Name: French Thompson
Where I live: In a great neighborhood built around Scottsdale’s Motorola employees.
What I do: I am a gallerist and a goldsmith. Retail business owner and creative jeweler.
When & why I moved here: 43 years ago, I was offered a job with an incredibly talented sculptor of African wildlife. It was the vibrant art galleries in Scottsdale that made me want to move here away from beautiful Colorado.
What I like most about living here: It would be the people that I have met over the years. Most people did not grow up here and when they moved here, they had to make new friends. That created an atmosphere of friendliness that I just love.
Activities I enjoy: I have always enjoyed creating, jewelry, sculpture, cooking and other forms of art. My backyard is an ongoing live sculpture that always needs attention. (I enjoy) riding a road bike all over the entire city of Scottsdale.
Clubs/organizations I’m involved in: I am a board member of the Scottsdale Gallery Association, a Circles and a 21 Century member with the Phoenix Art museum.
My favorite charity or volunteer activity and why it deserves support from others: The arts are always forefront in my mind. I love supporting art museums, art organizations and art education. The Scottsdale Arts District catalog in Old Town Scottsdale is where most of my volunteer time is spent currently, and promoting all the small local businesses. They need all the support they can get from everyone.
My No. 1 suggestion to new residents looking for ways to get involved in their community: Familiarize yourself with Old Town and all the museums in the area. The city is full of arts organizations and many of them are dependent upon volunteers.
What one thing would you like to see changed in your community: People are polarized and (alienated) from each other. They don’t realize that they probably agree with 95% of what others think. I would rather they concentrate on the 95% we all agree on and then try and compromise on the other 5%.
My family: Is a very large group of artists, designers, friends and relatives. They are scattered all over the state, country and world.
People who are an inspiration to me: Kind and caring people are always an inspiration, along with all the original creatives in my field of art. I am inspired daily by the creativity I see in others.
My advice to today’s youth: Take 10%, or 10 cents, of every dollar you earn and invest it in safe middle-of-the-road investments for your future. Start this when you are young and make it a habit for the rest of your life.