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It all started back in the sixties, or was it the
seventies? I first became aware of the vastness of our urban landscape
by riding the Lexington Ave line south, from the north Bronx, where I
grew up. As I rode above the endless streets on the El, I noticed our
city's multitude of architectural styles; it's tenements as well as former
mansions, theatres, parks. It was a journey back in time, a priceless
education. I also noticed the decay from neglect & the sands of time…rusting
iron & green popping up through the cracks on the sidewalk.
As a child, I was well aware of boundaries. Like every small town, my
neighborhood was no different. The railroad tracks were cast along Gunhill
road. It was black on one side, white on the other. Yet I challenged the
imposed boundaries constantly, playing on both sides of the fence. I often
sought refuge in the relics of the past, such as -an old abandoned amusement
park called "Freedom Land". It was an ironic refuge during the
heat of the civil rights era. Having survived childhood, eventually I
became a high school student. Columbus H.S…famous alumni include
David Berkowitz a.k.a. Son of Sam & Anne Bancroft a.k.a. Mrs. Robinson
…no, they weren't classmates.After high school, I attended a CUNY school, Queen's college, where I studied art. I spent summers working on archaeological digs along with SUNY Purchase, in Aix en Provence. . I had discovered one of my callings. I completely unearthed hidden rooms five hundred years old, while my expert professors would try to uncover nineteen year olds. History & human nature were there for the taking. In addition, I spent time tracing the footsteps of the 'masters' namely van Gogh, Monet, Cézanne. I observed the landscape that they painted, from the lilies of Monet to of Cézanne's Mt Victoire. Even van Gogh's final resting place at St. Rémy. It was indeed a challenge to import an impressionist palette into New York City, an ever- changing dynamic, & gritty town. I pursue my imagery with the passion of an explorer, hoping to discover our city's hidden beauty. I climbed over & under fences, perched myself upon towers & cliffs …to catch unusual vistas. My art alludes to history, in the form of poetic references or homage, more so than pure documentation. It's a world very familiar to me, yet an endless source of mystery & beauty; be it the past or present. Yes I've shown countless times at this gallery, that gallery, Soho, Noho, Cali, Phili, D.C. & even Baltimore., the cafes, the lounges and even a bit in Europe. Recent & past exhibitions include: |
I won a few awards here & there like the MTA 1999 poster contest & the Math Fair in Junior High, back in '74. Media & reviews include: New York Newsday, The Forward, Director's Guild Review, Lifetimes, Donna, Italy, The Jewish Week, Philadelphia Free Press, Aufbau - Deutsch-Jüdische Zeitung, The Fashion Moda Archive |
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