In Rhodes,
Greece, two
days after 9/11 I was asked by some Greeks if I was going to file for Greek
citizenship. Surprising myself I answered: “Hell no! I am moving to New York.”
After more than 21/2 years on the beautiful Coffee Pot
Bayou this September I will be moving my studio to New York.As much as I would love to live in the City I will live only minutes
away in the loft district of Brooklyn. By the next Studio Update I hope to be
working away in my new studio.
Non-Studio Update:
I went to the wedding of Everest mountaineer Jeff
Rhoads and my dear friend Jennifer Jordan. The service was performed
outside in the breathtaking mountains of Utah.The next night, among their friends, I had
shared a private introduction to Yoga by brilliant teacher, Rolf Gates with a very
modest Everest climber, Charlotte Fox. The service, the people, the party, the
lodgings all made for a profoundly moving experience that I will not soon
forget.
Before that, on the pavements of New
York, I scouted for lofts from Jersey City
to Brooklyn. One of my wonderful hosts and new
friend is the irrepressible erotic rock performer with a serious philosophical
and good-natured bent, Pink Snow.
On the way to a funky bar in the East Village with
another friend Francisco
Villalobos (physical trainer, No-Holds-Bared fighting champ, and he is a
hair’s breath away from his doctorate degree in philosophy) we stopped
by, for curiosity’s sake, at the first place I lived in New York. For fun
I read the roster of inhabitants, and was surprised to see a name I remembered
so well from over 25 years ago, Helga Salvetti. She
is a lovely artist who has carved out a wonderful life in the City. She buzzed
us up and we tried to catch up!
A month ago I met with a good friend from my early
days in Los Angeles,
Chan Luu. While we talked and she
prepared dinner I had a profound “Eureka”
moment inspired by her success as a designer. For over 3 decades of painting I
have concentrated exclusively on what is “inside” the frame. Chan
commented on the importance of adding merchandizing and marketing for a
successful career. Running off with that insight like a bull
in a china shop: I started working with Renu Grover from World Arts Media based in New York.
Immediately I was chosen for Tips and Picks in the NY Arts Magazine. I
revamped www.RomanticRealism.net.
And decided the New York move.