The music of art

An afternoon with the Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra @ St Ann's Church in Brooklyn - a fabulous end to the week in New York. Caught up with Alex and Gordon after the performance - Alex plays cello in the BSO - we were treated to a performance of Rachmaninoff's Symphony #2 in E Minor ... and "Sojourn" by Eli Greenhoe - quite amazing for a young man who has not yet finished college. A real treat!

Rubbing in New York

An old gate, just down from the apartment - in need of a good rub. Beautiful textures and shapes - on a gate in front of an "empty"block that no one seems to notice.  A tree, some grids and grates ... all "ordinary objects" and easy to overlook, but special mementos of this trip ... can't wait to iron them out tomorrow!

Subway inspiration

I am in love with subway mosaics - as I am sure so many people are- and hadn't realised until today that even within the same station, each number is created differently. Wanted to do some rubbings but it is too busy in the permanent flow of people to access a "quiet" spot ... and I'm not sure if I'd get arrested or not. The Times Square subway is peopled with travellers and mosaics of people travelling ... love them - and the way in which the tiles are shaded to give depth, create shadow and such a sense of movement along the platform. Made my way up to 86th Street after lunch and am heading off to do some urban, above ground rubbings ... while the weather remains perfect and the pavements and tree trunks are willing to give up their marks.

Machiavelli NYC

Went for a walk along Columbus Avenue this morning and came across Machiavelli NYC which is what happens when someone (Nathalie de La Fontaine) with a dream teams up with a blacksmith, a ceramicist, a textile artist, a master glass blower, a painter and woodworker - in short,  a group of outstanding artisans and creates a place for food, reflection and musical appreciation. We were a little too early for Vivaldi  and instead had a scrumptious breakfast of scrambled eggs / omelette's with pancetta and gorgeous leaf tea with lemon.  The drapes / curtains have been hand painted, while Marie Letellier has created each individual piece of dinner wear. Olivier Maranda is the blacksmith who created magical candle holders and furniture to recline in while international solo and chamber musician Thomas Osuga has been charged with presenting a wide range of music and the musicians. Think  Vienna, think Florence and combine it with New York. The musicians are able to share the sounds of their passions with whomever is present in the space - diners, brunchers,  wine drinkers - Machiavelli's has so much appeal and a terrific feel - just great ambience. And BTW - the food was terrific - can't wait to get back there andperhaps try the hand made pasta ...

Textiles @ The Met and Ancient Beads

Spent the morning at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York - looking at a number of textiles in different contexts from my usual experiences of them - textiles that are thousands of years old  - linen (left) used to wrap a body, about 2500BC, and fragments of linen (below) from the same era. Then some beads about the same vintage - and an ancient necklace also some thousands of years old and as beautiful as the day it was finally crafted. The faience necklace elements are made in molds then strung together after being attached to small ring beads. The beads include the shapes of palm fronds, lotus petals, dates, bunches of grapes and cornflowers. Minute and beautiful ..... took me back to Lisa Walton's online beading class except the beads I used then didn't quite have the same ancient appeal!

 

Impressions of Central Park

Have spent much time walking through and around Central Park while in New York. Have really loved the tranquillity it offers and the way the city surrounds it, is present in the space and has a ying and yang relationship with the skyscrapers that threaten to dominate it, but do not. Found the impressionists - bark on a tree. Wondered at the Jackie Onassis Reservoir (again) and took a carriage ride, courtesy of Bob the retired racehorse, at the Artisan's Gate.

Textiles and quilts for breakfast

Started today at "Good Enough To East" restaurant, not far from the apartment and enjoyed the frames embroideries and the old quilt hanging on the wall beside the diners. A very comfy place for me - although no history to be gleaned on the old log cabin - just that it had been in the restaurant for "a long time".  Afterwards it was time to check out the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island which contains the museum that honours the immigrants, all 12 million of them, who were processed through Ellis Island on their quest to become "Americans".  Finally understood carpetbags ...  many times all the possessions a person had in the world were contained in a bag, made from carpet or rugs. A humbling place.