New York circa 1979

Outside Madison Square Garden
Oil on canvas
22 x 28 inches

Time to do some studio spring cleaning. I pulled this painting out of the racks and once again enjoyed the color and activity of a busy street scene in Manhattan circa 1979. Seventh Avenue just outside of Madison Square Garden was teeming with passersby then as it is now, with many places to eat lining the opposite street and a glimpse of Macy's on the far corner. This painting has a simple, natural wood lattice strip frame. I offer this painting for sale to those of you who would love to have a colorful urban scene hanging in your home or office. It's an oldie but a goodie.

For the ebay link, click here.

Grand Central Centennial Quilt Exhibition

The New York Transit Museum located in Grand Central Station is hosting a wonderful exhibition through July 6, 2014 - quilts celebrating Grand Central's Centennial. The City Quilter in New York and American Patchwork & Quilting Magazine organized the competition and the 30 finalist quilts on view are spectacular.


Time Flies But We Take The Train by quilter Amy Krasnansky, was the grand prize winner and it is a masterful quilt indeed.

Another favorite of mine was Ligaya Siachongco's marvelous quilt, Grand Central Terminal Mandala. Took my breath away. I had so many favorites, I just stopped counting and enjoyed each quilt as I came upon it.



I took a stab at this competition with my quilt GST II. As a fairly new quilter, I enjoyed the challenge of coming up with an idea. I used a pattern New York City Streets as a background and here is the result. After seeing the quilts on view in the exhibition, I know I have a lot to aspire to and I'm ready and eager to keep learning and honing my skills. I hope one day to be able to create quilts as stunning as the those that I saw today.

An LIC artists hangout

Diego's Place I
Oil on canvas
12 x 9 inches
Commission

Checking in as it has been awhile. I recently finished this commissioned painting of a building in Long Island City that is home to many artists studios. When I first came to LIC, artists were spread out in individual spaces. When an Open Studios event was held, visitors would walk from studio to studio to check out the artists works and explore the neighborhood. In recent years, several large buildings have been converted to primarily studio spaces for artists, so that now floor after floor are filled with people making art. Other businesses co-exist in these buildings as well, but much of the small manufacturing enterprises that were once prevalent in the neighborhood are long gone.

As Long Island City continues its rapid redevelopment - there are projects large and small underway on the main avenues and side streets - I continue to create a painted history of the neighborhood. I've only to look out of my window to see several new buildings under construction. No end in sight.