A tale of two doctors

I'm typically not one to gush praise.

Sure, it's one of my faults and a legitimate gripe many people express to me -- I'm too apt to criticize.

Not today. Because the truth is, when I see someone who deserves praise, I try to give it to them any way I can. And right now, I can think of two people who deserve all the praise we can heap on them -- Dr. Joel Ray and Dr. Jean Chapman.

As journalists, we're running a risk when we get close to a source or express publicly our impressions of them. What happens if we find out one day they're not all they seem to be? Then we have egg on our faces and we look like stupid sycophants.

I know my praise of Chapman won't come back to haunt me, and I'm pretty sure the same is true for Ray.

This is an exciting time for the local art community, defined by big ideas and visions of a better future. No one expresses that optimism more freely that Ray, who might be one of the best things to happen to the local art community since that other doctor who's done so much for the arts over so many years, Chapman.

Anyone who's met Dr. Ray, Cape's famous neurosurgeon, photographer and Missouri Arts Council board member, knows there's one quality that defines interaction with him more than anything -- his enthusiasm.

Sure, Ray can be a bit overwhelming at times. He's a ball of electric energy, and talking to him for more than a few minutes can be exhausting. You just can't keep up sometimes.

But it's Ray's energy that makes him the compelling figure he is. In my two-plus years working the arts beat in Cape, I've never met anyone so enthusiastic, so ready to bring the arts to the forefront of public (and private) life in the Southeast Missouri area. Just spend a few minutes talking to him sometime, and no doubt Ray will tell you about his vision for the area, a vision centered on making the arts a viable part of the local economy and bringing diverse interests in business, art, politics and academia together to meet that goal.

Ray is filling what has been, in my opinion, a gaping void in the local arts community -- inspiring leadership. Any movement needs someone to lead it, someone to guide all those people who want to help but might not know how, or might not know how to coordinate their efforts. Ray is ready to be that person, whether he knows it or not.

His enthusiasm seems boundless. Just ask him about the future of the arts in Cape and be ready to sit and listen for a while. This guy has a lot of ideas, he's socially well-connected, and best of all, he seems to actually care what he talks about. To use a tired old cliche, Ray walks the walk. I don't think "negative" is even in his large vocabulary.

I never knew Chapman before he was an elderly man. I never knew him before he was stricken by a stroke, one which he didn't let slow him down too much. Many people might stop producing the inspired kind of art Chapman still makes today, even though he'll readily admit his coordination isn't what it used to be. But Chapman loves art so much he can't stop, even when he says he will.

I can't really compare Chapman from his younger days to the Ray I know today. But from what I've heard, they probably have some important similarities -- both with a desire to bring the local arts community to the forefront and the drive to actually try to transform that desire into real action.

What I do know is for a few years now, Chapman has sort of stepped aside, allowing others to step up as leaders in the local arts community. As I said before, until now I really didn't see a clear successor. Sure, there are plenty of gifted artists out there, and plenty of arts supporters, but most of them don't want to be charged with being a public figurehead. I can't blame them.

But Ray seems to have no problem dealing with the glaring spotlight. In fact, he seems to use his high profile to get things done. It remains to be seen whether or not his big ideas will come to bear, but if they don't, it probably won't be for his lack of trying.

What is it about doctors, anyway? Is there something about the profession that breeds leaders?

In this case, I think leadership is just a quality inherent to these two inspiring people. The fact that they're both doctors is secondary, but those qualities that made them docs are probably the same ones that compel them to do what they do for the local art community. Ray's status as a respected neurosurgeon can only help the cause.

I've always heard being a doctor isn't just a job, it's a lifestyle. Maybe Ray can prescribe the right treatment for the local arts community, as another doctor seems to have a few years back.

I'm just going to sit back and enjoy the ride.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182