Author Archives: therealtamara

For an opinionated woman such as I, blogging is an excellent outlet. This is one of many fori that I use to bloviate. Enjoy! Comment on my commentary.

Art date

Gallery at America’s Society

What better circumstances under which to view art than in the presence of an artist?

My good fortune is knowing one who was available for what we dubbed “an art date.” Yes, not an overly imaginative moniker, in fact one straight to the point.

My friends who are artists are feminist artists, which is very cool.

Let me introduce you to the artist with whom I had Saturday’s art date.

LisaMaria Maya , whose work is powerfully colorful, assertive, and intricate, is a gentle woman. She exudes warmth and comfort. She creates strength. Her work is bold.

LisaMaria works in mixed media, oil, acryllic. As you can see from her portfolio, the work is valiant and expansive. Enjoy.

Bring home a coloring book that will let you explore your vision through hers. Invite her to make work especially for you or find a piece from her repertoire.

Old Hungary

We are scheduled to meet at 85th and Second. I am early and in need of coffee. The shop next to Budapest where we ultimately go because of its Hungarian bona fides [I wonder which of us needed a connection to our Hungarian roots]; Caroline’s, next door to Budapest has doughnut bona fides, which I don’t try, and very excellent coffee. I sit there to wait. M appears all bustle and hustle but like a calming wind, always gentle.

We take ourselves, my coffee in hand, to sit amidst the beautiful strudel and pastry. We talk. We go to the counter, I ostensibly in search of savory. Spinach strudel feels like a choice from a Greek menu; I am an internationalist. We order a slice of cherry strudel obliquely in honor of my mother. We vow to share but I know I had the lion’s share.

It was a genuinely and deeply lovely lunch, healing, its rhythm that of time spent with a soul mate.

In progress

Weill Cornell Medical, like other big NYC hospital chains, is slowly spreading out all over the neighborhood.

[The building, pictured above, is a planned residence for its doctors in training.]

NYU Langone has a new building towering on 3rd Avenue around 84th. Lenox Hill Hospital is part of Northwell Health which has fanned out all over the UES.

In passing, I noticed that Gracie Square Hospital is affiliated with New York Presbyterian – WCM. That transformation required no new lease or store front rental, just a change in signage.

Pretty soon major hospital groups will gobble up real estate like the branches of banks once did.

They’ll set up branches of their own outside their own balliwicks.

There’s no doubt that we need a robust healthcare network.

I consider NYP-WCM my local shop. I value the service they provide me.

Let’s hope that the proliferation of providers means better access for all New Yorkers.

Controversy

Fewer cars, less noise.

I am frequently annoyed by the sounds of cars and trucks that disrupt my daily walks.

It’s glaringly disruptive to any conversation when horns and mufflers putput past me.

Congestion pricing taxes drivers coming to midtown by car. The goal is to use the fees to support public transportation. It also cuts down on the traffic and the noise it brings.

Gallery views

From upper left Lynn Chadwick (A Pair of Sitting Figures VII); Lucien Freud (Head of an Irishman); Jean-Baptiste Bernadet (Sans titre); John Hoyland, RA (Island Gift)

The art collected here sported both familiar names and some unfamiliar, at least to me.

The styles and subject matter from some of the art world luminaries were often a surprise too.

There was a “painting” actually made of fabric that stilled my breath.

Picasso, Picabia, and Rodin were among the well-known artists represented.

Garish color splashed on one wall and dark metal shapes perched on a beam.

Drawings, the pencil marks reading off the sepia toned paper, are dwarfed by their frames. Alabaster marble is in one corner.

Where did they find this wealth of “Modern Discoveries” to gather for auction? Room upon room of works from private collections or the heir of a painter or sculptor all await your bid.

At Sotheby’s 1334 York Avenue through Thursday, February 2uth.