Well, my last week in New York was a blast. Mauro came for the weekend and we walked through the city with all its Christmas decorations. I love the lighted trees with every branch wound with little white lights. So pretty. The windows were neat, some were a little creepy. Oh and I danced in the Nutcracker and Mauro got to watch the dress rehearsal, pre-show run through and two performances...what a trooper. That was so fun, and a surprisingly large crowd. Then my sister came and we drove out to East Hampton and then all the way to the lighthouse in Montauk. It was a little rainy, but it's worth the trip, especially if the weather is good. I kind of love the beach in bad weather, cold or rainy. It's very contemplative and meditative. The drive was really nice and only maybe an hour and a half. Then, my parents came to help me drive home. We saw The Lion Kind and it was amazing. We went to the Guggenheim, one last time. It was Kandinsky and it was really neat to see all the colors on every floor, like the white rows with splotches of color. It was a great and vast exhibit. I like the way the Guggenheim curates exhibits, they had a lot about his life which I think has a lot of significance for his paintings and drawings. I wish I could have gone to all the museums one last time, but, alas, there is never enough time.
Anyway, I'm home now, that drive is never fun, but well worth it. My thanks to Bill and everyone at ULAE, Marie, Jill, Bruce, Brian, Jason, and of course Frank. It was a blast and I wish I could start over! Thank you!

New York in November is beautiful

There are two bradford pear trees in front of our building, both with firey bodies that seem to both invite and warn outsiders. What a funny place this is. I have a month left in my visit, next week is Thanksgiving and although I'm so glad to be going home, I feel like there is still so much to do! There are exhibits I want to see and museums to revisit, there's just not enough time! So, Next Intern, be warned, even if you're tired of sight-seeing, or you have to paint, or you have other work to do, or feel antisocial, get ye to the museums! To the galleries! Spend every weekend! Even after work! Because pretty soon, you'll only have a month left, and you will come to the sudden and disheartening realization, there is just not enough time.

ULAE took part in the IFPDA print fair and we all went to the opening on Wednesday, Nov 4. http://www.ifpda.org/content/ It was really spectacular. All the other print dealers were there, like PACE and Gemini, and the amount of work was quite overwhelming. I felt like my lowly Intern title was lifted as free wine was served; of course, I couldn't participate in the food (who doesn't have a veggy tray?). Still, it was really neat to be a part of it. And I was, of course, bouncing with giddiness when I showed Mauro our booth on Sunday, pointing out the Terry Winters I helped with (that stone NEVER got dry), the brilliant orange arch by Richard Tuttle, the Lee Bontecou that I wish I had enough money for, and the Jasper Johns we finally got the right paper for. I was proud. :)

I also went with Brian to Hoboken to watch Joe Purdy and that was a blast! It was a really tiny venue, which always makes me happy. And Mr. Joe got trashed on stage, a little frustrating, but mostly funny. The crowd had to help him through a few songs, and we didn't stay for the encore. That's a first for me, I usually stay until they kick me out.

I went to visit galleries yesterday. I went over to Chelsea, up and down 24th and 25th street between 10th and 11th Ave. Go there, Interns. It's where Larissa's gallery is and many, many more. Those first three pictures are Hope Gangloff at the Susan Ingleff Gallery inglettgallery.com

The next guy, I love, not for his skill but for his sarcasm and wit. Olaf Breuning at the Metro Pictures Gallery. The whole show was a mild Vonnegut, life and people are absurd, etc. I enjoyed it. Next is Jane LaFarge Hamill. I'd never heard of her but I really enjoyed the way she handled the figure. Some of the other works were much more sketchy. Then I ran into a Philip Pearlstein exhibit; I was ecstatic! Always been a fan. Then I finally got to the show that was the reason for going out. Eric Fischl at the Mary Boone Gallery. I had never seen any of his paintings in person before. I was very impressed, those paintings have so much life in them, it's hard to breathe, you feel like you might startle them and they'll run away. He makes me depressed and determined at the same time. Maybe one day.

Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving! I can't wait to see my puppy...

Well, quite a bit has happened since the last post but I've probably forgotten half of it. Mauro came so I got to show him the city. We went to see Burn the Floor, which is basically a fusion of ballroom dancing and Broadway. It was really exciting and reminded us both that we're not dancing enough. We went to the top of the Empire State Building a little before sunset and it was beautiful! I can't believe how many buildings they squeezed onto Manhattan. It's really incredible. And watching the city glow orange in the fading light, was romantic and memorable. If only fewer people were there. We went to the beach but it was too cold and windy to swim. Then it was time for him to go back so I took him to the airport and I was alone, again. I met my parents in Philadelphia the next weekend, though, and that was really neat. It's a pretty city but I don't think I'd want to be there at night, not alone anyway. The woman at the train station called me "child" when I asked her which way to go and I felt myself blush. I like how different the people are in different places, I get a kick out of the accents and body language. Maybe I'll make a new series.

Terry Winters came and painted on a stone. That was really fun to watch. We ate sushi at Skidmore and it was an odd feeling being an intern and a sort of hostess at the same time. Kind of conflicting because I sleep there, but I'm not a true host. I hope that makes sense. Bill Jensen also came, wow does he make a lot of work. There isn't a lot for me to do at work but it's still fun. I am still learning a lot from the printer boys and I'm excited for more artists to come.

I had a friend move to Manhattan and she took me to go see Jude Law in Hamlet. I didn't really have any expectations, probably because I had only ever read Hamlet and never seen it performed, and also because it seems like if you're a big name actor, then you play Hamlet, more of a career milestone than anything else. But Jude Law was really fantastic, I found myself hanging on every word. Really a good performance. It's not all modernized, either, it's straight Shakespeare and I like that. I would recommend it.

I went to some galleries on the Upper East Side last weekend and that was a good time. The galleries are sometimes strange, you have to go up to a certain floor and then find your way through office space or buzz for a door that you hope is right. It's very reassuring when you see other people though. Some exhibits were definitely more interesting than others, but overall I enjoyed the experience. There are many more galleries that I hope to see, but as I am currently stuck in bed for the weekend with a sinus infection, we'll shoot for next weekend when my sister will be visiting! While I was gallery hopping, I found this really great bookstore called Rizzoli. It has wood floors, the kind that creak when you shift toward the next book and wooden railed stair cases leading to its three floors. The second floor is filled with beautiful art books, including many featuring ULAE artists, I was please to find, and the third floor has load of Italian books! Which only means I spent too much money. Listening to Italians come in and ask for certain books really made me feel the diversity of the city, when I had only encountered this circumstance in Italy. There were French books as well, and just like that, three languages were being spoken at once, inside this lovely bookstore. It made me feel not so lonely, somehow.

Winter is coming, the leaves are starting to change and it's getting colder. And wetter. I am painting more, but never enough. I am also taking ballet and have been for a month or so. The school is called Lumiere Ballet and everyone there is very friendly and encouraging to the ballroom dancer who tries very hard... I get to dance in the Nutcracker with them and I am very excited. It's nice to have some friends outside of work, as well as having something to do besides work and painting. Well, as I said, my sister is coming next week and I'm so excited to have her. If only she could bring that puppy that I miss so much.

Well, like I said, I know more has happened, but I'll just have to blog more often so I don't forget. TTFN. Ta-ta for now.

Hali Linn's turn

We arrived at Skidmore the 17th of August and it's taken me nearly a month to get to the blog. For this delay, I apologize to the reader. I feel an introduction would be prudent.
My name is Hali Linn; I'm from Bartlesville, Oklahoma, that's about an hour and a half away from OSU; I'm a painter and a sculptor. That's enough. Now you will know who will be writing the blogs this fall.

Helpful hints for the next intern.
Read the blogs. Read all the blogs. (It won't take you that long). Do this and you will be prepared for everything- car options, how to get into the city, quirks about the house, restaurants, ideas about what an intern does at ULAE, etc, etc. So I will spare the next intern the repetition. Although I will say it is helpful to bring a car and a laptop; without these I would never leave the house, except to go into the city. Also, bring a compass. I know it sounds really boyscoutish, but it is really helpful when you're traveling by foot, and in the car, for that matter (my car has a digital compass, aren't I lucky). Also, lunch with the last intern is about as helpful as you can get, thanks Emily!

So far, my experience has been really great here. I like New York and out here on Long Island, I feel like you get the best of both worlds; the big city is close, and you get the small town feel. I love how the towns are so close together. You can start driving and hit town after town, one after the other. There's no space in between. You can't do that in Oklahoma. This makes for interesting bike routes, a great way to find different stores and restaurants, FYI. Oh, and the beaches are just a short drive away, again, not exactly like Oklahoma. Bill and Frank have worked tirelessly to get me a new bed and I say with a grin to the next intern, you should be grateful for their efforts, just as much as the old interns are jealous. Everyone at ULAE is extremely nice and welcoming. Marie is really sweet and helpful. Jill is great too, and has the nicest Long Island accent I've heard. The printers, Bruce, Jason and Brian are really informative, friendly and always in good spirits. Ask them anything. They will oblige. Frank is the handyman, and he likes it that way. Act extra nice around him, and he may smile! And Bill has been really nice as well. He has the authority of a New Yorker, but the nature of an Okie.

Well, I've wandered around the city a few times, first with my family while they were here and then by myself. I have found the greatest vegan restaurant, Soy and Sake on 7th and Bleeker in Greenwich Village. It's very strange though, it has lots of fake meat dishes. While the fact that I can order anything on the menu is thrilling, it is an odd feeling that the menu is full of chicken, pork, beef, shrimp, etc. when I chose not to eat meat in the first place. I didn't do it so I could pretend to eat meat. Anyway, it was delicious. The sake was tasty too.

The museums are fantastic. I have been all over Italy, Paris, London, Chicago, Houston, I've seen so many museums and galleries, but nowhere have I seen such an abundance of art as in New York City. I haven't even seen it all yet and I doubt I will get to! But it's all right here. It is the most amazing opportunity to be here and I am very grateful.

I have learned a lot already and even though the work is a bit slow right now, I am excited to learn more. It's a different kind of work, the studio is a unique one, to say the least. But again, the people are fun and ready to share knowledge.

I was going to go to the Whitney Museum this last weekend, but the death of a close friend in a car accident brought me to San Antonio, Texas instead. I got to spend a little time with my family and hers, which helped, but I am suddenly very aware of my seclusion as I settle back in to Skidmore. Although, it must be said that before I left, this house was a little creepy. The black windows, distant creaks and swaying doors can make you jump. But now that I have come back after a long and painful weekend, the house seems a little more familiar and a little more like home. Next week Mauro, my boyfriend, is coming and I can't wait to show him the city (Little Italy better be ready to impress a hungry Italian), the beaches, work (he will be impressed by all the presses!), and my new found ability to drive in dense traffic. That's all for now.

This was my last weekend in New York. I went to the New York City Public Library and saw the Gutenberg Bible, as well as an exhibit of Art Deco books and posters. The building has lovely ceilings with putti looking down upon the patrons and murals in arched panels by Edward Lanning. The murals were painted during the Works Progress Administration Project and are themed on "The Progression of the Word."

Afterward I went to MOMA for one last visit. Saturday I went on a tour of Carnegie Hall and then went to The Met for one last visit. I saw the Roxy Paine installation in the roof garden. I also wandered around the first floor and came across the Medieval arms room with armor. I did not know that armor had such intricate scroll work in the metal.

I said goodbye to my friends Vermeer, Monet, Renoir, Degas, Miro, Picasso, Van Gogh, and all the rest. I took a walk through Central Park and then took the subway down to Houston Street to eat a corned beef sandwich at Katz Deli.

I love walking through the city and watching all the activity. I will especially miss my walks through New York. What a great time I have had!

This past week end I went to The Closters, located on four acres of woods and gardens, which were in bloom. I believe the pink tree is a weeping cherry. It is on the left as you enter the gardens.

The structure is comprised of five Medieval cloisters from Monastic sites in France. It is full of Medieval artifacts and art like stained glass windows, tapestries, furniture, and even tomb markers. There are two herb gardens in court yards surrounded by arches. The asp on the left is the Romanesque which has the
round arches.

The glass room is full of stain glass and silver stained roundels like this one.









The Cloisters were a bit like walking into another time. It was peaceful and hushed, even though many people were there. It is one of my favorite things I have done while in New York.

This past weekend I went to two exhibits. One was "Brucke: The Birth of Expressionism in Dresden and Berlin, 1905-1913," at the The Neue Gallery. My favorite piece, by Ernst Lugwig Kirchner, is named Portrait of a Woman, 1911. This tiny image represents the painting, but cannot begin to do it justice. This is one thing I have learned. Plates in art books and slides cannot communicate the true image. It may be better than nothing, but I have found that some of the works of art I have seen in books and not particularly enjoyed, I can totally appreciate in person. Portrait of a Woman is good sized, 46 3/8 x 34 5/8 inches. The colors in are vibrant and painted with expressive visible brush strokes. The contrasts between the colors give a vibration that is delightful to the eyes.

The second exhibit was at the Brooklyn Museum of Art. I went to see "Gustave Caillebotte: Impressionist Paintings from Paris to the Sea." My favorite piece in this exhibit was Oarsmen Rowing on the Yerres, 1877. The critics of the time made fun of the painting saying that Caillebotte cut of the man's head. I particularly like the work because of the perspective he used. It was a bit different from other impressionists and gives you the feeling you are riding in the boat with them. I can almost hear the water splashing as the oars lift in and out.

I also saw Judy Chicago's The Dinner Party. The museum website describes it as "a massive ceremonial banquet, arranged on a triangular table with a total of thirty-nine place settings, each commemorating an important woman from history. The settings consist of embroidered runners, gold chalices and utensils, and china-painted porcelain plates with raised central motifs that are based on vulvar and butterfly forms and rendered in styles appropriate to the individual women being honored. The names of another 999 women are inscribed in gold on the white tile floor below the triangular table." Here is another work of art you cannot appreciate until you see it. Each of the thirty nine plates is designed to relate a specific woman and the runner beneath it coordinates. The amount of work put into it is hard to imagine without seeing it and the work is beautiful.

Before I visited the museum I decided the day was too pretty to begin indoors so I walked through the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. It is early and many plants are still hibernating, but trees are budding, daffodils and tulip trees are blooming as well as the Japanese Cherry. There are rose gardens that bloom in June, so maybe the next intern will get to see them.