Louis Bourgeois Salon

Norma Greenwood

TIME AND PLACE

oil on canvas 12" x 12'

I attended Louise Bourgrois' salon and brought a small painting with me. Louise sat at a small, white table in front of French doors in a room lined with books and personal memorabilia. One by one, each guest brought up their work for Louise's inspection. Quickly evaluating the art, she made comments in French, translated into English by her assistant. When my turn came, I nearly decided to pass but I took a deep breath and showed her the painting. She looked at the painting, TIME AND PLACE, for what seemed like forever. Then she looked up at me and said "tres bien". Recovering some poise, I looked around and noticed cheese, wine and cakes being put out and many more people filling the room. This salon was being held on the day of Louise's 95th birthday! How fortunate I was to be there. We all had wine and toasted to this great woman, Louise Bourgeois.

ALTERNATIVE OPPORTUNITIES

ALTERNATIVE OPPORTUNITIES

 The Affordable Art Fair was held this past weekend. The AAF gives exposure to artists hoping to make sales or attract the attention of a gallery owner and also helps young collectors enter the market. Prices for paintings, sculptures and other works range from $100 to $10,000.

 

Other good alternatives to gallery shows are Open Studio events held all over the city in the spring and early fall. With a beautiful weekend ahead, why not check out the vibrant open studio scene and perhaps discover a new neighborhood. Open studios are fun; the artists are welcoming and happy to talk with you about their work.  A good place to start is in Long Island City, Queens. The LIC Arts Weekend - May 22nd and 23rd 2010 will include several studio buildings including the LIC Studio Building,44-02 23 street, Juvenal Reis Studios

43-01 22nd Street, Wills Building One 43-02 22nd street,

Paintcan Studios 10-10 44th Avenue and Clocktower Gallery 4601 21st Street. 

You can see my work at the LIC Studio Building 12:00 to 6:00pm.

End your LIC explorations with a light lunch at Café Henri 10-10 50th Ave., and Vernon Blvd. 718-383-931.

About Distance and Time

I am exploring Flushing, Queens with my camera this week

 

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All of a sudden, I'm flooded with memories of a trip

taken more than a decade ago to HongKong.  The energy that fueled the Hong Kong I remember is a palpable presence right here, in Flushing. I feel like I’m back in that city, at that time. How wonderful to be a time traveler in your own backyard.

 

EARTH DAY BIRTHDAY

April 22nd is my birthday. It was not a day marked by any special notation on calendars while I was growing up. But all that changed in 1970, the date of the first Earth Day. 

 April 22nd 1970, Earth Day New York coincided with a subway strike. I remember because I was a volunteer for earth day events and had to find alternative ways to commute from Jackson Heights, Queens to Manhattan. I recall hiking over the bridge down to 34th Street and setting up a table with small terra cotta flowerpots containing dirt. I tied a pretty green ribbon around each pot and called the set-up "Earth Day Earth". They were priced at $5.00 each. I  thought these clever little pots would sell like Pet Rocks (remember those).  The proceeds were to go toward supporting environmental activities.  Sad to say, I didn't sell a single little flower pot-not one captured anyone's fancy. 

 Forty years later, Earth Day 2010, observed with events throughout the US celebrates the history and future of the modern environmental movement. Anyone for a pot of Earth Day Earth?

WALKING A JAPANESE PRINT

I love inclement weather especially at night when the house feels like such a snug cocoon. But last night I was out walking between bouts of rain and drizzle, the fragrance of spring blossoms was everywhere. I looked up to see which trees were sending out their perfumed message, the branches were black line drawings against a putty sky. Then I saw myself walking in a japanese woodcut, the cherry blossoms in bunches, patterned paper umbrellas everywhere.