Aileen Malcolm

Of Scottish heritage, Aileen Malcolm Narizano was born near Wimbledon, London, England. Her father was killed during the Second World War, and she was brought up for several years in Guildford, Surrey, to the south of London. She later continued her education in Wimbledon and later at Parliament Hill School before leaving school at sixteen years old. She also spent some time in the Chelsea School of Art, which eventually became part of the University of the Arts London. By this time, however, Aileen was in North America. In the late 1950s she moved briefly to New York City, USA, and then on to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where she worked for the Toronto Daily Star newspaper. She also attended the Ontario College of Art and Design where she met her husband. They returned to New York City (NYC) in 1962 to pursue their careers as artists. She worked chiefly on the stage, but also became a writer, publishing seven books.

After twenty-five years, the purchase of a floor (“loft”) of an old doll factory in SoHo, NYC, (which once had a view of the World Trade Centre), and having five children (three of whom were adopted), her husband died. Aileen later met somebody from Tortola, and moved to the British Virgin Islands to be with him in 1990. She lived near Hog’s Valley Point (between Fish Bay and Brandywine Bay) for some ten years, but after the relationship broke up in 2000 she moved to Tobacco Wharf, Roadtown, where she now lives “in an apartment she loves”. A well-known BVI artist, many of Aileen’s art works are displayed at The Gallery, on Main Street. “Her use of vibrant colours, detailed textures & patterns, and comical scenes from the British Virgin Islands are fascinating and entertaining” (http://www.thegallerybvi.com/Aileen_Malcolm_Gallery.htm). However, Aileen still depends upon the rent of her NYC loft as her art sales – as is the case for many artists on Tortola - “only pay for her art supplies”. Until recently Aileen sold mostly to people on the islands, but The Gallery website has now broadened this base (http://www.thegallerybvi.com/).

As soon as she had arrived on Tortola twenty years ago Aileen knew she had done the right thing and come to the right island. It was small – which she liked. It had good light – important for an artist. It had good people whose habit of saying “good morning” when you first met calmed you down and got you in a good frame of mind.

Two decades have led to numerous changes in Tortola although they haven’t affected Aileen very much. But it seems like for every gain there is a loss. There are many more people. The buildings are bigger and there are more of them. Too few have car-parking facilities – this is true even many of the newly built structures. The traffic, especially the “rush hour” traffic has increased, along with the number of vehicles. The number of parking spots has not kept up. Perhaps Tortola should try a “Park and Ride” system like many overseas cities. Also on the down side there are the ongoing water and sewage problems that may or may not be solved by the new water contracts.

The High School is having challenges and this is a problem as education is so important for the country. Maybe a few smaller high schools (in West End, East End etc.) would have been better than one large one. Aileen would like to see a greater encouragement of poetry in the BVI and of local artists. She wishes there had been more artistic progress and less business and building progress in recent years. The place has become very “North American” concerned too much with “acquisition”. However, Aileen has also noticed a change in the local women. They look after their bodies better, are more professional, and better turned out – they will soon be overtaking the men. The medical facilities are also much improved and continue to get better. The new movie theatre is particularly good for kids and families, providing a service that Roadtown did not have before.

Aileen has tried to “give back” to the BVI over the years by teaching drawing, and swimming. She is well known for contributing her prints for charity raffles. She also believes that her appreciation for the islands and the people is a positive factor.

Aileen is very happy with the way her last ten years have worked out - although less pleased with the first decade. She wishes she could have “found herself sooner”, but “everything is for a reason”. She is now, she feels, more tolerant and a better painter. The future for Aileen will be more of the same in the BVI. Tortola has “a magic: you can’t say what it is”.  Aileen is happy with who she is and happy with where she is. She enjoys being a single person who doesn’t have to constantly please others. She still travels to NYC every year to see her children, and hopes to travel up the Amazon River to see Peru in the near future. But her home will remain at Tobacco Wharf.
 

Draft of April 20th, 2010 of interview of April 20th, 2010

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