Tag Archives: art

History on the Wall

Posted on August 12, 2015 | Leave a comment

Over the years I’ve had the occasion to purchase and frame art. Early in college it was a poster on a concrete wall in a dorm room. Then it was prints in plastic with plastic frames. I always keep three in my kitchen, the one in plastic is the best, from Stattsgallerie Stuttgart by Hallbrund, who made fans of great works, mine is a Degas. The other two are simply framed, peaches from a Montreal farmers’ market and a NY Times article about funny menus from 1991, a holiday gift.

My first work of real art is hanging in the uniframe it’s been in for 20 years. That needs to be changed. I’ve done a lot of framing and love it. One of my last was a crayon drawing my Aunt sent me saying it needed to be framed. It was a drawing at age five of Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow and the Lion. At age five that was the pinnacle of my artistic works. It’s my husband’s favorite picture.

Of course we have gorgeous quilts courtesy of my M-I-L but I did another for my husband, the Brooklyn Bridge. Then Dad started painting at age 80 and did Tuscan landscapes and Maori art patterns. I’ve also framed my photos of Vermont and Western NY and scattered family.

I must thank K for helping me with the latest batch for a while. She’s a genius with color and frames. I’ve two more to do. Nearly everything is double-matted with 98% glare resistant glass. They are beautifully done and enhance our home.

Today I pick up a simple piece for my father, news of his new award. I think he’ll like it. Cheers, have a great day!  I’ve two dogs to take out. Whoopsie. Dee

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Seems Like Old Times

Posted on July 30, 2015 | Leave a comment

I love that movie with Goldie Hawn, Chevy Chase and Charles Grodin.

This is about something else. I don’t care about the medal, which is very special, but I approve and applaud it being given to a person who cares so much for Chautauqua. My Dad.

In 1978 an older gentleman came up to me on the street and called me by name. I was new but knew his name so said “good morning, sir,” I was young and very shy. He said “I’m not sir.” I said good morning Mr. F and he said “everyone calls me Shorty.” He was a peach and always spoke his mind. He is in my mind and heart forever.

The former editor of the local daily newspaper is also, I’ve heard from excellent sources, a recipient. She was a mentor to me at that time and when I veer, even though she’s gone now she corrects me, as an editor should.

That Dad joins this small neighborhood of honors is a tribute. Now let’s talk about art. Now that I think about it I hope it’s not a death sentence!

Alfreda Irwin, editor, took a photo of a creek I grew up on, catching crayfish and swimming in the pond. I bought it at an auction to benefit Chautauqua in 1982 and it was dated that year. Two years ago I framed it and it is a focal point in our home. I’ve sent a photo of it to her daughter and am leaving it to her.

Dad started painting at age 80. I’ve three of his works, all beautifully framed by me and my framers, of course. His art is also featured in our home.

Chautauqua sticks. I’ve met so many great people there. At its best it is a coalescence of heart and mind and such wonderful things that can be done. Dee

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Liking

Posted on July 1, 2015 | Leave a comment

This is what I like:

“I want to talk about this recipe Friday, my wife would LOVE it!” Signed J., an author.

I love that his wife would enjoy that recipe. I only want to add to pantries and recipe collections. Also politics and rantings about legislative nonsense. That is me and all anyone will get from a happily married woman way away from family.

A few years ago I received a 3/5 card box I made made 40 years ago and kept for mother’s memory. It included a lot of eggplant that I love, especially for Moussaka which it inspired and my husband hates.

There are so many things to love in life, like our dog Zoe wanting to be lifted to the bed because she has no hips. Taking care of them is not a chore, it is a duty, my duty. My duty, my pleasure, my job. I love them so much. Cheers, Dee

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Framing

Posted on May 22, 2015 | Leave a comment

I like to think of challenges as a whole and figure out a way to get there. That is how my husband thinks of his consulting engagements. Framing.

Over the years I have also framed art and look at the colors and matting and frames as a job as well, one that I enjoy. My husband just thinks they’re pictures on our walls but then, his mind doesn’t go there as he’s concerned with other things.

My father took up painting at age 80 and I’ve three of his works, beautifully framed by his eldest child. I’m writing my will and giving these three to my dear brother. He is a framer of art, of ballet, and will care for them when I’m gone.

There are several more to do. An original work from Dad 30 years ago by an art student at a prestigious school. Four works from Dad on seasons that I’d like to do as a large piece if possible. They will go alongside a quilt my m-i-l made in the 70’s that we “framed” into a seasonal quartet.

Framing our lives is something I do every day. It’s not having a light yellow over a slight red with a particular wood frame. It is our lives. They are changing and I hope to frame them well.

Cheers and good morning! Dee

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Dear George Clooney, Director

Posted on April 9, 2015 | 1 comment

Mr. Clooney, I must thank you for making Monuments Men once again. I must be brief because storms have started again and I must make sure our dog feels safe.

I learned things backwards in college as art taught me history (our old dog Zoe just came out to the office to see me during the next round of this incessant storm and I placed her on the sofa). History did not teach me art. History only taught me dates, 1066, Battle of Hastings. When I put things together between my curricula everything started to make sense.

The art of Greece, Romans, Medieval, Renaissance and Reformation plus Impressionists and even Dada-ism, gave me insight into the politics of the day. Yes, I worked in politics for a bit but ended up in arts and consulting.

When your crew, in the film, brought back the Ghent altarpiece that now resides at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, I felt it. Especially so with Michelangelo’s Madonna and Child at the Bruges church. Now it has a different abode, with bulletproof glass and no visitors within 15 feet.

What are we doing to our art now? I consider it ours, the world’s populace, as it is our heritage. At the 1964 World’s Fair where most people think aliens take off near the historic world dome, I saw the Pieta. We only got to go down an escalator into a black room with a white light on this historic work, then go back up on another several feet away.

I will never forget that day, just as I didn’t when JFK was killed. I was five years old and knew I had a passion I’d find someday. Years later I went to St. Peters’ at the Vatican and they, Madonna and the Dead Jesus Christ were there, but protected after the Pieta was shot. I have not been back since that day over 30 years ago.

Sad that we are doing to this art what the Nazis did, they did protect or burn it to keep it from the people who love it. We just have it in museums that don’t allow most people in because of high ticket prices. Perhaps they might see a work their family owned before the War. I’ve traversed the Ponte Vecchio many times as well as Florence’s churches and new bridges, post WWII. I’ve seen what war has done to Europe and Britain and the US. Also floods, think 1966, the rising of the Arno and Cimabue’s Altarpiece.

I believe these soldiers and their compatriots in the art world and not necessarily the Army, deserve credit. Thank you and I must go, the storms have taken up again and it’s only me and the dog tonight so she needs to be taken care of. Dee

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Fr. Murphy and Monuments Men

Posted on April 7, 2015 | Leave a comment

I loved that movie. Why? Because of Fr. John Murphy. It’s not my kind of movie but throw into a pot the producers, director, cast and crew it’s a really tasty stew.

Fr. Murphy taught me art history one and two, and renaissance and reformation. He helped bring together my college life.

When I saw Monuments Men my husband didn’t like it because there probably wasn’t enough pure war in it. I loved it for the art and the love the Monuments Men put into retrieving it for us to see today in museums around the world. And I knew many of the works even though we only saw them for a second.

A fellow student tried to cheat off my test and I said never do it again and I would tutor him, free, to pass the next test. I was smitten by art, not the boy, and will do anything to get into the Uffizi or the Louvre. St. Petersburg awaits my visit. Fr. John showed us slides in a darkened theater. I saw the works come to life as I wrote papers of my own and traipsed the roads and hills of Florence to get to San Miniato al Monte.

I’ve done that pilgrimage several times and always stopped at the church along the way to give money to the lady who tends the feral cats for their food and medicine. I may be a Franciscan in heart and soul and spirit, and hope I will be remembered for that. In practice I fail daily.

My husband, and dog, know that I am not the perfect person they wish me to be, but I do my duties and they have dinner prepared by a good cook. Dog gets great dog food, husband gets my food. He likes it!

Fr. John Murphy has placed a stamp on my life. He helped me grow into the person I am today. I can love art and place it in history. In my mind, he is a Monuments Man. I can only save mankind’s treasures of mind and art by giving them to another generation. That is what Fr. John did for me. That is what I will do for future generations. Thank you, Fathers, as you did not bring me religion, you brought me a way to carry it on. Cheers! Dee

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What’s In a Name?

Posted on March 1, 2015 | Leave a comment

Everything. Ladies, perhaps keep your name and credit and have one joint account. When you book utilities and buy a car or home and get auto, home and umbrella insurance do halfies.

Half his, half hers. This week my auto insurance company made out a check to my husband for repairs. I am on the title and the policy and they could only make it out to my husband or the repair shop, not to me. My husband is 2,000 miles away on business and cannot cash that check so they made it out to the shop.

I just received a notice to my husband alone, even though I am on the bill. It is tiresome. I set up a temporary apartment for my husband because he was coming in two weeks before me for a new job. Months later there were anomalies on bills and I called to check things out. No, you’re not on the account.

He came home tired, at night, and I had to call and stay on hold for an hour and then get a person, tell him who he was and give SSN identification, then give them my name and add me to the account and have him turn the phone over to me to deal with the issue. Once, a utility provider gave our payments to some family in Texas for three months and threatened to cut us off. I needed my husband’s permission to contact them directly.

What’s in a name? I use my husband’s last name. He wished that for our marriage. I placed both names on my bank account and now they will only deal with him. We created two new accounts together, we’re both signators and have access to all accounts. I do the bills and the banking. They’ll only speak with him.

America, what has happened? Not only do we make 2/3 what a man in the same job does at work, we own property but only our husbands are allowed access to address issues with said property. I’m not taking any veil, one of subservience and a mask of myself, or becoming a Nun.

People and businesses, I have worked for years for rights for women and good care for animals. I feel right now more like an animal. I hold title to property and goods and no-one will allow me to do my job as a person, a woman, a wife. What is our country coming to? Dee

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Puzzles

Posted on February 3, 2015 | Leave a comment

My parents always expected me to go to college. I never got to rebel against anything or be bad so I fought the thought of going to college, for a few minutes.

We came up with a deal. Apply jointly, choose, visit with my father, who was a college president, and then decide my future. I chose college, and worked summers to make 1/3 my tuition, that was part of the deal.

It was a Catholic college, even though they said it was not. The first class, a guy walked in wearing a brown robe with ropes around his waist and a crucifix and we all stood and said a “Hail, Mary.” That wasn’t on the potential student tour from the gal who went to public school.

So here’s this 17 year-old, unable to get into bars, thinking she will be alone in the dorm forever making no friends, shy and away from home the first time. I was corralled into classes to meet my requirements, including religion. Philosophy is a different post but that was included as well.

By end of sophomore year I learned to work the system (volunteer in the development office for a couple of years) and got art history. Fr. John, didn’t know him but was interested in art and history and had to take tougher courses so really wanted to do this.

It was exhilarating and all the English, history, science, math, religion, philosophy courses started to coalesce. Why do we learn these disciplines and never put them all together? I was 19 and happy to think I could gain knowledge and not just facts.

Look at art, especially ancient, medieval and renaissance art and it tells you the story of the people. I believe Guttenberg changed the world of religious art because with the first Bible, peasants learned how to read and didn’t have to depend upon what religion told them of stories and beliefs.

Fr. John gave great stories and slides of his travels and expected us to learn history from his lectures. Once in a darkened auditorium setting where Fr. John held class a fellow student tried to cheat off my test. I covered it and after class I told him I’d report him if he ever tried to do that again but I would spend time tutoring him for free, before the next test. He thanked me, and never cheated off my papers again. Perhaps someone else’s….

Years later I studied art on my own in Europe. Pulling together all the disciplines and knowledge was a gift from two priests, unfortunately Fr John passed years ago but I know he keeps sending me to art museums and churches.

After Art History II, I chose Fr John once again for Renaissance and Reformation, a history course. He was an inspirational teacher. To higher education, Dee

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New Old Friends

Posted on May 29, 2014 | 1 comment

A retired engineer came to town to visit his son, our neighbor, from Sweden. When my husband and I stopped by to say farewell yesterday I said that H did things with me that my husband would never do. Eyebrows were raised.

Art! And plants! Get your mind out of the gutter! We went to the art museum and I got to spend an hour in the modern art section (I think I actually jumped up and down when I saw a Giacometti across the room) and we were in sync with the art.

Yesterday was a bit disappointing as we tried one urban garden space that had nothing growing for the cold winter, foreswore another because of cold, wind and rain and finally went to an indoor garden and had a good morning.

They’re on a plane now back to Sweden. When son G returns next door he’s going to teach me to make his Swedish meatballs and I may teach him Texas chili in return.

In the meantime I love to make new friends and especially ones who like to go see the kind of events I love and my husband has no time for. The highlights were their dinner for us, and the modern art at our local museum. All the time I spent with H, even at the grocery store, I thought of my father and how I miss him. The partial deafness made me feel right at home. Cheers! Dee

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Art

Posted on September 20, 2013 | 1 comment

Years ago I framed my own pictures. Of course I was just out of college and making little at my job so I used posters I found on family travels and had them put on foam core and glass cut, and used uniframes. These are plastic clips that tie the glass to the picture on foam core.

After years, the edges start to separate. My husband cut his hand one the other day.

I like to get art framed and enjoy making framing decisions with experts. What I’ve learned in terms of home safety is not to leave sharp glass in any entryway or hallway. I can save some of my Italian madonnas and saints for a far office wall.

If someone is going to brush by raw glass, that’s a negative. Frame it or put it elsewhere. So, I’ve re-done our entry completely. It’s not perfect but it’s a start.

If you look to the right of the front door eyes are on a Tuscan lake, something like the lake we look at every day. Then there’s a painting of an Aboriginal design, very colorful. Both were done by my father, who took up painting at age 80.

Then there’s a crayon picture sent to me by my dear Aunt this year, that I did at age five of Dorothy (little me), the scarecrow, the cowardly lion and the tin man. It’s my husband’s favorite so I framed and hung it but it doesn’t belong there, he wants it in his office.

Is it safe to say I don’t uniframe anymore? I’m concerned in passageways of guests getting hurt by glass. Yes, I usually double-mat and pick a suitable wood or metal frame for anything for keeping for life, plus do a conservation glass that filters out 98% of sunlight.

We also have two lovely family quilts on the walls so I take down the blinds every morning so that they are safe from sunlight as well. Lest you think we’re on a large country estate, we are in a 1,200 sf city apartment with two bedrooms and baths.

For students and newlyweds there are plastic frames with cardboard backing that will work for now. Also glass frames that don’t need matting. I have my best photo in a simple frame with no matting. It is important to me because his mother gave me that frame the day we met. Yes, we met all the parents, then eloped and called them.

M now has a pear tree and a red oak and crape myrtle for Mothers’ Day and needs to know that the five days of interrogation before I married her eldest son were summed up in one poignant moment: she already knew we’d have memories to celebrate so she gave me a picture frame the moment we arrived from the airport. J gave me two dozen roses upon arrival. I think they thought their son was serious about this girl he brought to dinner half a country away.

Of course we had separate rooms. Others had to sleep in the den or on the sofa. M gave me a 100 year-old quilt from her greats and we pieced together one of hers from the ’70’s. In closing I will tell you that I engineered much of this entry way with Dad’s paintings and colors to bring one into the living room with M’s highly colored quilt that we designed to have all the seasons. It is a joy to me and my husband and will always be with us. Memories? Let me know. Dee

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