20 Questions for the Prince of Palm Springs
Alex Gildzen is a rare phenomenon in American arts and letters. A remarkable creator for nearly 80 years now (he was first published at age 6), Alex is good wit and sound reason in our remarkably difficult times. His unique art projects, one of a kind poetry, love affair with Hollywood, social appearances in California, and extensive blog that provides wonderful stories both old and new keeps the former curator of Kent State University’s Special Collections and Archives busy. And he even still finds time to swim every morning as the sun is coming up over the oasis that is Palm Springs.
October 2026 marks 20 years that Alex and I have known each other. I wanted to commemorate the moment by asking my buddy that I affectionately call the Prince of Palm Springs 20 questions spanning various subjects and topics. As always, Alex came through for me.
⭐ The Interview ⭐
Tell me about the day of your birth. What’s your birth story?
I was born at 6:45 am 25 april 1943 on the Presidio of Monterey. it was Easter. that’s the latest day Easter ever is. & it won’t be Easter on my birthday again til I turn 97.
When would you say was your “star is born” moment? When you knew you had talent and drive?
I have no memory of a particular moment. I think it was always there. I always creatd. & my first publication was when I was 6.
You’ve lived in a lot of wonderful places, including your current residence in Palm Springs. Is there one residence in particular that you look back on and think, “that was my favorite house”? If so, tell us more about it.
stating any kind of “favorite” can be tricky. so much depends on where you are the moment the question is askd. the house in Santa Fe is sort of my dream house. I pickd a local architect who knew how to use adobe & where the sun wd be. & I had specific requests but wantd him to create something that workd for me but that he cd be proud of as a work of art.
You’ve kept a blog, Arroyo Chamisa, since 2004. As of today you have 4,237 posts spanning those 22 years. So many other bloggers faded out, you’re still going at it, which I adore. What has this blog brought you over the years?
these days I post less often than at the beginning. so my readership isn’t as large as it was in the blog’s heyday. but now I use it to put some things “on record.” I don’t post many poems but lately have been doing art pieces to ensure the documentation is out there. I try not to think of what happens to all this when I shuffle off.
During your high school years you met First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. What are your memories of that meeting?
I was representing my high school newspaper in a press gaggle of professionals. at one point Mrs. Roosevelt motiond toward me & a colleague & sd something like “let these young people ask a question.” if memory serves she’d recently returnd from Russia & I askd what teenagers there were like.
In a 2006 email from you to me, which is when we first met, you wished me safe travels on my trip to Chicago and also said, “when I walk its streets I see the hottest men in America.” What is your connection with Chicago and does that still ring true?
I remember saying that & meaning it. I think the first time I was in that city was in 1960. I’d have to look up the last time. I went there less often than many other cities. I’d go for the opera or theater. & at one point had friends there.
One of the things I adore about you is your originality. I don’t see any type of trends in your writings or your remarkable style of clothing. If you could give some advice about originality to younger folks starting out in their adult life in a world full of nothing but recycled TikTok trends, what advice would that be?
not sure “trends” is the proper word but there are things & themes that are always there. I often do collections of writing in chronological order because I like how something progresses in my work. for instance my book Blossoms (2013) is a collection of 50 poems in which flowers appear. it begins with my earliest surviving poem which was written in 1955 & continues thru the year of publication. many poets wd be embarassd to include such a minor piece in that collection but I’m showing that that subject matter has been appearing in my work from the beginning.
as for clothing I’m still wearing things that are 50 years old. maybe in a new or different way. the important thing is to feel comfortable in what you wear. if you are it shows.
I blind-picked a random date/blog entry from Arroyo Chamisa and it was from July 23, 2009. It’s a gushing post celebrating the centennial of Samuel M. Stewart, who you call one of the most fascinating men in American letters. I’ve never heard of him but after that entry I began my hour-long Internet journey into his life. Is there someone who’s living that you would say is on the equivalent of one of the most fascinating people in American letters?
me
Your latest book, A Litter of Lists, published this year by Sibling Rivalry Press, has been well-received and even sold-out at The Strand bookstore here in New York City. How long did it take you to put together the collection and will there be a second one?
often something is in my head before it makes it to the page. without some searching I can’t tell you the moment I felt it was time to gather my lists together. but once I did it was the loveliest journey. & when Sibling Rivalry Press agreed to issue it I became Fred Astaire dancing on the ceiling.
I have always been a listmaker & will always be. but the success of A Litter of Lists propeld me into thinking of vol. 2. I’m uncovering old ones that didn’t make the first book & have been having new ideas. so it’s taking shape. & I hope someday you’ll have it in hand.
Artist and writer Ira Joel Haber passed away this summer. We both knew him, and he was my roommate from 2022 until 2025. I am a huge admirer, and collector, of his art and his archives. You mentioned to me that he’s one of your favorite artists. What is it about his work that you enjoy and that makes it stand out more than others?
over the years I’ve written a couple of pieces abt Ira & I don’t think he ever liked them. as early as 1977 I wrote “His is a body of work already staggering in its originality and rich in its complexity.” I knew him for 55 years. which also means I’ve lived with his work for that long.
You mentioned that you swim every morning at 6am. What time do you go to bed when you are getting up at 6am ready for your swim? And is there a memory you’d like to share about perhaps swimming or being on a boat somewhere in the world that was just absolutely one of the best water-moments of your life?
unless I have obligations which take me out of the house I begin undressing for bed at 9ish. but I often allow my mind to unwind while my body presents itself for sleep. so that can take some time. I usually get out of bed at 4:44 & immediately begin my exercise routine. I check mail & do other online routines. I leave for the pool abt 6:15.
I have a skinnydipping list in the new collection. & a certain X-rated pool memory that workd itself into a poem. also a sweet Terence Stamp story. it’s on my blog for 17 aug 2025.
You have a poetry bench there in Palm Springs. Do you ever go near it and watch people sit on your words?
I love the bench & adore that the artist Emeline Tate askd me to collaborate with her. it appears in one of the novels of Owen Masterson. & people tell me abt seeing it. I don’t go there often but feel comfortable with the notion of my words warming anyone’s butt.
What is a memory from 2006 that you could share? The year that we met.
a special one was being the first poet to give a reading at Palm Springs Art Museum. that was a decade before I moved here.
What is your favorite place in Europe and what is a special memory from there?
maybe not “favorite” but “special” : a sunset on Santorini
You seem to adapt early and thoroughly to new technologies. For example, your blog is extensive. And I love your social media. It’s always full of stories of the past as well as photos and writings about your day to day life, which includes a vibrant social life. What do you think of Artificial Intelligence and does it play a role in any part of your day?
I know there are artists embracing AI but I’m fearful of it
What news websites/papers do you read on a daily basis?
my phone has an opening page which lists “Top Stories.” so I click on many of those. in the past I used to follow NYT religiously but no longer. in the evening I go in & out of tv news channels & if something slaps me I’ll go online to learn more.
If you could start a petition for one thing, what would it be?
make art & music & poetry classes mandatory in public schools in every state
List your top 5 favorite gay icons.
perhaps the only way to discover that is to make a list of how many times certain artists & writers & actors & composers appear in my work
What’s it like to be in your 80s?
no different than any other decade of my life. I’m grateful to still be here & to have control of my mind & body. & I love getting out of bed in the morning knowing I have another day in which to create.
Alex Gildzen Online:
📝 Blog: Arroyo Chamisa
📸 Instagram: Alex Gildzen
📘 Bookstore at Sibling Rivalry Press
Me (seen here with my former attorney) in 2006, the year I met Alex.
