Meeting the man behind the Altered Page

On Monday, 26 March, Seth Apter, The Altered Page, had an opening at the Ellenville Library (NY) and shared his work, his book, "The Pulse of Mixed Media" and his thoughts on how he started to create his mixed media work and where he is now in his development.  It was a joy to meet him and see his work close up.  

I ordered the book days ago but unfortunately it hasn't come yet.  I will do a follow up review after I receive it and  I've had time to sit with it and read it.  Yes, it is one of those books you not only look at but read.

Photo via Ephemera

I thought to bring a camera, but was distracted by the changing weather from Spring to blustering winds, the adventure of getting from my country lane to Ellenville and my inner dialogue about an article I was writing, so alas I didn't snap any photographs of the event or of the artist.

More on Seth's schedule for his book tour is here.

Something about these two posters juxaposed amused me today

What I miss about no longer living in the Apple

I drove into NYC for the first time in eons for a family event about two weeks ago, stayed at Westbeth, enjoyed the 10th floor view and the convenience of a parking space in front of the building--the Parking Goddess was in evidence early on a Sunday morning.

I was thrilled to be in the City, so thrilled in fact that I walked too much, ate quite a bit more than usual, and did very little shopping.  I did however breath in the Apple air, soak in the pleasure principle, and see my lovely and loving New York City family.  Lennox celebrated his 1st birthday and Annika her 3rd within days of each other and both were in full form.

After Lennox received the sacraments at the Ephiphany Church, we all wandered over to lunch.

 My three meals were marvelous, but uber expensive.

La Folia, 19th at 3rd Avenue, NYC

Family late lunch at La Folia (19th Street and Third Avenue).   This was a repast to remember. M&M went way overboard and the dishes kept coming out as if we were in a Chinese restaurant and having dim sum.  It was excellent and I highly recommend it for superb service and very tasty and tasteful food.  Cheque on M&M.

Pastis, NYC

The next morning we had breakfast at Pastis.   This very West West Village (former Meat Packing area) gathering hole could be a transplant from Paris, including the decor, menu and prices.  We had more coffee than food, but I did take away a free matchbook (a rare sighting) and two wee jam pots that I've turned into ink bottles.  My treat to Lucianne.

My last meal was with Judith at the Chelsea Market; her treat.   We needed some time alone together and I needed to transfer some paperwork over to her.  She's not come up to the country (my regular abode) for ages and I've been mailing her stuff and taking stock of her very sober and unlived in home nearby.   I had a good bowl of soup, some dessert and a wonderful pot of coffee.  I also feel in love with the coffee pot they used to serve the coffee and have put it, along with dozens of other unnecessary items, on my wish list, especially inasmuch as I am really fine with my loyal Chemex.

MXYPLYZYK, Greenwich Avenue, NYC

My single stop on Sunday morning before the christianing was at MXYPLYZYK for a browse and buy.  I have always gone there to shop and miss the luxury of just walking in whenever I was in the neighbourhood--which was frequent.  I didn't plan a visit but walking over from Westbeth to the East Side gave me the opportunity to at least see, if not fully savour, several of my old haunts.

Now, nearly two weeks later, there are exhibits and sites I want to see and I just can't get back to New York but instead am heading out to Pittsburgh to see my other wee, but older grand-children, also about to celebrate births and joyful holidays.

When I did live in the City, I would regularly walk from work through Madison Square Park to 23rd Street,

then cross the wide expanse to Aperture and soak in the gloriousness of photography.  The bookstore and gallery have since moved to 27th Street.

Davinci Supplies is hosting a demonstration on March 28 with Don Colley and his unique way with Faber Castell markers.  It would have been interesting to see what all the fuss is about his use of the markers and a first hand view of his work.

Books: The Lady in Gold (Klimt)

The Washington Post has some good reviews of books infrequently covered elsewhere.  Here they review Anne-Marie O'Connor's" new book "The Lady in Gold," an exhaustive look at the Gustav Klimt painting and its history.

It is a pity the Klimt work is out of circulation and in private hands, and also a pity that too few artists are explored, while others are over-exposed.

Several years ago the Neue Galerie New York museum had a retrospective of Austrian painters I attended and was more than fascinated by.  After seeing the exhibit, I searched out more of their work, and their history.

Some remarkable tidbits, other than gossip, about the Vienna group I stumbled on is information about their materials or lack therein.  It was remarkable how little attention was paid to issues that are exhaustively analyzed these days, i.e., archival materials.  Many of the Viennese School and many other artists of the early 20th century used paper that we'd often reject as unusable and writing instruments we'd pass by. 

Egon Schiele, Self-portrait, 1912

Several of Egon Schiele's works, all having survived, are on plain sketch paper, and 

Das Undbild, 1919, Staatsgalerie Stuttgart

Kurt Schwitter's work is often on newsprint (German, not Austrian).

Cathy "Kate" Johnson at Strathmore

I've never taken a class from Cathy "Kate" Johnson but I have and have had for years many of her books.  She is a tender hearted teacher with great knowledge about art, watercolours and their properties.

Sign ups for her workshop seem to still be open.

Rules, yes, no, maybe so

Rules credited to Sister Corita Kent of  The Immaculate Heart College Art Department, via Skip Lawrence and Diane Santarella at Skip's blog.

BBC talks pens in the Stationery Cupboard

This audio came up at several blogs and I had to do a sit and listened with great jolly-ness to the "Stationery Cupboard."

Image via BBC

School children, physicians and many from the Writing Equipment Society participated in the podcast.

Just plain gracious: Meryl Streep

The Boston Globe reported that Meryl Streep's foundation, "Silver Mountain Foundation for the Arts "

gave $10,000 to the "Upward Bound,"  a scholarship fund and project Viola Davis

started in Central Falls, Rhode Island.

Ain't that a nice touch.

Politics: Senator Snowe explains her decision not to run again

I only lived in Maine for short periods of time, but it was one of few places I considered for retirement, in particular Belfast, among my favourite holiday spots.

Belfast, ME 1920

Belfast, ME harbour at night, via Freefotos.com

With that in mind, and as a former, long time New England resident, I follow what happens throughout the region. 

So naturally I paid attention to Senator Snowe's decision not to run for the Senate again.  Here in her own words she explains her decision.

Senator Olympia Snowe, although a boomer, apparently holds the same values of those Republicans I came to know and work with in the 60s in New York and in the 90s in New England.

Those values appear to be gone and replaced by something I don't understand.