Peter Alexander, born in Los Angeles in 1939, is an artist of the Light and Space movement, known for his resin sculptures and rich paintings and prints. His work is in the collections of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. A longtime friend of Christopher Isherwood’s, Alexander joined Zócalo to talk about the writer’s life in Los Angeles. Below, he takes our In The Green Room Q&A.

Q. What is the last habit you tried to kick?
A. Cigarettes.

Q. What surprises you most about your life right now?
A. It’s a pleasure.

Q. If you could take only one more journey where would you go?
A. Heaven.

Q. Who was your childhood hero?
A. My father.

Q. What do you consider to be the greatest simple pleasure?
A. Sleep.

Q. Where would we find you at 10 a.m. on a typical Saturday?
A. In the desert.

Q. What do you do to clear your mind?
A. Sleep.

Q. What is your favorite cocktail?
A. Used to be gin martinis. Used to be.

Q. What profession would you like to practice in your next life?
A. The same.

Q. What is your most prized material possession?
A. I’m not sure there is one.

To read more about Alexander’s panel, click here.

*Photo by Aaron Salcido.