Glimpse | Personal Perspectives
The Other Side of Desmond Mason A By Lauren Hammack Photo by Erick Gfeller
t age 33, Desmond Mason makes a young retiree, but it’s unlikely the former NBA standout will drift into obscurity any time soon. The recent opening of his Midtown art studio – representing Mason’s selection as the winner of the Midtown Renaissance Contest – suggests quite the opposite, putting Mason back into the spotlight on a new level. For years, Mason’s phenomenal athleticism has threatened to eclipse his reputation as an accomplished artist, but retirement from professional basketball is changing that for the Waxahachie, Texas native. A studio art major from Oklahoma State University, Mason appears to be as content – and as stellar – in the studio as on the court. The double life he’s been juggling was reason enough for us to give Mason the full-court press to see his other side. You’re one of the youngest retirees I’ve met. What’s keeping you busy now? I’ve been really busy with my art, of course, and also helping my wife, Andrea, to open a new fitness center at Classen Curve called Barre 3, for yoga, pilates and barre workouts. What’s your role in that? I’ll be overseeing the business side of things. Andrea is a master trainer. She’s followed me everywhere for basketball for the past 10 years. Now it’s her turn, and I’m really excited to support her. I’ve heard that you won a contest to open a business in Midtown. What’s that about? A friend of mine told me about the Midtown Renaissance contest just as I was looking around town for gallery space. I told the developers about my vision for a gallery, which includes using the space for my studio and hosting art shows for charity, and they liked the idea. I’ve actually been in several homes where I’ve seen your paintings. It must feel gratifying to know that people admire your work enough to live with it. It’s extremely flattering. David Stern, the NBA commissioner, bought one of my paintings to display in his Manhattan office, and Donald Trump’s son also bought one. Everything I paint is sold for charity. All the more gratifying, isn’t it? Absolutely. I’ve got an art show (December 11) at my studio, and we’re hoping to be able to help even more charities in the next year. What do you listen to while you’re painting? I love to paint to the Beatles. I like Norah Jones, Oasis, R&B, hip hop. Most
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of the time, though, I listen to Soundscapes – that kind of “spa” music. Get in my car any time and the station will be set on Soundscapes. Would anyone be surprised at anything else you listen to? Absolutely: country music. I love Alan Jackson, John Michael Montgomery, Vince Gill, Trace Adkins, and I gotta have my Garth. That wouldn’t surprise anyone in Waxahachie, Texas, would it? Oh, yes it would. They’d give me some grief about that.
You’re clearly a man of many talents. Did you bring any other mad skills from Waxahachie? When I was growing up, we couldn’t afford haircuts, so I learned to cut hair. I’m actually very good at it. Eventually, I started cutting my teammates’ hair and I still cut my own hair today. What’s the funniest thing that ever happened in the huddle? My Seattle teammate, Gary Payton, used to try to get us focused on a game strategy during the huddle, but he’d always come up with these crazy, made-up words that no one understood. (Teammate) Brent Barry always called him out on it, and the whole huddle would just fall apart laughing at Payton. Is there anything you’re obsessed with? Yes; planners, like Daytimers. I have a million. And I love anything Mac. I’ve already pre-ordered the new Apple TV that’s coming out. If you don’t pre-order, you won’t get one by Christmas – it’ll be too late. Speaking of Christmas, what’s the best Christmas gift you ever received? The first Christmas I actually got to celebrate with my daughter (Jada). I think I took about 700 pictures of her opening her presents. Christmas has a habit of popping up right in the middle of the season, doesn’t it? Yeah. Most holidays for me have always been spent on the road. There must have been some bright spots, too. Playoffs, of course. It sounds like you’re making your own bright spot in your Midtown gallery. How many paintings will you be showing this month? More than 50!
Mason’s art show takes place December 11 at the Plaza Court Building, NW 10 th and Walker in Midtown, Oklahoma City.