Monday, June 29, 2009

This past weekend:



Stopped by Socrates Sculpture Garden in L.I.C. for their "Maker's Market" , a lovely gathering  of artist and their wares. Best part was the garden's own art : I love the work of Louise Nevelson and this huge sculpture reminded me of her work , with a twist! While walking along the shore I spotted a lone bird floating by - if you have not yet signed the petition to save N.Y.C.'s geese , you can still find it here. I would love to see it reach 3,000 signatures by this 4th of July weekend! 

Last weekend:



We returned to Governor's Island for "Figment" an art happening of sorts. Here are a few of the best pieces that were to be found scattered around the island that weekend. 
The first was a sculpture that made wonderful music and as we got near to it we noticed someone inside of the sculpture, playing their violin along with the music that was being generated by the sculpture. The second piece was created out of recycled plastic bottles of all types and they took on a jewel like quality as they hung from the tree branches. I liked both pieces as each had a magical quality about it. 

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Dad

I love listening to NPR (National Public Radio). Perhaps because it reminds me of a simpler time when folks did listen to their radios and music filled the air. 
WNYC/ FM  -  here in N.Y. is the station I usually go to . After listening for many years, (started back in college when my first love turned me on to New Sounds with John Schaefer -good to listen  to as you pulled an all nighter working on some project!) I can now go to their web site and see the faces behind the voices that have been bringing me music and news all these years. More than a little weird as radio does allow one to conjure up images in one's own mind and those images do not always jive with reality. Anyway, WNYC has a few blogs & I have begun  adding my 2 cents now & again. Read about my dad and others HERE but don't tell my dad about it. It is a little sentimental. Happy Father's Day to all out there. And, Yes, my dad did sign the petition to save the geese. (thanks da!) If you want to join him, go HERE & thanks! 

Friday, June 19, 2009

Geese Peace

Thank you to all who have signed the petition regarding the killing of geese here in NYC. More names and sentiments would be greatly appreciated. Go here to add your name and help the cause. 
If you want to read about a thoughtful and wise solution to this situation, go here. Geese Peace. Makes sense to me!

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

senseless killing of geese in N.Y.C. this week


A few days ago the city announced a plan to catch and kill 2,000 geese here in N.Y.C. as part of a plan to rid the area of geese. The idea is, no geese, no airplane bird strikes. Several organizations have protested  this plan, saying it does not protect against bird strikes (see here) and a petition had been set up (see here). I would very much like to think "we" are smart enough to come up with solutions that do not included killing animals and wasting money but it seems "we" have yet to learn from history. I am a life long New Yorker and visitor to Flushing Meadows (I call it the Central Park of Queens) and it is one of those rare places where you can interact and observe animals-these geese and ducks and swans that reside there and enhance life for all who visit. So I'll be voting , in our next mayoral election, to replace our current mayor with someone who I hope will be more thoughtful about decisions such as these. In the meantime, I urge anyone who reads this blog to sign the petition and send it along to others to sign. I am one of those who believes you CAN fight city hall (as they say) and I also believe we each can make a difference. I also believe in Karma so politically, personally and spiritually , killing is not a part of my vocabulary . 

Sunday, June 7, 2009

N.Y.B.G.





Spent a lovely , sunny day at The N.Y. Botanical Gardens. The rose garden is brimming with color (and the buzz of hard working bees) but the highlight was all of the birds hard at work on their nests in building nooks. If you love color like I do there is no better place than a garden!  

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Parrots in Green-Wood Cemetery





Some scenes from the wild  parrots safari today. They spend much of their day "weaving" branches into their nests and their bright  green color matches perfectly with the leaves of trees which makes for amazing camouflage this time of year. 
One spot where they can be found is  in  Green-Wood Cemetery where they have nested in the front gate which is currently shrouded in green & being worked upon. Perhaps because I am an artist -and because of the green color, the gates looked like some sort of art sculpture .Read more about the parrots & the cemetery here

Friday, June 5, 2009

Wild parrot safari in NYC tomorrow !




Speaking of something NEW : I am thrilled to be back at work printing  silkscreens  as the summer semester began this week. 
This weekend I am going on my first " wild parrot safari" in Brooklyn. Almost all of my life there have been sightings  of  these incredible birds in Queens. Rumor had it they came from a crate, broken open at JFK or LaGuardia airport and somehow these tropical birds  adapted , survived & even learned to thrive in "strange"  NYC . By accident, I found this blog and learned that someone actually gives tours of the birds in their habitat. (See here

P.S. This coming Tuesday is Museum Mile here in N.Y.C.-check it out HERE. It is well worth going to as traffic is shut down on that stretch of 5th Avenue and to be able to walk in the middle of the street is rather magical. My fingers are crossed, weather wise.