The Court Square Diner all shiny and bright

"Court Square Diner Reflections"
Oil on canvas
6 x 6 inches

A long-established Long Island City spot, the Court Square Diner, went through a big renovation a few years back, keeping up with all of the development and face-lifting the old neighborhood is undergoing. My eye caught the reflections of some of the older buildings on 45th Road bouncing off the shiny windows, surrounded by chrome accents. This is a recent small painting. I've been working on a smaller scale for the past few months for a variety of reasons, but this is one painting I'm thinking of working up into a larger piece at some point. Not all reflections become abstract but they do become reversed which I find fascinating. The interior of the diner is all shiny and new too, and I'm thinking of painting an interior scene of this place in the future. Now that the summer season has unofficially kicked off, and the natural light in the studio keeps me painting later, I'm hoping to turn out some good work in the next few months.

Kids Art Rocks! And So Does Bob Dylan-Happy 70th Birthday

"LIC/P.S. 78 Wall"
Oil on canvas
6 x 6 inches

I have been invited several times by Erica, the art teacher at P.S. 78, to speak to her art class about what it is like to be a working artist, and having a studio in Long Island City. I've enjoyed my visits immensely, as the kids were really interested and had lots of good questions. They even asked me to autograph their sketch pads.

This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending Erica and Mike's wedding. When I first received the invite, I decided to do this painting as a wedding gift. This wall blocks some of the construction that is currently taking place along the waterfront and is the work of kids in Erica's art classes. The skyscrapers of the east side of Manhattan loom across the river on this tranquil and pleasant area. The wedding was a blast.

On another note, I can't let the day go by without saying "Happy Birthday Bob Dylan!" I remember the day when I first heard his music. I was a kid visiting my friend when her mom came home carrying his first album. "Girls, you HAVE to listen to this!" She put the record on the turntable and a nasal voice twanged out. EEWWWW, was my first response on hearing Dylan's singing. That soon changed though, and I've been an avid listener and fan for oh so many years now. His music has always been on my turntable, on my cassette player, on my radio and on my cd's and many of the paintings you have seen posted on this blog were painted while listening to his songs. I have WAY too many favorites to list here, but one of the opening lines I really like is "...she's got everything she needs, she's an artist, she don't look back...".

My Open Studio

LIC Arts Open May 14-22

Photo of a corner of my studio

The LIC Arts Open is well underway. I attended several events on Saturday and Sunday. Of special interest: Photographs by noted photographer Tony Vaccaro of Jackson Pollock, Lee Krasner and others (loved the b&w of a young Leonard Cohen) on view at Matted on Vernon Blvd. Stopped in to Krypton Neon LLC on 47th Avenue to see Kenny Greenberg and the neon signs and objects he restores and creates. This upcoming Sunday, Kenny will be doing demonstrations throughout the day. Also enjoyed the exhibit W&G: Heads and Grids by husband and wife team William Garrett and Beth Williams at Ten10Studios. That exhibit was a short one and will be replaced by a new photography exhibit in time for the Open Studios week-end, May 21 and 22. Also popped in to the real estate office of Modern Spaces on Vernon Blvd. to see the photo exhibit on view there.

Of course, the highlight of the week-end was attending the opening reception for the group exhibition "Made In Long Island City" where I am represented by 5 of my LIC-themed paintings. Friends and collectors stopped by and I had the opportunity to meet a number of folks who enjoyed my take on the neighborhood. Capped the evening off with a nice dinner at Manducati's restaurant, one of the older established eatery's in LIC.

Next week-end is the big one, with over 250 artists opening their studios to the public. After some thought, I've decided to open my studio on Sunday, May 22nd from 12-4pm as well. For more information on the LIC Arts Open and the open studios here is a link

"Made in Long Island City" Group Exhibition Opening Sunday, May 15, 2-7 pm

LIC artists strut their stuff

I will be one of 13 artists participating in this group exhibition at the Jeffrey Leder Gallery in Long Island City. The art on the walls will be far-ranging, chosen to display the diversity of the artistic community working in this neighborhood. I delivered several of my LIC-themed paintings last week and a bunch of them will be on view. I'm looking forward to seeing the other artists represented in this exhibit, paintings, drawings, sculpture, mosiac, the whole shebang.



It is a busy time in the nabe as the LIC Arts Open will be taking place from May 14th-May 22nd. If you'd like to find out more of what is being planned check out this link. Lots of art, with an open studios event the week-end of May 21-22. Two of my artist friends, Elinore Schnurr and Donna Levinstone will be participating and their work is wonderful, so if you do decide visit some artist studios, definitely put them on your list. I'm considering opening my studio for a few hours on Sunday, May 22nd. If you would like to stop by, just send me an email and I'll give you more info on the when, where and how to get there.

The East Village

Another changing neighborhood

"13th Street"
Oil on canvas
48 x 36 inches
Sold

This rainy morning found me heading over to Utrecht to pick up some art supplies. I headed south on 2nd Avenue and turned up 13th Street. I passed by a building that I had been commissioned to paint back in the rock 'n roll '80's by a collector who was in real estate and owned this apartment building. As I passed by I noticed that the site is still very much as it was back then, the only difference being that several new stores occupy the commercial spaces on the street level. With so many changes in the city over the years, I'm glad to see some buildings standing just as they were when I painted them.


"2nd Avenue"
Oil on canvas
24 x 30 inches
Sold

2nd Avenue in the East Village has gone through many changes over the years. So many great places, lot's of mom and pop stores to be found. The 2nd Avenue Deli, Love Saves the Day and Kiev, a restaurant profiled in Jeremiah's Vanishing New York blog, were personal favorites and I miss them. Here is a painting I did in the early '80's. A little nostalgia on a rainy Wednesday in May.