#Catskill Artist

[aldobuzzi]

Discover Paisano’s Pizza in Schoharie

Paisano’s Pizza, located at 285 Main Street in Schoharie, is a must-visit local establishment. It offers a welcoming atmosphere with neon signs that entice customers to enjoy delicious pizza and hot wings. If you haven’t experienced it yet, consider stopping by to savor their offerings.

[classic-art-favourites]

Kindred Spirits by Asher Brown Durand, 1849.

[landschaftsmalerei]

Catskill Creek, New York von Thomas Cole (1845, Öl auf Leinwand)

[nickbrandreth]

First page of a new sketchbook.

[lionofchaeronea]

Title: A View of the Two Lakes and Mountain House, Catskill Mountains, Morning Artist: Thomas Cole (American [born England], 1801-1848) Date: 1844 Genre: landscape painting Medium: oil on canvas Location: Brooklyn Museum

[pmamtraveller]

KINDRED SPIRITS /1849/ by ASHER B. DURAND

This artwork was a last tribute to Thomas Cole, the founder of the Hudson River School of Art, who passed away unexpectedly at 47. Commissioned in the year of Cole's death, 1848. It was meant as a gesture of appreciation for the poet, William Cullen Bryant, who spoke at Thomas Cole's memorial service.

The painting shows the poet William Cullen Bryant and artist Thomas Cole at the Catskill Mountains. Cole holds his painting portfolio on the right side. Cole established the Hudson River School of Art, showcasing the American landscape through Romanticism principles highlighting the picturesque, pastoral, and sublime.

Durand made a combined scenery incorporating Kaaterskill Clove and Kaaterskill Falls, which were sources of inspiration for both artists. Durand skillfully merged these two well-known spots to create a stunning scenery. Cole and Bryant's surnames are depicted as though engraved on a tree in the front of the painting on the left side of the canvas.

William Cullen Bryant was an American poet, author, and publisher. He is seen as a poet who focused on important themes such as nature and morality, known for his Fireside style. The artwork was titled after a phrase from the seventh sonnet of English Romantic poet John Keats, called "O Solitude."

[visualpoett]

Lake with Dead Trees (Catskill) (1825)

Artist: Thomas Cole

[hooked-on-elvis]

Elvis Presley in "Kid Galahad" (1962) 🥊💥

Directed by Phil Karlson and released by United Artists in August 1962. The movie opened at #9 at the American box office. Variety ranked it #37 on its list of the top-grossing films of 1962. "Kid Galahad" with Elvis Presley is a remake of the 1937 version starring Edward G. Robinson, Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart and directed by Michael Curtiz, who also directed the 1958 Presley film "King Creole" released in 1958. Its actually said that Elvis prefered Mr. Curtiz had directed "Kid Galahad" instead of the actual director, just because he thought Michael was a perfect fit for this production.

#PLOT

Willy Grogan (Gig Young) is a small-time boxing promoter and innkeeper based in the Catskills resort region of Cream Valley, New York. He is a contemptible man who is in debt and pays little attention to the woman who loves him, Dolly (Lola Albright), a chain-smoking, love-starved woman residing at the camp. Walter Gulick (Elvis Presley) arrives, a young man recently discharged from the army (they based Elvis' character on his real life pretty frequently on the scripts. Elvis had been discharged from the army a year before, in March 1960. This wasn't the first of his characters to be a former soldier tho) who loves the peaceful setting almost as much as he loves working on old cars. Walter wishes to find work as a mechanic at a nearby garage.

[Sub-plot/romance] When Willy's younger sister Rose (Joan Blackman) shows up unexpectedly, she becomes interested in Walter. Willy objects because he doesn't want Rose to fall for a "grease monkey" mechanic and two-bit boxer. Dolly is envious of the young couple's romance and resents Willy's interference.

Walter, in need of work, accepts a job as a sparring partner and knocks out one of Willy's top fighters. Even tho Walter is not a professional boxer, Willy, afraid of his debts expiring, convinces Walter, dubbed as "Kid Galahad" for him, to try his hand in a real bout. Both men are reluctant but need money. Walter begins training under the watchful eye of Lew Nyack, Willy's top trainer (Charles Bronson).

Some fights here and there, and then there's the biggest fight, the ultimate challenge. Will Walter win the competition even being an amateur boxing fighter?

Place your bets🥊💥

PRODUCTION, ACTORS AND SOUNDTRACK

Professional boxing coach "Mushy" Callahan trained Elvis for the fight scenes. He is credited as "Technical Advisor" for this movie. Above we see Elvis Presley practicing with Mushy Callahan on the set of Kid Galahad, 1961.

Kid Galahad was shot on location in Idyllwild, California and onset in Hollywood, CA.

Shooting began in early November 1961 at Hidden Lodge, Idyllwild, California, before a storm forced a move to Hollywood.

Above, Elvis between takes on the "Kid Galahad", 1961.

Makeup shots for Kid Galahad at Culver Studios, Culver City, CA, 1962

Elvis shows what he looks like after he gets slammed. I believe they intentionally opted for "smoothing" the makeup bruises big time, since it's a pretty shocking image seeing Elvis like in the last two pictures, specially. Like, wtf?! It really shocked me seeing this picture. Now imagine this beaten up Elvis in motion on the big screen for thousands of teenagers to see. It looks straight out from a horror picture, doesn't it? Great talented makeup artist tho!

ELVIS' CO-STARS in 'Kid Galahad' (1962)

Presley's co-starts in "Kid Galahad" were Joan Blackman, Lola Albright, Charles Bronson and Gig Young.

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And last but not least, the movie soundtrack

"Kid Galahad" (EP) released on August, 1962.

Six songs were recorded for the film and the soundtrack was issued as an extended play record in August 1962 to coincide with the film's premiere. Recorded on October, 1962, at Radio Recorders (Hollywood), the EP "Kid Galahad" was released in August 28, 1962.

The tracks featured on this EP were: "King of the Whole Wide World", "This Is Living", "Riding the Rainbow", "Home Is Where the Heart Is", "I Got Lucky" and "A Whistling Tune" — As the plots for Presley films became interchangeable, songs rejected for a certain storyline could later be used for an entirely different film, as with "A Whistling Tune" which had been omitted from Presley's previous film "Follow That Dream" (1962) but found a place here instead.

The featured song from the album, "King of the Whole Wide World", received Top 40 radio airplay and reached No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

"I Got Lucky" on scene from "Kid Galahad"

RECEPTION

"Kid Galahad" didn't have a warm reception among critics.

Variety's note was: "The story may be old, the direction not especially perceptive, the performances in several cases pretty poor, but United Artists' 'Kid Galahad' is apt to be a moneymaker in spite of all this." Another critics report, John L. Scott in the Los Angeles Times called the story "old hat" but thought that it "should more than satisfy the horde of Presley fans."

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If you like this movie or not, it serves an undeniable purpose: Giving Elvis fans their well-deserved Elvis appreciation time. ❤️‍🔥

I don't know about you but I find Elvis incredibly, and specially, sexy in tank tops, cotton short-sleeves T-shirts and sweatshirts. In that movie EP delivers that all at once. The ultimate [hunk] boy next door.

... let's not forget the shirtless scenes. Yeah... the shirtless scenes. 🫠

Yeah, leaving aside the movie, Elvis Presley's our ultimate champion winning with a high score. He holds the champion's belt for the hottest/sexier man ever alive since the 50s. No one take over his title, no one can beat Elvis Presley. 🏆✨

Elvis Presley in "Kid Galahad" (1962).

[yeats-infection]

do you maybe have a post somewhere that is a quick rundown on history of the band? (THE band) wanted to fully appreciate your new story, but have no idea where to get some coherent lore 🤍

ok thank you anon, this is a very reasonable question which i also find quite intimidating lol. i will TRY to attempt the history up to the point of the story in a way that's not just recapitulating the wikipedia page...

so the reason they were called the band was that they were the backing band for a number of different artists before they started recording their original songs. all five members (the drummer levon helm who was from rural arkansas, and the guitarist robbie robertson the bassist rick danko the organist garth hudson the pianist richard manuel who were all from various parts of ontario) came together between 1958 and 1960 as the backing band for a rockabilly guy named ronnie hawkins, an arkansas native who was huge in toronto for some reason. there are some "my mom sold me to ronnie hawkins" elements of the narrative (according to levon's memoir robbie's mom was like "my son can play guitar and write songs... i'm worried he's gonna end up in jail... can't he play with you or something..." he was fifteen years old). so they toured as ronnie's backing band throughout ontario and then throughout the south. this went on for several years during which they all became very strong players.

in late 1963 they had broader musical horizons and had had enough of ronnie telling them they couldn't smoke weed so they decided to go it on their own as levon and the hawks, because levon had the longest tenure in the band. they honestly struggled on their own at first to the extent that they were stealing food from supermarkets but eventually found their footing RIGHT ABOUT THE TIME that bob dylan was looking for an electric band to back him after the notorious newport folk festival 1965. bob went to see the hawks in toronto and asked levon and robbie to join his band; they did for a couple shows and then said they didn't want to do any more without the rest of their band and bob agreed and hired the rest of the hawks too. people were NOT FANS of dylan's new electric direction and they were booed during most of their sets. after about a month of this levon couldn't take it anymore and left in the middle of the night with the rough idea to work on an oil rig in the gulf of mexico. he only told robbie he was leaving and they each describe this moment fairly differently in their respective memoirs ...

so the rest of the band continued backing bob on a world tour in 1966 and some of them went to nashville with him to record blonde on blonde. in summer 1966 bob has a motorcycle accident and holes himself up in the town of woodstock, on the edge of the catskills in ulster county in the hudson valley in new york state, where he owns a house and so does his manager albert grossman. the band continues backing various other artists and session playing etc. but in february 1967 bob invited them to come up to woodstock. they took him up on the offer and three of them (rick, richard, and garth) moved into the house called big pink in west saugerties. for months robbie and bob came over every day and they recorded the basement tapes. around this time albert grossman managed to get the band a deal with capitol records. with this news they convinced levon to come back from the gulf...

so THAT is the simplified history up to the point of the story. the relevant history AFTER the point of the story which of course motivates how we now look at this moment in time is that levon completely excoriates robbie in his memoir (published in the 90s) for 1) being authoritarian over the direction of the band starting in the woodstock era, including the decision to end the band in 1976, and 2) taking sole songwriting credit and therefore making the most money for most of the music when levon contends a lot of the songs especially on the first two albums were written collaboratively. my perspective is that robbie can be forgiven for #1, because the rest of the band were increasingly using heroin, everybody was getting into numerous debilitating car accidents from constantly driving drunk, and other bad behavior abounded. and i think #2 is interesting, because 1) this is a larger conversation over who owns what and who gets paid for making art, and 2) i can also understand why, if nobody else could get their shit together to do anything, you would be like, well, i should reap all the fruits of my labors. but 3) i can also understand why you would be especially upset by this if you were the voice behind all these songs and had once been the bandleader! levon's memoir is really interesting (full disclosure i actually haven't read robbie's) because it is at times like a heartbreaking sketch of willful male emotional blindness. he admits many times "well, probably we should have talked about this" but they never did...

there's a lot more painful stuff we can dig into but here's their first album music from big pink and their second album the band. TO NOTE: levon, richard, and rick did almost all the singing, they each have quite distinctive lovely voices. something really excruciating and tantalizing to me i guess is captured in the idea of a person from toronto writing these beautiful americana songs about simple country mountain life for his friend who had actually lived that simple country mountain life to sing, like this gesture of genuine admiration and love for your friend's story, which is then haunted by the question of ownership of those songs for all time. you can believe robbie wrote those songs for levon to sing out of genuine friendship and then what happened is really heartbreaking.... or you can believe he was a sort of pretender after levon's story and purposefully never gave him credit... which is also a deeply poetic narrative... or it could be a little bit of both... or first one and then the other growing out of bitterness... we will never know. as always when we will never know there is lots of room to ruminate :)

lastly, here is a clip of them in 1976 from the film of the band's last concert (the last waltz) in which levon takes his own cigarette out of his mouth to light robbie's first

[aldobuzzi]

240 Main Street

240 Main Street, Schoharie

240 Main Street, Schoharie, NY – This home you might think is pretty plain jane – But it’s just another home that adds to the charm of Main Street USA in the Town of Schoharie in Schoharie County.

[whileiamdying]

Yoko Ono and the Dakota

Word that the pop culture icon has left the fabled Upper West Side apartment building that she defined for a generation has sparked reflection on her impact as a resident there for 50 years.

Derek Hudson/Getty Images

By Anna Kodé Published July 21, 2023 Updated July 24, 2023

Much is transient about New York City real estate. Buildings are demolished, cafes turn into Duane Reades and rents go up. But for the last 50 years, there was a constant — Yoko Ono lived in the Dakota. She stayed even after that tragic December day in 1980 when John Lennon was fatally shot right outside the building.

For years, tourists and New Yorkers alike trekked uptown, hoping to catch a glimpse or have the chance to meet the artist, singer and New York icon. Ms. Ono’s presence sustained the mystique of the Dakota — already well known as a coveted quarters for celebrities and artists when she and Mr. Lennon moved into the Upper West Side apartment complex in 1973.

To the distaste of some other residents, the couple at one point owned five units at the Dakota, which — in addition to being their primary residence — they used as a guest home, a storage space and a studio for Ms. Ono. The living space and studio alone had a combined square-footage of nearly 6,000 square feet, New York magazine reported in 1996.

Stories of the couple’s rumored lavish expenditures spread in tabloids and magazines, such as one 1979 report that Ms. Ono and Mr. Lennon imported a Japanese teahouse for their first-floor apartment, which they promptly returned upon realizing it was too large for the space. More mundane activities made the news too, including the couple contributing sushi to a building potluck.

Yoko Ono and John Lennon moved into the Dakota in 1973. Credit… Allan Tannenbaum/Getty Images

After a half century of eccentricity, opulence and tragedy, Ms. Ono has moved out of New York City to the sprawling Catskills farm she bought with Mr. Lennon in 1978, according to reports earlier this year. For many, it signals that yet another link to old New York — the one filled with grit and glamour, run by artists and musicians — is missing. City residents and artists feel a sense of loss knowing that the odds of a momentary sighting or fleeting run-in with Ms. Ono are now even lower, and some have started writing tributes to her time in New York in blogs and small outlets.

The thought of New York without Ms. Ono is a New York with a little less magic.

After hearing the reports, author Lorraine Duffy Merkl wrote in the local news site The West Side Spirit, “I’m still in the ‘New York or Nowhere’ zone, but I have to confess, this native, Bronx girl was beginning to fade.”

“I think Yoko lent such a great romance to the Dakota,” said Julie Lucas, a trustee of the Emmy Awards.

In the early 2000s, Ms. Lucas briefly met Ms. Ono in the elevator of the Dakota. The interaction was fleeting, but impactful for Ms. Lucas, who remembers it sharply to this day.

“That was the one person, as we came into the Dakota, I had always hoped to see — not even talk to, but just see,” said Ms. Lucas, 71, who was there for a cocktail party hosted by television personality Maury Povich. “She had this wonderful calmness and sense of welcoming about her.” For the next 45 seconds or so, until the elevator opened its doors and the two went their separate ways, they spoke about a recent art exhibition of Ms. Ono’s.

“That building represents so much of the hopes of the ’70s and ’80s,” Ms. Lucas said. “And then when John Lennon was killed, she soldiered through all of that grief and stayed on in that building.”

Ms. Ono, who turned 90 earlier this year, no longer participates in interviews, Elliot Mintz, a representative for her, said in an email. Mr. Mintz said she “continues to own her apartment at the Dakota” and added that information on her whereabouts is kept private for security reasons.

‘The Capital of the Capital’

“I think Yoko lent such a great romance to the Dakota,” said Julie Lucas, a trustee of the Emmy Awards. Credit... Allan Tannenbaum/Getty Images

The mid-rise, gothic style building sits at 1 West 72nd Street, overlooking Central Park, and was built by developer Edward Clark, who died before its completion in 1884. All 65 units in the complex were rented out before its doors even opened. As the popular tale goes, the Upper West Side was largely unclaimed at the time, so the building’s name came from the notion that it was so far away from developed downtown Manhattan that it might as well have been in Dakota, so say many guidebooks and New Yorkers. But in 1993, The Times reported that Mr. Clark wanted to name his projects after the new states and territories which were named in “excellent taste” (he also suggested Montana Place for Eighth Avenue and Idaho Place for 11th Avenue, but those didn’t stick).

Though it was sumptuous from the start, it wasn’t always the most expensive — there was a period of time where it was rent-controlled, drawing in creative types. Yet its design lends itself to a private way of life that celebrities would naturally seek out; the building encircles its courtyard, so it isn’t visible from the street. The ornate exterior and strict security make it obvious that it isn’t a place anyone can just stroll into.

As the setting for the 1968 classic horror film, “Rosemary’s Baby,” the building’s lore grew. If “New York were considered to be the capital of American art, culture and fashion, the Dakota seemed to be the Capital of the capital,” wrote Stephen Birmingham in his 1979 book, “Life at the Dakota.”

John Lennon and Yoko Ono lived together on the seventh floor of the Dakota. Credit... Scott Cardinal

Roberta Flack, Graydon Carter, Rosemary Clooney, Leonard Bernstein and Judy Garland have been on its long list of notable residents. It takes more than fame and wealth to get in — the co-op’s notoriously stringent board has rejected Billy Joel, Madonna and Cher.

The building’s board once stopped the documentary filmmaker Albert Maysles, who was also a collaborator of Ms. Ono’s, from selling his unit to actress Melanie Griffith. “More and more, they’re moving away from creative people and going toward people who just have the money,” Mr. Maysles had told The Times in 2005.

Today, there is one unit listed for sale in the building: a 6,000 square-foot, five bedroom, nine bathroom apartment on the eighth floor. It has its own separate studio unit, and the listing price is $20 million.

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday

Those who haven’t been inside the Dakota have been able to vicariously experience it through the stories and photos. One homey image, taken by rock ’n’ roll photographer Bob Gruen in 1975, shows Ms. Ono and Mr. Lennon sitting comfortably in bed with magazines splayed. In it, Mr. Lennon, who is wearing a robe, holds their newborn son, Sean. In 1980, Annie Leibovitz photographed Mr. Lennon nude and curled up, with his arms wrapped around Ms. Ono’s head while kissing her cheek. It would later run on the cover of Rolling Stone, but just hours after it was taken, Mr. Lennon was killed.

The Imagine mosaic is part of Strawberry Fields, a memorial for John Lennon in Central Park. Credit... Justin Lane/EPA, via Shutterstock

A crowd gathers in front of the Dakota a day after John Lennon was murdered. Credit... Chester Higgins Jr./The New York Times

Another from Mr. Gruen, taken in 1981, shows Ms. Ono at work, photographing Mr. Lennon’s bloodstained glasses from that day for the album cover for “Season of Glass.”

Ms. Ono’s life in the Dakota was spent in the company of friends and collaborators.

Before Ms. Ono had moved there, in 1966, Mr. Maysles, the documentarian who also lived in the building, and his brother had filmed Ms. Ono’s performance work “Cut Piece.” The performance, which eventually became an influential work of Fluxus art, involved Ms. Ono inviting audience members to come up to her and cut off a piece of her clothing.

Roberta Flack, the Grammy-winning singer of “Killing Me Softly,” had lived next door to Ms. Ono. In “Roberta,” a documentary about Ms. Flack, Sean Lennon said, “At first, you know, I didn’t even think of Roberta as this incredible artist and musician, she was just this really cool neighbor. We used to call her Aunt Roberta.”

“We’re very close to each other and our kitchen is connected,” Ms. Ono said in the documentary.

Erika Belle had heard the stories. So when Keith Haring, a friend of Ms. Belle’s, invited her to dinner at Ms. Ono’s apartment on a rainy Tuesday night in the 1980s, she let out a squeal. “I’d been obsessed with that building, like many lifelong New Yorkers, for years,” Ms. Belle, who is in her 60s, said in an interview. “It had so much old, ’50s Hollywood glamour.”

“To arrive at that building and to know that I was meeting Yoko, was like ‘Merry Christmas’ and ‘Happy birthday’ all rolled into one,” said Ms. Belle who co-owned the nightclub Lucky Strike and is a model. Ms. Belle was also a backup dancer for Madonna, who she said came to the Dakota with her that evening.

After taking off her shoes to enter, the first thing Ms. Belle noticed about Ms. Ono’s apartment was “how high the ceilings and how wide the hallways were. You could drive a car through those hallways.”

The dinner menu was simply takeout from a Chinese restaurant, but the highlight of the night was getting an apartment tour from Ms. Ono. “She held my hand — even saying it now, I get goose bumps — and asked, ‘Do you want to see the apartment?’”

It was an obvious yes from Ms. Belle. What she remembers most from that intimate walk-through wasn’t a work of art or an expensive piece of furniture, but a bathroom. “Yoko took me to see this bathroom, and she said she left it the same as the day John was murdered,” Ms. Belle said. “She’s like, ‘I haven’t touched this bathroom.’ And that was very touching and moving.”

‘New York Is Like an Old Friend’

Before Ms. Ono was associated with the glamour of the Dakota, she lived downtown, where she became a pioneer of conceptual art.

After moving from Japan in the early 1950s, Ms. Ono attended Sarah Lawrence College in a suburb north of New York. She dropped out in 1956, and then moved to the city. Many of the places she lived and spent time in became meeting places for artists and are now unofficial landmarks of the downtown art scene. In the early 1960s, her Chambers Street loft was where she organized performance events with composer La Monte Young. This became the Chambers Street Loft Series, which was attended by John Cage, Peggy Guggenheim and Marcel Duchamp.

For her 2015 MoMA show, Ms. Ono reflected on that time in her life. “By then, I knew a few people. And I realized that all these people usually create music in New York City,” she said. “But there’s no place for them to present their work. And I said, you know, I think it’s a great idea if we created a place where all of us can present our music.”

The Chambers Street loft was a far stretch — in city blocks and in essence — from the Dakota. “It’s a cold water flat, and it was in the winter. It was so cold, you know? We didn’t even have electricity,” Ms. Ono said.

Ms. Ono and Mr. Lennon first met at an exhibition of her work in London in 1966. Credit… Getty

In 1965, Ms. Ono performed “Morning Piece” at 87 Christopher Street, where she briefly lived and worked as a superintendent. She and Mr. Lennon met in 1966, at an exhibition of her work in London — she had a work titled “Apple,” which featured a real apple on display, and Mr. Lennon went up and bit into it.

The couple soon moved to 105 Bank Street, which is now memorialized as “John Lennon’s First New York Home” on Google Maps. They lived there from 1971 to 1973, when they, as the Plastic Ono Band, released the album “Some Time in New York City.”

In more recent times, Ms. Ono has expressed her evolving relationship with New York through posts on Twitter. “John once said that he fell in love with New York on a street corner,” she said in January of this year.

After half a century of Ms. Ono living at the Dakota, and even longer in New York altogether, New Yorkers are filled with nostalgia, melancholy and gratitude for the various ways she has shaped the city and their life in it.

To many people, Ms. Ono will forever be a part of New York. The writer and curator Phillip Ward — who organized a public 90th birthday celebration for Ms. Ono earlier this year — thinks of the artist every time he passes by the Dakota. “I always look up and just smile and say, ‘Thank you,’” he said.

Ms. Ono, too, has felt reflective about her time in New York.

“New York is like an old friend. It has its moods,” Ms. Ono wrote in 2017. “But I know them all.”

“John once said that he fell in love with New York on a street corner,” Ms. Ono said in January of this year. Credit… Derek Hudson/Getty Images

Susan C. Beachy and Kirsten Noyes contributed research.

Audio produced by Parin Behrooz.

Anna Kodé is a reporter for the Real Estate section of The Times. She writes about design trends, housing issues and the relationship between identity and home. More about Anna Kodé

[downthetubes]

In Memoriam: Comic Artist Ramona Fradon

American artist Ramona Fradon, co-creator of DC Comics Metamorpho, was 97, and still working until January this year

We’re sorry to report the passing of award-winning American comic artist Ramona Fradon (2nd October 1926 – 24th February, 2024), known for her work illustrating Aquaman, as one of artists who drew the internationally syndicated newspaper Brenda Starr, Reporter, and co-creating the superhero Metamorpho with Bob Haney. She was 97. Artist Ramona Fradon, via Catskill Comics Ramona also worked other…

[cymlea]

Embarking on Your Dual-State Odyssey: Crafting a Harmonious Blend

As your journey unfolds through the dual landscapes of Florida and New York, consider these curated suggestions to create a harmonious blend of experiences, seamlessly transitioning from the sun-soaked shores of one state to the vibrant cityscapes of the other:

Theme Park Extravaganza in Florida:

Begin your adventure in Orlando, immersing yourself in the enchanting realm of Walt Disney World Resort. Explore Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom for an unrivaled theme park experience.

Coastal Retreat in Florida:

Transition to Florida's Gulf Coast for a serene beach retreat. Whether it's the powdery white sands of Siesta Key, the vibrant atmosphere of Clearwater Beach, or the untouched beauty of Sanibel Island, relish the coastal charm and rejuvenate by the water.

Cultural Dive in Miami:

Head south to Miami for a cultural infusion. Explore the lively neighborhoods of Little Havana and Wynwood, indulge in Cuban cuisine, and soak up the vibrant art scene. Miami's energy offers a distinct contrast to the laid-back atmosphere of the Gulf Coast.

Upstate New York's Natural Elegance:

Fly to New York and venture to the upstate region. Explore the natural wonders of the Catskill Mountains, immerse yourself in the artistic ambiance of Storm King Art Center, and savor the tranquility of upstate New York's charming towns.

Iconic Cityscape in New York City:

Conclude your journey with the grandeur of New York City. Delight in the iconic skyline, visit Times Square, Central Park, and the Statue of Liberty. Immerse yourself in the cultural kaleidoscope of the city, where every neighborhood has its unique charm.

Culinary Odyssey:

Throughout your journey, savor the diverse culinary offerings. Indulge in Florida's seafood delicacies, Miami's Cuban flavors, and the multicultural gastronomy of New York City. Let your taste buds traverse the culinary tapestry of both states.

Nature's Serenity and Urban Pulsations:

Embrace the contrasting atmospheres. Find serenity in the natural landscapes of Florida's beaches and wildlife reserves, then dive into the pulsating energy of New York City's streets and cultural hotspots.

Capture Every Moment:

Document your experiences through photographs and journal entries. From the magical moments in theme parks to the awe-inspiring vistas of upstate New York, your visual and written memories will become cherished souvenirs.

Flexibility and Spontaneity:

Allow room for spontaneity. Serendipitous discoveries often happen when you deviate from the planned itinerary. Engage with locals, seek recommendations, and be open to unexpected adventures.

Reflect and Rejoice:

Take time to reflect on your journey. Each state offers a unique chapter in your travel story. Whether you find solace in nature's embrace or revel in the urban hustle, rejoice in the diversity of experiences that both Florida and New York have gifted you. A Tapestry Woven with Memories:

As you weave through the enchanting landscapes of Florida and the bustling urban tapestry of New York, remember that your journey is a narrative uniquely yours. The contrast between these two states creates a dynamic and unforgettable travel experience, offering a diverse array of memories to be cherished for a lifetime.

May your adventure be filled with laughter, discovery, and moments that linger in your heart. Safe travels on this remarkable odyssey through the Sunshine State and the Empire State. May the road ahead be as captivating as the destinations you explore.

[thoughtportal]

THIS WEEK on the GWA Podcast, I interview one of the most pioneering artists alive today, Kiki Smith!

Born in 1954, in Germany, raised in New Jersey, and now based in the Catskills and New York City, where we are recording today, Kiki Smith is an artist who works across a whole range of mediums ranging from sculpture to printmaking, tapestry to collage. She focuses on subjects of mortality and decay, the body and the earth, what it means to be human and our relationship to nature. She has said: "Our bodies are basically stolen from us, and my work is about trying to reclaim one's own turf, or one's own vehicle of being here, to own it and to use it to look at how we are here.”

But it is this notion of collage that seems to be at the heart of her oeuvre – as she works with multiple forms, hybridised figures, and looks at both ancient mythology and contemporary politics, such as tragic events such as the AIDS crisis or the cruel laws around abortion. As a result, she has used materials such as bodily fluids to investigate subjects around death, reproduction and birth.

Working indefatigably since the 1970s, Smith, although having briefly studied at Hartford Art School in Connecticut, is for the most part self taught. She has described herself as a “thing-maker” and it is this desire and hunger for experimentation that makes her work so captivating and engaging. Studying the world by living and surrounding herself with nature, she has also since gone on to train as an emergency medical technician.

A professor at NYU and Columbia University, Smith has exhibited across the globe – from the Whitney museum to MoMA, The Whitechapel to, most recently, the Seoul Museum of Art in South Korea – and is in collections of some of the most renowned museums in the world. I couldn’t be more excited to be interviewing her today.

[pmamtraveller]

KINDRED SPIRITS (1849) by ASHER DURAND

KINDRED SPIRITS by ASHER BROWN DURAND is a significant AMERICAN landscape painting that depicts THOMAS COLE, another prominent artist of the period and WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT, the poet.

This painting was commissioned after COLE'S death as a memorial to COLE, who was widely regarded as one of the most influential AMERICAN landscape painters of the nineteenth century. This painting is included in a monograph exhibition about DURAND’S career that features 57 of AMERICA'S most iconic 19th century landscape paintings.

DURAND was part of a group of painters known as the “HUDSON RIVER SCHOOL”, who concentrated on landscape painting and were renowned for their meticulous attention to detail in their work. DURAND’s KINDRED SPIRITS is one of the finest examples of this style, drawing attention to geological formations, plant life and other life-giving elements in his depictions of mountain ranges.

The gift from DURAND to BRYANT symbolizes the friendship of two intellectuals and has since become an important piece of American art history. THE CATSKILL MOUNTAINS are portrayed with intricate detail combined with vivid colors offering an immersive experience for viewers looking at this remarkable piece.

[gingerradiohour]

Ginger Radio Hour #045

Show Notes August 1, 2023

Listen to archived episode.

Theme: A painting playlist.

Brian Knauer has been painting his entire life, concentrating on oil painting since 1995. He's a tremendous artist and also my friend. He recently moved his primary studio from Brooklyn to the Catskills. Our conversation weaves around his daily painting practice and listen to a playlist of tracks he blasts while he works in his studio.

Playlist:

Tom Waits "(Intro) Emotional Weather Report" Album: Nighthawks At The Diner 1975

David Bowie "Something in the Air" Album: Hours... 1999

The Clash "Car Jamming" Album: Combat Rock 1982

LCD Soundsystem "change yr mind" Album: american dream 2017

Echo And The Bunnymen "The Cutter" Album: Porcupine 1983

The Cranberries "Loud And Clear" Album: Bury The Hatchet 1999

Sex Pistols “No Feelings” Album: Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols... 1977

Tom Waits "Spare Parts II And Closing" Album: Nighthawks At The Diner 1975