It was reported that local artist and man of many talents and achievements, Skandar Reid, died after a sudden illness several days ago and was found dead at his home in Bishop by concerned friends.
It is hard to find the words to describe Skandar in just a few words. He had so many talents, being an artist was just one of them. Even calling him eclectic doesn’t come close to describing his vivacious, sparkling personality, creativity, enthusiasm, and many talents. In many ways, he was a modern Renaissance Man. He was also a very nice guy…and very generous with his time and talent.
Skandar was a photographer, videographer, a painter, sculpture artist, and a digital artist. He was a writer of children stories. He hiked and climbed. He had a spiritual side. On his Facebook page he referred to himself as a “Vibrational alchemist.” He could be quirky, funny, entertaining, and he was always energetic, which is what makes it hard to process his loss.
When Sierra Wave first heard of his loss and received confirmation, we began calling a few of his friends for their reaction. It was immediate and devastating as many did not know that Skandar had died. Most simply could not believe it. Even at the Sierra Wave radio station where Skandar had done work with us over the years, all of us are shocked and saddened.
Some of Skandar’s work can be viewed on his Facebook webpage and on the website www.artstation.com/skandar.
This post is not meant to be an obituary, but an acknowledgment of the great loss felt by many. Frankly, all of us in the local news media have reacted with shock at his loss. It was so completely unexpected. Over the next few days, Sierra Wave will attempt to put together some thoughts of Skandar’s many friends and many accomplishments.
Please join us online at sierrawave.net and share your thoughts and memoires in honor of this great friend to many.
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I have know Skandar, Ox, Alex for over 35 years. He was a beautiful human being inside and out. He took my toddler son climbing on rocks many years ago and sent us wonderful homemade postcards from Pakistan, which I treasure. I was able to visit him in Bishop many times and he really helped me with his healing touch. He was very dear to me and I will miss him. Peace, kisses and hugs to you, dear friend
Liz
I met Skandar just this year. We both went to the same high school 30 years apart, and he had created a really cool art installation, a throne carved out of solid stone, as a gift for the school. We got to talking and he shared some of his adventures in Pakistan with me. Such a cool guy to get to know, you could tell by the way he talked that he was skilled working with his hands, like he wanted to sculpt every word he said. I was looking forward to spending more time with him some day. He will be missed.
I met Skandar years ago through family. He was kind, generous, and spiritual. He was so supportive to my family and saved the day at my wedding. I appreciated meeting such a kind soul and I hope he is at peace moving through the cosmos. ??
Skandar is an incredible spirit! I miss him so much! To me he was a healer, an artist, and Mickey and Rosemarie’s adopted son. His generosity knew no bounds. He healed my wolf dog Sarah. He supported me during my darkest hour after losing my father and saved the day at my sister’s wedding. When I think of Skandar I see the great expanse of the Volcanic Tablelands, I see the canyons in the White Mountains, and I see the infinite light that will always shine bright! Love you beautiful soul brother!
I am so glad I got to see Skandar just a couple of weeks ago. I was walking my 3 year old daughter home from preschool, and had stopped to talk with a friend. Suddenly, I heard Skandar’s unmistakable voice asking her, “Do you like animals?” He walked up and offered her a carving (we call them Skanimals), and asked her what she thought it was. She replied that it was a goose, and held tight to it. There is no way he knew he’d see us that day, he just happened to have an extra Skanimal with him when he was coming to talk to my friend about a project, and it was classic Skandar to want to delight the people around him, especially children. He will be missed in person, but with so many in spirit. I’m so glad we have a few pieces he’s made to help us remember him.
This man! Reading the comments makes my heart swell
even more. We became close in this life only last year and whilst we only had one physical meeting, the vastness, brilliance and familiarity of his essence are unparalleled. His range is indescribable but touched upon by the comments above. Selfishly, I am sad not to have had more time and experiences with him this go round but already something spectacular is revealing. His essence is being known by a number very palpably and he shows me he is freer now to continue unrestricted. And many of us close soul gaming are inextricably part of this ongoing adventure. I am profoundly grateful for the sculpture he so generously gifted me. It is a physical anchor of his wondrous, diverse Being. Magician, community builder, alchemist, wizard, multi dimensional architect, artist, shaman, wiseman, nature spirit, comedian, this list goes on and on and he is bigger than all of it. All of us touched by his unique Cosmic sweep of Grace share a love that will not falter. Skandar we continue. My love is always with you .
Oh what a loss, I am saddened to hear of the too soon passing of this wonderful soul.
Skandar took us on the best scavenger hunt of all times. He created a video, with a map inlaid into a wooden sculpture that was given to us as the most beautiful gift for Christmas. Alfred the Bear, a marble remnant from his journey to Pakistan was hibernating, wrapped up in a burlap sleeping bag up Tyee Lakes. We got to go with Skandar to discover his awakening. Something I’m quite certain my daughter will never forget. And that was just the icing on so many zucchini cakes we shared with our dear friend.
I only met Skandar a couple years ago in Mt Shasta, but fast and instantaneous friends we became as he held such a gentle yet childlike energy full of imagination, adventure, and humor – I felt like I was in the presence of a cosmic wizard and my inner child would light up around him. I was fortunate to go on a couple of crystal adventures with him, hiking and working on bringing healing light to the land. He was soul brother indeed, and his kind heart, his commitment to his community both in bishop and in our light tribe across the world was palpable, along with his dedication to being in service to Mother Earth. I see him now in the rocks, the pine trees, the soil, the plants, – he is everywhere she is – playing deep within her inner realms – I am so happy he his free in the most limitless ways now – but my heart is certainly grieving a very dear friend. He was a very bright light – and I will miss him immensely.
Sorry to hear of this news. He was always so helpful to us at SierraSounds. He’s with Jimmy now, doing their shenanigans.
I love this man with my heart and soul. I met him at Wilsons, probably 20 years ago, and since then, we’ve traveled a beautiful journey of friendship together, We shared a similar spiritual outlook on life, and therefore we spent hours on his porch (with a cat or dog in attendance, all animals loved Skandar!), and shared the twists and turns of our spiritual path and it was always great. We understood each other that way. And I loved his vibrational alchemy work most of all. There were the tuning forks, singing bowls, various crystals and other stones, the crystal blanket, the copper bracelets and the amazing copper pyramid! I was fully alchemized from the inside out! It was bliss! And I will certainly miss him in my garden, as he would often drop by, and bring some new sculpture he’d made or a crystal or gemstone he had, saying he heard the garden needed it, and, of course, it always did. He was so generous that way. Skandar is a deep Soul and he carried such a bright shine and we all got to enjoy that shine! You know ,I have to laugh as I can just hear him now saying,” Wow cool, I can fly now, so I think I’ll set up my crystal grids all over the Universe!” And you know what??? I bet he will! So fly free my dear friend! You are loved and you will be missed. And maybe I’ll catch you some night in my dreams and we can fly around the Universe together!
Skandar, Alex , was in the fine fine tradition of Inyo eccentrics. Talented and unique he was and will be greatly missed by a great many
I met Skandar when I moved to the Bishop area in 2001. He was indeed a man of many talents and I benefited greatly over the years from his sound vibrational healing work; he was always experimenting with new healing tools and it was fun to see what new ones he would pull out of his “toolbox”. He was generous with his time and talents both with people as well as doing his therapeutic work with animals and with nature. I have since left Bishop but I did enjoy connecting with him whenever I was in town. Fly free old friend!
Dear Alex… I met him as Alex. We became friends at Smoke Blanchards memorial in 1989. Skandar will always remain an icon of sorts. What a unique individual to lose in a small yet very large community. He was a bright, shining presence in this land of Inyo, dwelling place of the great spirit. He was almost always smiling and ever such a kind soul. He will be missed by so many.
Sending love and peace to his family, and to the many others that recognized his energies. We’ve lost another unique (in so many ways) artist of the earth. I’m shocked and saddened.
Thank you Charles for the kind words, Skandar was force that has left a mark of beauty on this community. RIP
Skandar brought laughter, lots of laughter, and love, lots of love to the home we shared 20 years ago. He helped to heal my broken spirit, and I helped to heal his. I will always see that time as a gift of growing – forever grateful for that time. He was overflowing with curiosity, open mindedness, joy in Nature, playful creativity, commitment to healing, love of family and friends, and the ability to scale a mountain peak like a goat! I am convinced that he was a dog in another lifetime for he spoke their language. Rest with the angels, my dear friend.
Skandar always said he’d marry our border collie Judydog in their next lifetimes – she had done something very bad and a previous life and they missed out because she had to do time as a dog. She was a very old, knowing, soul and he was sure she’d be human the next go ’round.
Thanks for sharing about your time together.
I’m shocked and saddened by this, he was a good friend and I supported many of his artistic endeavors and currently own many of his pieces of artwork in my home. I met him at his usual hot spot, Keoughs 20 years ago and we were friends ever since. God speed Skandar.
Sorry to hear this. I didn’t know him but I have run into him in Bishop on a few occasions over the years. He was always friendly and had a positive energy about him. May he rest in peace.