Cabinet of Curiosities
I’m looking at the brushes I chose to use and realized that they are both from high school. (I graduated in 1981) One is from my HS art teacher George Mesilogites, Mr. M. as we knew him. He gave you a set of brushes when you entered into Drawing and Painting 1. The other brush is from Pearl Art. The famous shop was on 14th street in NYC and the not so famous shop was on Hempstead Turnpike. East Meadow. Long Island. It was a supermarket of art supplies. You felt cool and a little scared (if you were a hs nerd like me) just entering the store. Mr. M and Pearl are both gone but I can feel that energy as I’m thinking and writing.
I go back to those brushes again and again. I feel the magic they give to my hands that goes to my head and touches my heart. Head, Hands, Heart all connected - to my past present and future.
March 12 is International Art & Found Day and I decided to participate this year. Artists from all over the world place their artworks in their communities for residents to find. I wasn’t able to stay and see who found my art, but I hope they enjoy it!
Last week’s TAoN, The Art of Noticing a newsletter by Rob Walker (also the name of his book) had monuments at the center of thought. The piece had me thinking about monuments for the rest of the week and so I began to notice them. I raced in Central Park on 3/2 and saw two of my favorites…the Fred Lebow monument at 90th & 5th and the Cat on Cat Hill, one of the hardest hills to run up in the park. It was pouring rain and just like all the runners I know, the monument to Fred remains out in all the weather the city has to offer. The Cat, crouched down low, eyeing each person as they run, walk, cycle, or blade by reminds me of how wild NYC once was and what that bobcat might have to say. Racing is a humbling experience. It also provides feedback and a starting point to improving.
Beech Snow
Snow on the Beach
Looking out from the end of the old beach boardwalk at Caumsett.
Caumsett Camouflage
I wish I had been here to watch whatever creature created this. And why??
I’m thinking a bird created these tracks. I love the delicate lines.
Evidence of owls at Caumsett. Seen on the paved loop just south of the pond path.
Looking east, out over Lloyd Harbor
Early morning snowstorm during my run. Only the animals beat me to the trail!
Sunrise on the Dillon path.
Snow cannot form rainbows - however, snow can form an ice halo which you can faintly see here.
Aspen Morning
It’s never too late to learn something new. I never thought winter would come back to the east so I headed west to learn how to XC ski.
Early Morning Light.
Public Art
Dillon Recreation Area
This art exhibit at the Thomas Cole House in Catskill, New York, introduced me to a painter I had never heard of, Susie Barstow. The exhibit ran from May 6 - October 29, 2023.
What an inspiration. So grateful to the Thomas Cole House for this exhibit.
Susie Barstow (1836-1923)
Cottage - Greenpoint, LI 1890
Susie Barstow, (1836-1923)
Mt. Rainier Tacoma from Lake Washington, 1904
Susie Barstow climbed Mt. Rainier at 68 after seeing a photograph of the mountain.
This amazed me as I had just come back from a run around Mt. Rainier on The Wonderland Trail.
This photo isn’t great, but the spirit of her work shines through in the text.