April Flowers....

Floating in the Absence of Reason - Opening Tonight

Floating in the Absence of Reason is the title and theme of our ArtGroups opening exhibit tonight at M & H Art and Framing at 9 West 20th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues from 6 to 9pm. Gallery hours are Monday thru Friday 10-7 and Saturday from 10-6.

I'm exhibiting one of my Sumi ink scrolls. The scroll is 21" x 10 feet. It's a very versatile piece and can be hung either in the horizontal or vertical position, and rolled out to any length. M & H hung the scroll vertically on a wall and had it rolled out about 4'.

I have been drawing and painting these scrolls for awhile now, this is my first time exhibiting one in a gallery.

Picture Tribeca - Woolworth Tower

Happy Chinese New Year

From Chinatown NYC. I walked up into the middle of all of the celebration and noise and noticed everyone running to catch this little 'prize' that was parachuting down with all of this confetti into the cheering crowd. fun colorful time...Happy Chinese New Year!

Walk Tribeca - Winter in the Financial District

Happy New Year

A new feature on my Macintosh allows me to select a moving background and "step into" the scene... below is a movie I made of me swimming in the ocean with the fishies.

Picture Tribeca - John Street

Picture Tribeca - Snow Snow

Back from D.C. Equality March

National Equality March, DC

After a few weeks of thinking about it, I decided yesterday afternoon that I will indeed attend the Equality March in Washington DC. I drove a van of fellow students from Pratt Institute in 1993 for the March on Washington, and the last display of the entire AIDS Memorial Quilt in 1996. I figure now would be a nice time to return. So, I will be Bolt bussing it up to DC on Friday at 8:30am and returning Monday afternoon. That should make for a nice weekend getaway. Pics and stories upon my return. maybe.

Happy 100th Birthday; Manhattan Bridge

Tonight, fireworks will light up the skies at the East River Park Amphitheatre in NYC in celebration of the 100th birthday of the Manhattan Bridge. The entrance to the park is on Jackson Street just north of the bridge itself. There will be many places along the east side and Brooklyn to view the fireworks, the South Street Seaport I am sure, will be packed with fireworks enthusiasts.

A week long list of events to celebrate this milestone of the youngest bridge along the east river can be found at the NYC Bridge Centennial Commission website.













I have always loved the entrance to the bridge on the Manhattan side, which is now engulfed in our China town district. Thanks to Card Cow we have a view of what it once looked like.

Tonight: Universal Diversity 15

ArtGroup for Gay and Lesbian artists fifteenth annual Universal Diversity exhibit is tonight at the Center.

My painting "All Dressed Up", 10 year old Keith Haring, will be in the show.

The Center is at 208 West 13th Street here in Manhattan off of 7th avenue. The reception is tonight, 24 September, between 6 and 8pm. See you there~!

Deep Sunset on Duane Street

My apartments large front windows face the West/North direction here in Lower Manhattan. Twice a year the Sun sets deep on the horizon between a narrow part of two buildings way off in the distance from my highrise building. The sunlight used to reach way back into my kitchen, filling it with pink light at these two specific times of the year. These deep sunsets would go for two or three days.

Another building has been built since last spring, narrowing this space down to a sliver. So, my 'Tetris' skyline has been blocked a little bit more, only allowing the sunset to reach the back wall of the living room just before the kitchen. This will happen again in the Spring.

I would guess about 12% of the blue sky I could see out my window is gone to buildings appearing in it's place, this game of Tetris will go on until.... ?

View from my cellphone

Nothing like putting your underwear out for all the world to see.

Keith Haring, All Dressed Up

Today I prepped and framed my Keith Haring painting for an upcoming show. I was in a rush and wish now I would have floated it on a black mat instead of a white one, but it's done. The opening is next Thursday at the Center. I came up with the above image by taking a quarter of the painting and messing with it in photoshop.

"All Dressed Up" is a painting of Keith Haring when he was 10 years old. The photograph that I used for the painting really caught my eye, made me smile. At some point every kid gets dressed up. It's never comfortable, but one always felt special. I'm not sure why he was dressed up on this particular day, but the emotions in his face and his stance evoked memories of my own life as a kid when I got to dress up for a special day.

Last Picnic Lunch

Today is the last day of a string of nice beautiful September days here in NYC. The end of Summer is just a week away. A cold front will be moving in this evening for the next several days. With this in mind, I picked up my lunch at the Halal stand outside our building on Duane St. near Broadway and headed down to City Hall Park. There are a few dozen cafe tables are set up on the east side of the park facing the onramp to the Brooklyn Bridge. It was a nice time until the French couple sitting to the left of me lit up and shared a cigarette. I was downwind ...off to Chinatown for some veggie shopping..

World Trade Center - The Tribute Lights

My favorite rememberance to 9/11 are the Tribute Lights,, shining up into the sky for all to see in all of New York. Here is the view from my window here on Duane Street.

YouTube's eggman913

Phillip Scott Johnson, or Eggman913 on YouTube has created some of the most visually amazing art videos. Many are selected morphings of famous artists, artistic works, and other Subjects. A few of my favorites are Van Gogh's self portraits, the works of Picasso, and check your movie star knowledge with Men in Film and Women in Film. Enjoy.

Art Tribeca - Jeff Koons Potted Park

There is a small triangular park in my neighborhood at the Path Train entrance at the old World Trade Center. This is the beginning of where Greenwich Street starts going up the left hand side of the park, and West Broadway going up the right side of the park.

I've walked all around the park and there is no "name plaque" for the park that I could see and no plaque for what I believe is a Jeff Koons sculpture sitting in the middle of a fountain. I googled Koons and found a video of Jeff Koons at the dedication of the "Flower Baloon" sculpture at the park at WTC 7. So there we have our park name and sculpture identified.

All in all it is a pleasant stop with plenty of benches and suits enjoying their lunch break. Most all the flowers and greenery are in pots. I was wondering if the trees were actually connected to the real earth(?), or are they in giant pots as well,, maybe the whole park is sitting above a parking garage or such,, making the park one big pretty potted plant. Green is always good..

Two "Little Boys" Too Many

Today marks the 62nd anniversary of the atomic bomb (affectionately called "Little Boy") that dropped on the city of Hiroshima in Japan. The bomb generated a wave of heat which reached 4,000C (7,200F) and expanded across a radius of 4.5km (2.8 miles), obliterating the city.

As if that was not enough, three days later a second atomic bomb (Fat Man) was dropped on Nagasaki.

The bombs killed as many as 140,000 people in Hiroshima and 80,000 in Nagasaki. In both cities, the majority of the dead were civilians. 70,000–80,000 people, or some 30% of the population of Hiroshima were killed immediately, and another 70,000 injured. Over 90% of the doctors and 93% of the nurses in Hiroshima were killed or injured; most had been in the downtown area which had been greatly damaged.

Although the United States had previously dropped leaflets warning civilians of air raids on twelve other Japanese cities, the residents of Hiroshima were given no notice of the atomic bomb.

Just in case these two bombs didn't accomplish whatever it was they were trying to accomplish to begin with, the United States had another atomic bomb ready for use in the third week of August, with three more in September and a further three in October. That would have made a total of nine atomic bombs dropped on that little island.

In elementary school we were taught that it was the use of the Atomic bomb that ended the war. Well, even after 60 years, new questions are being asked about whether it was necessary to drop the atomic bomb - and whether the bomb was really responsible for the Japanese surrender. I'm sure historians will never fully agree on the answers.

Hello. I just can't imagine there couldn't have been another way.

Not your Parents Art

This piece didn't sell when it was exhibited last year, so it was hanging above my sofa for several months. Not sure if it's because people couldn't see what it was about(?) or because they DID see what it was and didn't want it in their home.

I do admit that it is a specific piece that is more appropriate for the bedroom or bath rather than the living room. I've often told people that you can just switch the pictures around (or separate them further apart on the wall) if you don't want your mother to 'figure out' what it is the painting is trying to "say".

bluMouse

Loving all things blue, my ears perked up when hearing the news of the blue rat on CNN: "The same blue food dye found in M&Ms and Gatorade could be used to reduce damage caused by spine injuries, offering a better chance of recovery, according to new research. Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center found that when they injected the compound Brilliant Blue G (BBG) into rats suffering spinal cord injuries, the rodents were able to walk again, albeit with a limp.

The only side effect was that the treated mice temporarily turned blue."

How cute is that?

Time Off from the Blog/Journal thing

So much for my intentions of a "posting a day". Since the end of June, my postings have drizzled down to "once in awhile". It's not that I'm not thinking of things to post or write about. I just feel like I'm jumping all over the place and I'm not focused. So much for good intentions. I do like my little corner of Manhattan (Tribeca), and I do enjoy art, so.. let me fire up my camera batteries and hit the streets.

I Love Fireworks...

...I really do.. and this year, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s voyage to New York, the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks took place over the Hudson River. Lucky for me as I live on the central/west/lower part of Manhattan island and I've never liked going to the east side to watch the fireworks.

I really feel fireworks "work" better on the Hudson River. Easier access for more people, I hope they continue to celebrate the 4th of July on the Hudson river in the future.

To avoid the huge crowds gathering in midtown, I walked down Chambers Street here in Tribeca to Rockefeller park in Battery Park City. It's actually the best local location to watch the fireworks because you can see both the Macy's fireworks upriver and the New Jersey fireworks at Liberty State Park across the river. It's great.

I noticed this year how many foreigners there were viewing the fireworks, I heard many languages being spoken and the language of "ooohs" and "aaahs" were understood by all.

Happy 4th - Hotdogs for All

If it's the 4th of July, it's Nathans Hot Dog Eating Contest. Real American Stories tells how this tradition began. This year, an even stranger contest, Elephants versus humans in Coney Islands contest where three elephants ate 505 hot dog buns while three people ate 143 hot dogs. OK, pass the ketchup please.

Remembering Stonewall, 40th Anniversary

Democracy Now aired a great report last Friday on the 1969 Stonewall uprising; Stonewall Riots 40th Anniversary: A Look Back at the Uprising that Launched the Modern Gay Rights Movement, including in this report is the oral documentary, Remembering Stonewall, with the voices of people who were there and their experiences. DN also speaks with David Carter, historian and author of Stonewall: The Riots that Sparked the Gay Revolution. enjoy.

Lights for Gay Pride 2009

Every year our Art Deco icon The Empire State Building lights up in "Lavender" for gay pride day. Happy Pride to all~!

Michael Jackson - May You Rest in Peace

I got the news of Michael Jacksons death while on the treadmill at the gym late this afternoon,,, sorry to see Michael go,, very sad indeed,, a great talent and inspiration to most all who grew up experiencing his talent and music.

One favorite memory of the power of his music was when I got off the wrong subway stop at Bedford Sty (1993) in Brooklyn late one HOT Summer evening and a car pulled up to the stop light, windows down and BLARING "Thriller" on the radio.... the ENTIRE street went into "DANCE",, It was just magical and amazing,,very surreal and very "street/Brooklyn" like... thank you Michael for a wonderful talented life~!!

PS: this post is to recognize his artistic contribution ... I'll leave others to discus his personal life.

Leather Pride Night, NYC

Tonight is Leather Pride night, 7pm at SPLASH bar. LPN is part of the Folsom Street East weekend. Enjoy the huge streetfair tomorrow afternoon, June 21st in front of the EAGLE bar on 28th street off of 10th avenue. ENJOY~!!

Happy Gay Pride Month

Open Cuba

I just love the "lost in time" aspect of Cuba, especially the vintage American cars that are just driving around Cuba like it's 'yesterday' once again. I want so much for this country to be open again and the decades old 'silliness' of our gov't to stop. so PLEEEEZE,,, can't we just get over this once and for all? Sign the petition here at OpenCuba.org

A Tall Glass of Walking Art

I can't remember which bloggers site I found this picture on, but I do recognize the NYC character pictured here. I believe this particular picture was taken in Central Park, but I know this guy best as the bearded fellow who walks up and down the gay 'catwalk' at the east end of Riis Park beach. Having what seems like an endless bag of veils and accessories, he transforms his attire every several minutes and performs up and down the gay beach proudly and in complete confidence and playful abandon. What a colorful and soulful blessing he is to our landscape here~! God bless him, and his little dog too. Photograph found on Dr. Jeffs site, good stuff, check it out.

Something to look forward too

Earth from Above USA is a breathtaking collection of large-scale aerial photography by world-renowned French environmentalist, Yann Arthus-Bertrand. A visual record for future generations, this outdoor public art exhibition and experiential event presents awe-inspiring portraits of our planet, and a new perspective on the need for sustainable living.

The Earth from Above exhibit will come to NYC at the World Financial Center Plaza in Battery Park City (an area in Lower Manhattan) in the Spring of 2010 for 8 Weeks. It will be open day and night and will be free to the public.

Having my Cake

My Favorite slice of cake is "Devels Food Cheesecake" and can be found at Juniors Restaurant. I used to live in Brooklyn not far from the original 'Juniors'. They also have excellent coffee,, freshly ground just before brewing. The two together are just outstanding.

Our Original New York cheesecake is combined with our famous Devil’s Food Cake. Recently featured on the Food Network's "Throwdown with Bobby Flay." Layers of rich chocolate cake and fudge frosting adorned with devilishly large chocolate chips and shavings.

White Knot at Levi's

Visit White Knot, and understand why everyone should have the right to tie the knot.

Starting this week, you'll find White Knots on mannequins in the Levi's Stores in New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Stop in and let Levi's know you support marriage equality. Here in New York, the Times Square, 14th street, SOHO and the Lexington Levi stores are participating. Thank You Levi's~!

A Nice Find on "HECKLER"

I checked out Jamie Kennedy's movie "HECKLER" the other day and really enjoyed watching it. Jamie was honest, revealing, his interviews and 'take' on hecklers and critics he and other comedians experience was funny and moving. Jamie got me thinking about bloggers as critics. I must admit, this blog/journal of mine does at times come from the "critic corner" of my head. Jamie's "HECKLER" got me to think twice before taking something to print.

Jamie sweetens the end of "HECKLER" with a nice note from dancer David 'Elsewhere' Bernal. David admits the most negative feedback he has received are from other dancers. They don't like the way he is dancing and some don't even consider it dancing. David says, "I know I'm doing something people appreciate and that's all that really matters to me". Then he goes into his very interpretive piece to Jewel singing "I'm Sensitive" (and I'd like to stay that way).

Jamie is then joined by two goddesses and performs a ritual burning of a pile of his own collection of critical clippings. Oh, and don't miss the credits.

I could not find a copy of David Elsewhere dancing on HECKLER, so I'm enclosing the 2001 Kollaboration clip that shot David into dance stardom.

Big sunDAY

The International Day Against Homophobia, held on May 17 every year, is a rallying event offering an opportunity for people to get together and reach out to one another.


Today was also our AIDS Walk benefiting GMHC.

and

Broadway Impact is sponsoring the Marriage Equality Rally "Action=Equality" at 5PM in Times Square.


UPDATE: I just returned from the rally. It was just great,, I arrived as the cast of "HAIR" took stage to sing "Aquarius, Let the Sunshine In". Others who spoke were Cynthia Nixon of "Sex in the City", Senator Tom Duane, our mayor Michael Bloomberg, other various actors and there was music, singing and a lot of pep talk about phoning and writing our Senators and letting them know how we support marriage Equality. Go to Broadway Impact and follow the three easy steps.

MARRIAGE EQUALITY RALLY THIS SUNDAY
Rally to Be Held In Midtown Manhattan
Sunday, May 17, 5-7pm
Corner of 6th Ave and 45th Street

Stars of Broadway and Television will come out to perform and rally in support of love, peace and marriage equality. Please join us from 5:00pm - 7:00pm ET on Sixth Avenue at 44th street in Manhattan as we let the sunshine in with Broadway Impact.

Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon, stars of HBO's Sex and the City, are set to appear at the rally along with Tony winner and Frasier star David Hyde Pierce. Audra McDonald, four-time Tony winner and star of ABC's Private Practice will lend her voice and presence to the cause. Cheyenne Jackson, star of Broadway hits such as All Shook Up and Xanadu, and guest star on television's Ugly Betty, will be singing and speaking out on the issue.

Broadway Impact is a grassroots organization of the Theatre community mobilizing in support of marriage equality. Action = Equality.

Expensive Tastes

Since 1994, the Taste of Tribeca street fair has been a neighborhood favorite with local families and visitors. You can enjoy a sampling of some of the best restaurants in Tribeca like the Blaue Gans, Bouleys, Chanterelle and the Tribeca Grill. The cost is $40 and includes 6 tastings. The event ends at 3pm, classifying it as more of a 'brunch' of sorts. So, come early! I personally feel it should be unlimited tastings, but I'm a pig. It all looks so good!

There are various events throughout the afternoon. You can download a Taste map and the Wine Tour Map here on the Events page. Some of the events include a free culinary history walking tour of Tribeca by Liz Young Tours. Steve Olson will be leading a Wine Tasting tour for 20 participants. Enjoy.

When Blind Wins Out

"Two Buck Chuck's" as Trader Joe's Charles Shaw Brand house wine is affectionately called, hit the shelves at our very own Trader Joe's Wine Store on 14th Street here in Manhattan several months ago. Except here, it's $2.99, or "Three Buck Chuck's".

- Bobby L. on review site Yelp.com says, "I recommend the "3 buck chuck" for pure non-snobish enjoyment".

- Brett W. says "Who needs a therapist when you have Trader Joe's Wine Shop?"

- Alan G. "A classic case of "what's not to like?"

I've been bringing Trader Joe's wonder wine to dinner gatherings and pot lucks for awhile now.. always reassuring people that the wine had 'won awards',, but I never really knew what those awards were, or who gave them, or when this happened.

So, I decided to put this mystery to "Google". It wasn't easy to find. A lot of bloggers and writers write about the award, but I couldn't quite find out the specifics. But apparently, the 2005 Chardonnay, in a "blind test" won out with the judges at the California State Fair Wine Competition. Jim Gordon blogs the Two-Buck-Chuck Blind Taste at WineMag.

Hmmmmmm,, So if someone actually saw the label, they wouldn't consider it? Maybe the 'blind test' is the only way Chuck can be taken seriously. In the mean time, 'Three' or 'Two Buck' Chuck is still a phenomenon and a perfectly fine choice for most any occasion.

The People Speak - Our True History

The People Speak to air on the History Channel

The People Speak is a documentary inspired by Howard Zinn's book, A People's History of the United States and from the book he co-authored with Anthony Arnove, Voices of a People’s History. These are the voices of resistance in U.S. history – resistance to injustice, to war. Voices that can inspire viewers to recognize the power ordinary people have to change the course of history. These are also the voices that are excluded from traditional histories. Some voices are obscure, some famous and you will hear them express ideas that are excluded from the orthodox histories. more...

You can hear Howard Zinn interviewed by Amy Goodman on Democracy Now. He speaks about his book A Young People's History Of The United States, war, torture and being honest in the teaching of history; taking down our old heroes and giving us new ones. In the interview, Zinn admonishes Obama to listen to Martin Luther King. Instead of bombs and war (as in Iraq and Afghanistan, Pakistan) get out of the mindset that got us into Iraq, send food and medicine instead of more troops. Zinn says that we need to stop thinking that the military is the solution to our problems; to end terrorism, stop being terrorists.

Zinn will be appearing tonight at the 92nd street YMCA, "Voices Of A Young People's History Of The United States".

Garbage Tax

A few of todays headlines: Soda Tax Weighed to Pay for Health Care and Senate Studies Soda Tax points out a few ways of paying for our new healthcare. I think they should take it a few steps further.

Go to a garbage dump and take a look around. I propose they tax what is filling up our landfills.. bottled water containers for starters. Bottled water should be taxed like cigarettes until they too cost $10. And sure, tax all soda both regular and diet. They are equally bad. And with as much garbage that is produced by one visit to a fast food restaurant, there should be a heavy tax on that as well. McDonalds, Wendy's and Burger King to name a few can easily put in a dishwasher and provide dishes for people eating at the restaurant.

The whole packaging industry needs to be addressed. Vitamin containers are only 1/2 filled, why are they so big? If something as delicate as a potato chip can be packaged in a thin bag, why is cereal packaged in boxes? Walk into any Toys R Us and the packaging of toys is just a sin. The package of any item should not outweigh or take up more volume than the content. Nothing needs to be 'double packaged'. Like a jar that is in a box, or a bag that is in a box (cereal), or a doll in plastic surrounded by cardboard. Many 'individual portions' should be done away with, they just create more garbage.

Chicago passed a Bottled Water Tax (more for eco reasons) and lists their sins:

The seven sins of bottled water are these:

1. Plastic bottles are made from petroleum.
2. The bottles often go into the trash, rather than the recycle bin (in part because many states don't offer five-cent deposits to encourage recycling, as they do on soda and beer cans and bottles).
3. The water is pumped far from where it is sold, creating needless pollution as trucks and barges transport it across the country or around the world.
4. Some local communities have objected to the sale of their water, arguing that the water underground or flowing from natural springs is publicly owned and should not be exploited for profit.
5. Bottled water is rarely as closely monitored as tap water.
6. Tap water in the United States, when provided by a municipal system, is the most highly monitored and safe supply in the world.
7. Some of the water sold in little plastic bottles is tap water, but it costs an awful lot more per gallon.

MTA Fair Hike... NYC Style

Our "every other year" Metropolitan Transportation Authority fair hike was scaled back today. But instead of fake promises of improved service, cleaner and newer trains and a moon or two, they tell us that our rate increase comes with less service, the elimination of some bus and subway routes, and they're going to cut jobs. Hmmmm, sounds like most every other fare hike that I can remember, except for the 'elimination of jobs' part. Nothing was mentioned about executive wages being cut or the replacement of executives or members of the MTA Board.

All new subway fair hikes will go into effect June 28th, 2009.

Like fare hikes of the past, they will soon have billions of excess money that they will have no idea what to do with,, but rest assured in 2011, they will have lost it all and be back asking for more. And improvements? I honestly have not seen any improvements in the 16 years I've lived here in NYC and they have raised the rates almost every two years. I think it is one of the most mismanaged businesses around. Make me MTA king and the rides will be set at one dollar (yes) and the trains will be cut in half and run twice as often.

How will this particular rate effect me? Well, since I am now living in Manhattan, I've been walking all I can for the past several months. Great exercise and I get to see the city street for street every time I go out. For long distances, I will take the Subway in one direction and if I have time, I'll take the bus back in the other direction, thus costing only one fare. Shhhhh, don't tell anyone.

New York Street Fairs

The cornerstone of all New York Street Fairs is the Italian Sausage stand. It is always the first stand that you see on the way in and out of our Street Fairs. This photo was taken at the Civic Community Day Fair on Murray Street here in Tribeca. The same street as the NY Public Library I go to quite often. I did have a chicken gyro at another stand and it is not sitting well with me right now.. ekkkk.

Onscreen Pollock

The painting has a life of it's own.
I try to let it come through.

Jackson Pollock

Create a "Pollock" of your own like the one I did above at the Jackson Pollock by Miltos Manetas website.

ArtGroup Night

If it's the first Tuesday of the month, it's my night with ArtGroup. The Gay and Lesbian Art Group meets at the Gay Community Center here in New York City.

Tonight will be an "Open Art Forum":

Artgroup members and non members that attend the meeting are invited to bring work for all of us to see and respond to. The April meeting had the same venue and many of the artists attending brought artwork and/or photographs of work that was new or had not been seen before. It was good getting the work out of the studio and getting feedback from other artists.

I will be bringing the above card of my most recent painting with a link to my TOAST weekend experience.

ArtGroup is under the Art umbrella of All Out Arts. Since 1993, ArtGroup has hosted a variety of speakers, demonstrations from art companies and organizations, it's members over the years have presented their works individually and as a group collectively on our popular "Slide Night". Artgroup produces a e-newsletter as events and exhibits arise, and the group is a great asset and support to the Gay and Lesbian artists here in NYC.

We also exhibit several times a year at various locations. Last December/January our "Encryptions" exhibit was held at the MH Art & Framing Gallery. Our annual group show, "Universal Diversity XVI" will be in September at The Center.

Rain Rain Rain

A week of rain~!

The weather forecast on NY1 for the past few days and the next several is gloomy. Overcast skies and plenty of rain.

I'm having flashbacks of my former life in Oregon. Although, I'd take rain over drought any day, it will be sweltering here in the City soon enough.

It's pretty rare actually that this happens in New York City. Even for Spring. I've always felt like the clouds here in NYC know why they are here and what their job is. The clouds roll in, it rains or snows, and then they go away. We have a surprising number of sunny (yet somewhat COLD) days in the Winter. Unlike Portland and Seattle, where the clouds roll in around September and don't leave until May,, June,, or July,, or...

OK, Global Warming will/is/has changed most of that... thus,, dreary wet dribbly days in NYC have been more common and the Northwest part of the country gets pretty descent Summers.

Did I bring this dribbly weather back east with me when I moved here? NAH~!!!

Art Tribeca - ...in the eye of the beholder

Artist: Robert Melee
December 19, 2008 to April 2009
City Hall Park, Manhattan

From the NYC Parks and Recreation website: The current exhibit by Robert Melee features immense forms that while amorphous and featureless, seem familiar in their generalized characteristics and poses–slouching, sitting, pointing, standing upright–but also retain a haunting sense of disguise and alluring somberness. more...

From City Hall News: The four hulking, amorphous sculptures that showed up in City Hall Park last December are not part of some effort by art-loving Mayor Michael Bloomberg (Ind.) to unload some of his collection to raise money for his re-election bid, but the latest installment from the Public Art Fund, scheduled to be in place through April. more...

From the Public Art Fund website: Through April 2009, Public Art Fund will present an exhibition of four large-scale figurative sculptures by New York-based artist Robert Melee at City Hall Park. Since 1978, Public Art Fund has presented 19 temporary exhibitions at this lower Manhattan location, including the work of Alexander Calder, Julian Opie and Roy Lichtenstein. more...

From Me: OK, so maybe I'm just jealous because my art isn't featured in City Hall Park (yet:-). Is it me or does this remind anyone else of wicker-wrapped Chianti wine bottles with lots of candle drippings alongside a plate of spaghetti? Putting these hulking, amorphous sculptures on large red checkered tablecloths would have set the picture "just right" for me.

Paris

In Memoriam

Sunday mornings are my time to channel surf through the political analysis shows. One of my favorites is This Week with George Stephanopoulos.

Two of his segments I like are the Funnies, and In Memoriam where he remembers those 'lives of note' who have passed on in the past week. Then he lists the soldiers:

"This Week with George Stephanopoulos" recalls the names of U.S. service members who lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan this week. Our hearts go out to their loved ones.

I wonder if within those noted military deaths he also lists those who have committed suicide?

Amy Goodman with Democracy NOW reported this story on the Record Numbers of US Soldiers Committing Suicide:

The US military is grappling with a record number of soldier suicides. At least thirteen soldiers took their lives last month. That’s down from the twenty-four military suicides in January and eighteen in February, but still in line with the most number of suicides since record keeping began. As many as 143 soldiers reportedly took their own lives last year.

Emma Prophet, an investigator with the Board of Medicolegal Investigators goes on to say: There was a revealing article here, that I think actually got off of National Public Radio, that the first two months to three months of this year, there were more people that are active duty that committed suicide than there were killed in action. And that’s the first time that that’s ever happened. And it’s happening when they’re overseas, and it’s happening when they come home.

I wrote George Stephanopoulos and asked him if he does indeed 'remember' those soldiers who have committed suicide and if he considers that a casualty of war. When I get a response I will post it here.
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Follow Up: I have e-mailed ThisWeek several times and with several of their selected topics and I keep getting back: This is an automatically generated Delivery Status Notification. Delivery to the following recipients failed.