Seeking the Sublime in the Everyday

  I'm sad to report that this Sunday, November 19, is the last day to view "The Seed," on view in the Great Hall Gallery at First Presbyterian Church, 12 West 12th Street at Fifth Avenue in New York City. The inspiration comes from a quote from Albert Camus; “One’s work is nothing but the long journey through life to recover, through the detours of art, the one or two great and simple images that first gained access to one’s heart .” I first heard that quote in a speech the great Robert Beverly Hale gave at an Art Students League dinner in __1975. It has stayed with me since then, inspiring me to reflect on the roots of my inspiration, and helping to clarify my thoughts about my work. Turns out I'm not the only one it resonated with. My friend Fran Beallor and I talked about it now and then as we pursued our separate practices in isolation. Under the pandemic we found new ways to reach out, learning various ways of communicating and finally we said, "Let's d...

  I greeted the end of Daylight Savings Time this year with joy because as the days grew shorter, my first  morning walk with Russell was happening in the dark. I don't mind taking the bedtime walk in the dark  under the street lights because Russell has befriended all the doormen on the block and it's a social event,  and I don't mind the  sun going down early in the evening--it feels like a signal to settle in and get cozy.  When you're house-breaking a puppy you can't dawdle about getting out first thing and all the  walking means lots of exercise and fresh air but before it's even light out? C'mon.  But over the last couple of days as the sun  rose in the east at 6:30 instead of 7:30, it shone on the  buildings across the  river and made them glow like Xanadu !   I started to sing (to myself, of course) "Shall We Gather at the River" but then it came to me-- "Is it Granada I see or only Asbury Park?" Actually,...

 What were you for Hallowe'en?  Molly was an angel... Theo eliminated the middle man--he was a Trick or Treat Bag. Sunny was going to be a pirate--at about noon she liked the eye patch, the spy glass and the sword;  by 5 she'd had it with the whole business, refused to put on her costume and blew off trick-or-treating. Sam wasn't sorry; he said to me, "Who ever thought it was a good idea to fill a kid full of sugar at bedtime?"  Funny, Sam, I remember when you thought that was a great idea. It's been a spooky week in the West Village with Hallowe'en AND a full moon. And look who visited Abingdon Square Park! Believe me, I am not walking there alone at night--it's way too scary. What's scary to you? What's the scariest movie you ever saw? My scariest movie is one I didn't even see.  When I was around 8 my friend Sally Hubbard's mother saw Diabolique, where this French woman murders her husband but he keeps reappearing.  Mrs. Hubbard tol...

 I'm back from a wonderful visit to Chicago with Sam, Annye and Sunny, then on to Boulder, CO,  to celebrate the life of a dear friend, BettyVan Zandt, and re-connect with three buddies from my teaching days. It was a beautiful tribute, planned by Betty's children and grandchildren, with talks by dear friends.  I came away with a feeling I always get at funerals and memorial services, that is, "Gee, I wish I'd known that.  I wish I'd spent more time with her."  It's a reminder to keep reaching out and not to let time go by without contact--time goes fast enough!  Betty was--is--an inspiration. Once I heard someone ask her birthdate (July 3, 1924) and tried not to let my jaw drop--she was a year older than my Dad, but totally my contemporary. At her advanced age she was vigorous and steady on her feet and although her eyesight was failing, her vision was clear and her engagement with life was lively. Rest in Peace, Betty. Now I'll celebrate one who'...

 You know what's a good way to get started again when you think you've hit a creative wall?  Clean House!  I tried that this week and I have a new lease on my creative life.  You see, when I left my studio uptown I had to give up my large flat file and that was a serious sacrifice because I had no place to keep my large pieces; the only place was under the bed.  That was a bad idea is SO many ways, so I eventually got our handyman, whose name is, appropriately, Angel, to build me a cabinet.  This is not a perfect solution as the work has to stand up and sometimes it curls up at the bottom but it's an improvement over under the bed.   I took a few pieces out to let them flatten and had a eureka moment; Two separate pieces fell together!  I love when this happens; it's just how my Pelican piece came together years ago!  Shooting big pieces is not easy--I have to put them on the floor to get enough distance and then my studio assistant has to ha...