Invasion

Just another day’s work. UNGA72.

Outside UNHQ. The time of the year when the whole world lands in New York for the United Nations General Assembly and life, as locals know it, is put on hold for a week. Locals know what they should do by now: keep calm and avoid the area, unless you have business in the UN.

September 20th, 2017

░Treasures░of░the░de░Young░

Skipping the colourful psychedelia of the Summer of Love Experience didn’t mean the time we spent at the de Young would be any less fun – quite the contrary, as the works you are about to see will demonstrate.

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In contrast with the age of freedom and sexual liberation that was being celebrated next door, this is how courtship was done in Thomas Eakins’ time:  Thomas Eakins (1844-1916)
The Courtship, ca. 1878
Oil on canvas


Whistler depicted his former patron Frederick R. Leyland as a hideous peacock, surrounded by money bags and sitting astride Whistler’s house, which had to be sold. You see, Leyland had commissioned Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (Freer Gallery of Art) for his London townhouse. All was going according to plan, until Whistler decided to make some unauthorized alterations. Leyland was less than pleased, they argued bitterly and their relationship reached an all-time low when Leyland sued Whistler for the Peacock Room’s over-expenditures. Whistler had to file for bankruptcy but, with this painting, he still had the last laugh:James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903)
The Gold Scab: Eruption in Frilthy Lucre (The Creditor), 1879
Oil on canvas


A work by the earliest-known African American artist. A freed slaved and self-taught painter working in Baltimore, Maryland, Joshua Johnson portrays the daughter of a wealthy Baltimore merchant. Her Empire gown, stylish Napoleonic bangs, and Turkish shoes (known as ”straights” because the could fit on either foot) reveal the influence of French fashion in America. I do love her ”straights” – I wish all shoes were so soft they could fit on either foot!  Joshua Johnson (ca. 1763-ca. 1824)
Letitia Grace McCurdy, ca. 1800-1802
Oil on canvas


A dress made of glass for a head-to-toe modern Cinderella:Karen LaMonte (b. 1967)
Dress 3, 2001
Cast glass


This explosion of colour:
Richard Mayhew (b. 1924)
Rhapsody, 2002
Oil on canvas


The cool flatness of Samuel Miller’s children: Samuel Miller (1807-1853)
Young Girl with Flowers, ca. 1850
Oil on canvas mounted on board


Samuel Miller (1807-1853)
Young Boy with a Dog, ca. 1850
Oil on canvas mounted on hardboard


Treasures of the de Young

July 7th, 2017
  

 

 

Words of Wisdom – II

*New Resident Posting* on the bulletin board of my building’s website:

Title: FREE CONDOMS!!! Be Responsible 

I bought this huge variety pack of condoms about a year ago but unfortunately was not nearly as successful as I expected. I would like to give these away to someone who can get better use out of them. I’m moving out at the end of the weekend and am donating them to the local high school if nobody wants them. We have the best options that Trojan has to offer, Ultra Ribbed, Charged Intensified, Double Ecstasy, Ultra Thin and Bare Skin. Let me know if you want them and we can set up a confidential drop-off point so that nobody is aware of your sexual prowess. No hat, no party! 

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If interested, please leave a *discreet* comment and I’ll put in a good word for you with my incredible neighbour.

Thank you!

PS: artwork from A Third Gender: Beautiful Youths in Japanese Prints exhibition in The Japan Society, March-June 2017

January 27th, 2018

*PAPARAZZI*

I was walking down Greenwich Avenue toward the Jefferson Market Library, planning on taking a closer look at the stained glass windows I had read so much about, when suddenly….
… the familiar click click click and, before I knew it, I was surrounded…!They appeared out of nowhere and, in a matter of seconds, they seemed to be everywhere…Covering my face, I struggled to get away but could not shake them off; they kept tailing me until somebody else got their attention… … at last they left me alone… their next target had arrived and already taken position! I hurried into the calm, quiet hallway of the library but not before noticing the sign: at least now I know who is the mastermind behind the commotion…! 

Joel, Charlie, Rocky & Samuel aka Pararazzi Dogs in Bronze
By Gillie and Marc

 

Greenwich Village
April 2nd, 2017