Monthly Archives: January 2006
POSTCARD FROM THE SLOPE_MEETING SIMON DINNERSTEIN
I finally met the artist Simon Dinnerstein the other day. I’ve been aware of him for a long time: seeing his book at Barnes and Noble, and the signs advertising his classes that are posted around the Slope.
The other morning, we sat in the light-filled parlor of his Park Slope brownstone talking about his artwork, his career, and his penchant for making portraits of interesting-looking people in the neighborhood.
Currently, Simon has a drawing in a show at the Tabla Rasa Gallery in Sunset Park. It is a striking portrait of Thomas Parker (left), who works as a barista at Connecticut Muffin on Seventh Avenue. A few years ago, Simon asked him to pose for one of his classes. He was so taken with his face, "the movement and the lines and the way that his personality comes through," that he wanted to make his own drawing.
The portrait, in black and white, captures Thomas’s aura, which is, says Simon, "regal and dignified." Simon tried to follow what he calls "the external and internal map" that is his face. "He is a man who doesn’t ask too much and seems to have a real acceptance of people, of life," says Simon. "The lines on his face reveal his journey" and the portrait projects density and force.
Simon has also done a remarkable painting of Wajih Salem, the tall man with the beard who is one of the sibling-owners of D’Vine Taste. Pictured with a gigantic cactus plant that Simon bought from Zuzu’s Petals, Simon wanted to juxtapose the complex lines of the plant with Rajiv’s long angularity. "He has a strong sense of form," says Simon, "and a strong internal presence."
Looking through Simon’s book, I see that much of Simon’s work reveals an engagement with Brooklyn, its people and Simon’s personal history in this borough. This close understanding of the urban life of the community reveals Simon’s ability to look deeply at the internal and external lives of the people around him.
Simon told me about the studio he used to have in Sunset Park where he worked on a painting called "Fullbright Triptich." In the early 1970’s, a Madison Avenue art dealer came "all the way out" to Brooklyn, which was unusual at the time, to have a look at the half-finished work. "I think that’s a great picture," he told Simon. "I’d like to own it." A week later, the dealer called and offered buy the large (79" x 168") painting over the two years it would take to finish it, a gesture which supported Simon and his family during a difficult financial time. "It was a first class rescue operation and it set everything in motion after that." says Simon referring to his Rome Prize Fellowship to the American Academy in Rome in 1976-1978.
Simon, who is a bit of Luddite, was motivated to check out this blog, at the suggestion of a good friend of mine, who is taking life drawing classes with him on
Wednesdays; an experience she treasures — a chance to learn drawing
from a master. He knew immediately that
"Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn" was a reference to the short story "Only the Dead Know Brooklyn" by the great Thomas Wolfe, a favorite story of his.
On the day Simon looked at OTBKB, the "Postcard from the Slope" was about Wajid Salam and D’Vine Taste. Simon was delighted to read about the man he’d made drawings and a painting of. We spoke about coincidence and fate; the way unexpected things present themselves in unexpected ways.
After leaving Simon’s house, I walked down Seventh Avenue and noticed a homeless man staring at something in the window of Su Casa, the fabric store on the corner of Berkeley Place. I was intrigued and wondered what the man was looking at so intently. As I passed I saw that it was one of Simon’s class advertisements, which showed a painting from 1983 called "January Light" of a black woman in an orange gown. I kept looking back for a few minutes and the man was still standing there seemingly mesmerized by the painting Simon had just shown me in his book.
Unexpected things. Unexpected ways.
Now all these years later, Simon, who is represented by the ACA Galleries in Chelsea, returns to Sunset Park, not far from the studio where he used to paint. His drawing of Thomas Parker is part of a show called "Past and Present" at the Tabla Rasa Gallery, located at 224 48th Street in Brooklyn. The gallery is open on Friday and Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m. If you would like information about Simon’s classes call: (718) 788-4387.
POSTCARD FROM THE SLOPE_HUSBAND IS OFF TO CALIFORNIA
Husband is off to California for a week and even Opal, our beautiful white dwarf rabbit with the black stripe on her back seems a little unhinged by his leave taking. She’s in the corner of her cage right now doing her vibrating huddle not quite sure why all the lights are on at 4:30 in the morning.
Poor Opal. She’s very attached to Husband.
Husband’s cell phone alarm clock woke us all up. It plays this silly song that we’ve come to call the Clown School Song. "We are graduates of Clown School. We ride out little cars in circles…" Husband was making up some words this morning.
None of us are used to having Husband out of the house for even a day, let alone a whole week. And with the new job and all, Husband vacates his Aeron desk chair and ventures into the big city on a daily basis now.
So he just left in the middle of the night to catch an early Jet Blue flight out of Kennedy Airport. He will spend the week with family in Northern California. Since we didn’t make it out there this Christmas, there is family business and pleasure to attend to.
The apartment feels too big without him. Not to mention our bed: though lord knows I don’t mind stretching out without worry of kicking him.
I’m still wondering how we’ll get the Christmas tree to the Mulch Fest in Prospect Park without him. It’s on the sidewalk in front of the building now.
And God forbid the fancy lightbulb in the dining room light fixture goes out (it’s been flashing). Last night was a flurry of packing and H. didn’t get around to everything he was planning to do. He did, however, manage to leave me with a large selection of No Words_Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford choices and that’s the important thing.
We’re just not used to having him out of Brooklyn for long periods of time. It’ll be a strain on everyone. Opal. Son, daughter. Even the little mouse who’s taken up residence behind the stove will miss Husband I’m sure.
POSTCARD FROM THE SLOPE_FOLLIES COVER
So I got a copy of "Brooklyn Follies." I paid for it: full price at Seventh Avenue Books. As I was paying, Tom the owner said, "I have a little secret for you." He then directed me back to the table where the books were displayed and said to take one of the bottom three books. "Those are signed." Then as a joke: "That’ll be $48.00," he said. "Oh really" I said, playing along.
But I got it. A signed copy of the new book. Tom, Ping, the other owner of the store, and I looked at the cover. It’s a panorama photograph of the the corner of Second Street and Seventh Avenue. There are various people in the intersection. I recognized two of them. One is a real estate agent who sometimes wears straw hats. I’ve seen her for years. The other is a very nice woman I know from a writing workshop at Writer’s Voice. I wonder if she knows that she’s on the cover (she probably signed a release or something).
Of course she knows: the picture looks very posed.
I think it’s really cool that she’s on the cover. She’s a writer and one of her stories is being published in a literary magazine. She’s also an avid reader of OTBKB. If you are reading this please let me know the name of the magazine and tell us the circumstances of you being on the cover. If anyone knows anyone else on the cover please share with the rest of us.
Read the book? Not yet. Been too busy deconstructing the cover.
GRAND ALLUSIONS: DAVID KONIGSBERG
Park Slope friend and resident, David Konigsberg, has paintings, including Crossing, White Flats, (pictured left) in Grand Allusions, a group show opening this Saturday December 7th (TONIGHT) at The Painting Center, 52 Green Street in Soho. Reception 5-7 PM
David Konigsberg, is an OTBKB favorite, so get on over there and check it out. Maybe buy one.
POSTCARD FROM THE SLOPE_BROOKLYN FOLLIES
Check out Gersh Kuntzman’s piece on the front page of The Brooklyn Papers about Paul Auster’s new book, "The Brooklyn Follies." The book, which is reviewed by Walter Kirn in this Sunday’s New York Times’ Book Review, features many familiar Park Slope characters, including "Beautiful Perfect Mother" or BPM.
The character’s name is Nancy Mazzucchelli who lives in a brownstone in these parts. But I have my own list of BPM;s as I am sure you do.
FROM A REVIEW ON BOOKLIST: Auster meditates on the theme of sanctuary in American literature, from
Hawthorne to Poe to Thoreau, infusing the novel’s picaresque with
touches of romanticism, Southern gothic and utopian yearning. But the
book’s presiding spirit is Brooklyn’s first bard, Walt Whitman, as
Auster embraces the borough’s multitudes
STUFF AND THINGS
THE FIRST Park Slope Drinking Liberally of 2006 will meet on Wednesday, January 11 at 7:30 p.m. Share your stories of your holiday travels to the red states. Best story wins a pint. Commonwealth at 497 5th Avenue at 12th Street. The Park Slope chapter of Drinking Liberally meets the second Wednesday of every month
Tabla Rasa is an art gallery that profiles works of emerging, mid- career, and established artists of Brooklyn, New York, and the United States. Located in a turn of the century carriage house in industrial Sunset Park, Brooklyn, Tabla Rasa presents solo and group exhibitions in a wide range of styles, themes and media.Through February 4th, go see: Past and Present featuring work by Lena Gurr, Park Slope resident Simon Dinnerstein, Joseph Biel, Gregory Frux, Sylvia Maier and others. 224 48th Street in Sunset Park. Open Friday and Saturday noon until 5 p.m.
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BAM ROSE CINEMA. KING KONG, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, THE PRODUCERS, FUN WITH DICK AND JANE, MEMOIRS OF THE GEISHA AT THE PAVILLION
SHHH. DON’T TELL ANYONE: As part of NYC Restaurant Week from January 23-27 and January 30-February 3rd, YOU can a 3-course lunch at The River Cafe during restuarant week for $24.07. Dinner is $35.00.
1 Water St. (at Old Fulton St.)
718-522-5200
2, 3, 4, 5 Borough Hall. B25 at Old Fulton or Elizabeth
COOL STUFF on the BAM Spring Schedule…
VERY INTERESTING: So this year is the centennial of the publication of Sigmund Freud ‘s "The Interpretations of Dreams", a book that, like Darwin’s Origin of the Species, revolutionized our understanding of human nature. In this work, Freud attempted to expound the methods and results of dream-interpretation and the Brooklyn Public Library is havig an discussion on Thursday January 12 at 2 p.m. led by a staff member. Second floor meeting room at the Central Library.
NO WORDS_DAILY PIX BY HUGH CRAWFORD
NO WORDS_DAILY PIX BY HUGH CRAWFORD
POSTCARD FROM THE SLOPE_Don’t Get Me Started
So it’s the after-Christmas breather. Parents are, for the most part, happy to have their kids back in school and/or back on their regular routines…happy (or not) to get back to what they were doing before the vacation…
But don’t get too relaxed! Next week the public elementary school kids have to take the standardized English Language Arts Tests. Tuesday January 10 is Day 1 of NYS ELA test for grades 3, 4, and 5. Wednesday January 11 is Day 2 of NYS ELA test for grades 3, 4 and 5. Thursday January 12 is Day 3 of NYS ELA for GRADE 4 ONL Y
For the third graders, this is the test that will determine promotion to 4th grade. And for the 4th graders, this is the test that is used for admission to middle school.
The stakes are high and there’s a whole lotta stressin’ going on.
On Thursday morning (that’s TODAY), there’ will be lecture for parents that may be very helpful. It’s the second parent meeting in the series "What’s a Parent to Do?" Presenter Mary Courtney, PhD, clinical child psychologist, will offer useful advice on "Big Worries, Little Worries — How to Help Your Child with Stress." Just in time to quiet the willies around the NYS ELA tests next week. Auditorium. 8:30 a.m.
*Did you know that the person who first said: "Don’t get me started" was Teddy Roosevelt?
POSTCARD FROM THE SLOPE_BROOLYN BLOGGERS IN THE NEWS
It’s always noteworthy when fellow Brooklyn Bloggers are mentioned in traditional media. This week, there’s a Talk of the Town piece in the New Yorker about Brownstoner. A Brooklyn Life was mentioned in the New York Times in a column about P.J. Hanley’s bar on Court Street. During the transit strike, there was a an article in the NY Times about Express Train.
On Brownstoner this week: Hugh Crawford has a stunning photo essay on Sunset Park. There are also photo essays by other photographers on Vinegar Hill and Crown Heights.
Beautiful.
NO WORDS_DAILY PIX BY HUGH CRAWFORD
NO WORDS_DAILY PIX BY HUGH CRAWFORD
POSTCARD FROM THE SLOPE_Happy New Year
Considering it was the first morning in more than two weeks that Son couldn’t sleep until noon, getting him up and off to high school went very well. In fact, he was dressed, fed, and out the door by 7:30 a.m. Amazing.
Daughter was a little harder to rouse; she had trouble sleeping last night. Clearly, she had a harder re-adjustment to her school night schedule after so many late holiday nights.
Walking Daughter to school this morning in the rain and then walking to my office, I could tell it wasn’t an easy morning for anyone. Damp and dreary, it was a day to stay under the comforter in bed, a day to sip tea and watch "General Hospital" on television.
Or finish Nicole Kraus’ "History of Love" or start "The Story of Pi" which a neighbor left on my door step.
I actually considered staying home. It’s the first time in so long that Husband hasn’t been parked in the living room/office at his computer working on photographs. He’s working in town now. Manhattan. What a change for all of us.
2006 is off to a nice start. I am superstitious about the early days of January. Last year, I had a terrible earache and laryngitis and my kids were sick. I thought maybe it didn’t bode well for the new year but 2005 was a good year for all of us.
In January 2001, I had a premonition in the first week of January that it was going to be a terrible year and it was, for the most part, a terrible year – personally, for the city, for the country, for the world.
But 2006 is off to a fairly uneventful start which is a good thing. And there was something so special about this holiday week: I think it had something to do with those Mondays. Little gift days. Unexpected, quiet, no banks, no mail. Some people went to work but we didn’t. I think the Mondays were nicest of all.
I meditated this morning to the sound of a wilderness river. There were songbirds, small rapids and crickets intermingled with telephone rings, office chairs on wood floors, and the voices of from the other offices on this hallway. It put me in a good mood: sitting by the river, in my office, at the start of the year.
Breathe in, Breathe out. Take it slow. Happy New Year.
NO WORDS_DAILY PIX BY HUGH CRAWFORD
THE OTBKB AWARDS
OTBKB PRESENTS THE BEST OF BROOKLYN BLOGGING 2005:
Best Brooklyn Photo Blog by a Photographer Who is My Husband
No Words_Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford
Best Brooklyn Photo Blogs by Photographers I’m NOT Married to
Joe’s NYC Satan’s Laundromat Digital Brooklyn Express Train
Best Brooklyn Dream Blog
Sleeping Bunnies
Best Brooklyn Blog with a live 24-hour Cat Web-cam
Lost and Frowned
Best Brooklyn Blog with an Unhealthy Obsession with Real Estate:
Brownstoner
Best Non-Brooklyn Blog with an Unhealthy Obsession with Real Estate:
Curbed
Best Brooklyn Blog with a Healthy Obsession with Bird Watching
The City Birder
Best Brooklyn Blog Named After a Subway Line
F Train
Best Brooklyn Blog by a Recently Engaged Blogger
Callalillie
Best Brooklyn Blog by Blogger in Williamsburg
zeebahtronic
Best Brooklyn Community Blog
The Daily Heights
Best Brooklyn Blog by a Writer with Many Interests Including Immigration
Park Slope Writer
Park Slope’s Best Community Blog
The Daily Slope
Best Brooklyn Blog by A Mother Waiting to Adopt a Child
Mama in Waiting
Best Blog by Person who Actually Came to Brooklyn to Meet OTBKB
Travels in Booland
Best Blog by Mother of Person Who Actually came to Brooklyn to Meet OTBKB
Cousin Lucy’s Spoon
Best Blog by a Former Resident of Prospect Heights
Oswegatchie
Best Art Blog by a Former Resident of Prospect Heights
The Daily Vapor
Best Blog by a Person who Frequently Visits Brooklyn
Laments of the Unfinished
Best Non-Brooklyn Blog by a Blogger From Stuttgart
Udge Wink
Best Name for a Brooklyn Blog
The Dope on the Slope
Best Brooklyn Blog Named for a Bus Line
b61 Productions
Best Brooklyn Blog by Person in Carroll Gardens
A Brooklyn Life
Best Brooklyn Store Blog
Rare Device
Best Brookly Blog by a Woman Selected by New York Magazine as One of 27 People Who Should be Justly Famous by 2010
Design Sponge
Best Brooklyn Blog by a Practioner of Honku
Aaron Naparstek
Best Brooklyn Mostly Music Blog by a Vegan
Brooklyn Vegan
Best Brooklyn Knitting Blog with a Great Logo
unfurnished Brooklyn
Best Brooklyn Blog Collection of Rants and Raves About NYC Restaurants with Lots of Links to OTher Food Blogs
Mona’s Apple
Best Applications for the Bloggers of the World
Blogger and Typepad
NO WORDS_DAILY PIX BY HUGH CRAWFORD
