Q Culture 2009

Cover art

Cover of the Queens Tribune Q Culture 2009 Guide
Vol. 39
No. 39
Sept. 24-30, 2009

The other day a friend called me up very excited. She was in the bank when she noticed my painting featured on the cover of the Queens Tribune's special edition cultural guide. Museums, galleries, art venues, music...in short, cultural places and events in the borough. My painting, LIC/Short Triangle is prominently displayed. I knew nothing about this, so it was a nice surprise!

Happy Birthday Mr. Springsteen

Turning 60 and still rockin'

"Pink Cadillac"
Oil on canvas
18 x 24 inches

In 1975 I discovered Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Listening to Allison Steele, "the nightbird" on then WNEW-FM, I first heard the intro to "New York Serenade". I was hooked, lined and sinkered after that first listen and have been a fan ever since.

I was inspired to do this painting after listening to the song "Pink Cadillac". It had a beat, it had a groove, it was fun and I loved it. I envisioned a pink cadillac of the 1950's, something that Elvis would have driven, and found a photo to work from. I then took the camera and walked around until I spotted a Honda and a Subaru. I replaced the actual billboards on the wall of a Manhattan street with images relating to the band and ended up with a painting.

The birthday boy is turning 60 and he's still out there, night, after night, after night, giving it all he's got. An amazing performer onstage, the man and the band give it their all and the concerts that I've attended over the years have been more than magical experiences. Last Friday, at the stroke of noon, I was online trying to get tickets for one of the upcoming Madison Square Garden shows in November. Success! My "oldest" friend Elyse, (we've been friends since the second grade) and I are gonna be at the Garden, we're gonna be standing and singing along. Don't know how much longer the man and the band will be doing these types of shows, so I plan to enjoy every moment and experience the magic once again.

Final week of "On & Off the Grid"

Winding down


This is the final week before my exhibit comes down and I've been busy meeting folks at the gallery and walking them through the show. One reason that I like this space so much are the surfaces that the paintings are displayed on. This is not your conventional white-walled box. It is instead a lobby interior with shiny white and black stone (marble), reflective columns and ceilings and bouncing lights. A dramatic use of space and a great way in which to exhibit my paintings. Today I met Priscilla, a fine sculptor that I know, and talked about my paintings with her. She had many good insights, things I hadn't noticed or considered before about certain paintings and it got me to thinking about new ways in which to descibe and title my work. Very refreshing. I managed to take a few photos of some of the columns reflecting my paintings, and here is one example.



On my way over to the gallery, I passed Bryant Park, caught up in the throes of Fashion Week in NYC. Lots of photographers out today. I passed by the crowd on the other side of the street and thought I'd give you an idea of what is going on in town right now. This painting is of a window I did several years ago, the fashions were just amazing. Not sure who would wear these creations, but they were certainly eye-catching.


"Norma's Window"
Oil on canvas
16 x 20 inches

We Are All New Yorkers Today

Remembering the 8th anniversary of 9/11


"Union Square Memorial #3"
Oil on canvas
30 x 36 inches

Thinking of the events of that fateful day and of my friends who lived to share their harrowing stories.

Little Italy and the San Gennaro Festival

Thoughts on the neighborhood

"Feast of San Gennaro
Oil on canvas
30 x 36 inches

Tomorrow begins the annual Feast of San Gennaro in what is left of Little Italy in lower Manhattan. I was in the neighborhood this past weekend walking around and noticing the changes, as usual. Had a nice dinner with a friend at an old-style Italian family run restaurant, Forlini's on Baxter Street. I remember the Sidney Lumet television series "100 Centre Street" using this restaurant often when filming scenes of the lawyers and judges meeting and eating when court was not in session. The food is fine and I liked the homey atmosphere, the attentive waiters and the friendly owner, meeting each guest as they arrived.

Walking northward we were in NOLITA, a neighborhood filled with swank shops and chic boutiques, many of them empty of buyers with lonely looking salespeople inside. This sign in a window says it all.

Radio Waves in Midtown

The crowning touch

"G.E."
Oil on canvas
30 x 24 inches

When I find a building I really like, I often paint it more than once. Perhaps from a different angle, or in the case of the old G.E. building, its reflection on a building facade on 3rd Avenue. This grandly embellished piece of architecture on the corner of 51st Street and Lexington Avenue in midtown was originally called the RCA Victor building when it went up in the '30's. The symbols and details on the crown of the building were inspired by radio waves and it is quite a site to see. I love these architectural details on the older buildings and miss seeing anything like this on many of the new structures popping up all over town. These two paintings are on view in my current exhibit through September 18.


"G.E. Reflections"
Oil on canvas
30 x 24 inches