, sky.
If I were mayor: I would make sure everyone in the community had (free or affordable) health care, marijuana was legal, poor people had access to better nutrition (as in the unfortunate crap they get in food boxes), the wealthy people paid higher taxes (can I do that?) that filtered back into the community, everyone who wanted one had a laptop and internet access, nonprofit volunteers received a stipend, and school kids really did receive a good education. And everyone would have a maid.
Last book read: I’d like to lie, but I just finished a Lee Child Jack Reacher story, but before that I read “Loving Frank.” Before that was more junk mixed in with Rumi and Billy Collins poetry.
Pet peeve: Misuse of object pronouns in prepositional phrases (like, “between you and I” ugh!) and comma rules. What’s so hard about following them? except in obvious. poetic. circumstances.
Favorite pastime: Painting, hiking, lying in the hammock reading.
Political persuasion: Pathetic apathy
Favorite political/historic figure: Maybe Kennedy or King, but better yet, maybe Picasso or Khalo.
Dream job: Artist, novelist (who makes a living doing just that) – so, I’m close.
In ten years I hope: to have the mortgage paid and still be hiking up to the high lakes and painting.
Proudest achievement: tattooing, riding my Harley, writing some good shit for the paper now and then, getting the library job.
Other interesting things: After teaching middle school English and art for ten years, I quit and became a tattoo artist and traveled to motorcycle rallies and ran a website with a virtual health food restaurant (Jacque’s Kitchen) with health tips and such. So, here I am now, but you know, like Candide, if it wasn’t for the sheep and the diamonds, I wouldn’t be here “tending my garden” with my woodworker husband, Bernie. I’ve got two great kids who live here in the Valley, four grandchildren from my daughter who I get to see as often as I can manage, and two from Bernie’s son.
