Jonathan ‘Meres One’ Cohen, Hans Von Rittern
Photo of the day: 2 CHOIR BOYZ ARE WE – During our “Whitewash” exhibit Meres and I were given the task to assemble and Ikea choir bench for an artist’s talk we were to give later that evening. Quite proud that we had both assembled it successfully and that it held our weight – we posed like the two little choir boiz we are
.
Two little choir boyz from school are we
Pert as a choir boy can be
Filled to the brim with boyish glee
Two little choir boyz from school are weEverything is a source of fun
Nobody’s safe for we care for none
Life is a joke that’s just begun
Two little choir boyz from the Factory Phun
Two Little choir boyz who all unwary
Come from a boy’s seminary
Free from his genius tutelary
Two little choir boyz from school
Two little choir boyz from school !One little choir boy is the painter handsome
One little choir boy has photos done
Two little boyz in attendance to the art show come
Two little choir boyz from 5 Pointz come
Not under any politician’s thumb
Not liking that Wolkoff scum
nor that Van Bramer bum
Here to make your hood not so glum
Here wishing we had a (paint) gun
LET’S GET THIS DONE !
(With apologies to Gilbert & Sullivan.)
June 12, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: "Three little maids are we", "WHITEWASH", 5 Pointz, 5 Pointz destroyed, 5 Pointz Graffiti Museum, 7 train, arts, Auks, AUKS One, AUKS Thomas Lucero, Brooklyn, celebrities, choir bench, choir boyz, Christian Cortes, Cortes, Experiencing the destruction of 5 Pointz, graffiti, graffiti art, Hans Von Rittern, Hunt Rodriguez, Jeffrey Leder, Jeffrey Leder Gallery, Jerms, Jerry Wolkoff, Jimmy Van Bramer, Jonathan Meres Cohen, Just One, Long Island City, Long Island City Queens, Manhattan, Marie Cecile Flageul, Marie Flageul, Meres, Meres One, Meres One Cohen, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, photography, public art, Queens, See TF, SHIRO, Shiro of Japan, Shoko Mikami, street art museum, the importance of public art discussion, the importance of street art discussion, The Mikado, Thomas Lucero, Topaz, Wolkoff, Zimad | Leave a comment
Mason and Hamlin piano in East River under Brooklyn Bridge
Photo of the day: MUSIC MAKES ME HIGH – ♫♪♪♪♫♫ The ethereal effect of music is to make one feel is if you are floating on air. Listen closely to sounds of the sea or Mozart, are you floating yet?
June 11, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: architecture, Brooklyn, Brooklyn Bridge, dancer and Mason Hamlin piano, dancer leaping on piano, East River, East River beach front view of Brooklyn Bridge, East River view of Brooklyn Bridge, Emmons Hamlin, floating on air, Hans Von Rittern, Henry Mason, low tide east river, Manhattan, Manhattan Bridge, Mason & Hamlin, Mason and Hamlin, Mason and Hamlin piano, Mozart, music makes me high, music makes you float, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, photography, piano at low tide, piano in Atlantic Ocean, piano in East River, piano in water, piano on Manhattan beach, piano under Brooklyn Bridge, pilgrims of Mayflower, Sequoia Restaurant, sounds of the sea, South Street Seaport's Pier 17 | Leave a comment
#7 train, Court Street Station
Photo of the day: THE PHONE CALL – “I love you not only who you are but for who I am when I am with you, and words can not express how much I love you and care about you. I hope that you will never forget how much you mean to me & love. But I can’t keep going on knowing that you don’t feel the same way about me. If you love me let me know, if you don’t let me go, oh and…we need a pound of potatoes, oregano, chives and bean dip.”
June 10, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 7 train, 7 train local, cell phone chatter, cell phone user on subway, Court Street Station, Hans Von Rittern, love talk on cell phone, Manhattan, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, photography, Queens, subway, subway window, Sunnyside, transportation | Leave a comment
South Street Seaport’s Pier 17 as you see it has been torn down, one of the 100 year old German ships The Peking will be scapped – along with it…any atmosphere that bespeaks the sea. The old buildings are boarded up and ruined from hurricane Sandy and no one has the money to repair them. What will replace it? A shiney big glass box and super high rise. It is an utter destruction and wipe out of New York City’s grand seafaring history.
June 10, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: architecture, arts, destruction of New York history, destruction of South Street Seaport, German ship The Peking, Hans Von Rittern, Hurricane Sandy, Manhattan, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, photography, Pier 17, South Street Seaport, South Street Seaport's Pier 17 | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: THE CYCLE OF ART AT 5 POINTZ – Come see the magnificent art work for these last two days and celebrate with us that life and art always prevail. Artists and writers will be on the scene.
If you would like to see more expressions by great artists on canvas and in photographs (mine included) from today till this final weekend – come to the Jeffrey Leder Gallery this weekend and view the brilliant art by artists: Auks, Cortes, Hans Von Rittern, Jerms, Just One, Meres One, Poem, Shiro, See TF, Topaz, Zimad, all brilliantly curated by Marie Cecile Flageul! A catalog is available for sale as is all the art.
The Jeffrey Leder Gallery: 2137 45th Road, L.I.C.
#7/G subway stop. One block away from 5 Pointz and PS1 Moma. Admission is free, open Saturday: 12-8pm. Artists will be present from 5-7 today!
Sunday: 12-6
June 7, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: "WHITEWASH", 5 Pointz, 5 Pointz destroyed, 5 Pointz documentary, 5 Pointz Graffiti Museum, 7 train, arts, Auks, AUKS One, AUKS Thomas Lucero, Brooklyn, celebrities, Christian Cortes, Cortes, Court Street subway stop #7 G, Court Street subway stop 7 G train, Experiencing the destruction of 5 Pointz, graffiti, graffiti art, Hans Von Rittern, Hunt Rodriguez, Jeffrey Leder, Jeffrey Leder Gallery, Jeffrey Leder Gallery 2137 45th Rd. Long Island City, Jerms, Jonathan Meres Cohen, Just One, Long Island City, Long Island City Queens, Manhattan, Marie Cecile Flageul, Marie Flageul, Meres, Meres One, Meres One Cohen, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, photography, public art, Queens, See TF, SHIRO, Shiro of Japan, Shoko Mikami, street art museum, the importance of public art discussion, the importance of street art discussion, Thomas Lucero, Topaz, Wolkoff, Zimad | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: ART IS TRA$H – This art work by street artist Francisco de Pájaro was discovered on a mattress late at night at 5 Pointz Graffiti and Street Art Museum which is now destroyed. So, the art at 5 Pointz is now sadly trashed. Or, is it we as society that are the trash? Come see the ‘Whitewash” exhibit at the Jeffrey Leder Gallery in it’s last days till June 8! Closing party Saurday June 7: 12 -8. LEDER GALLERY: 2137 45th Road, L.I.C.
#7/G subway stop. One block away from 5 Pointz and PS1 Moma. Admission is free
Here is an excerpt from an interview on Francisco de Pájaro from the blog: ‘Street Art Mecca’: “Francisco speaks about the absurdity in society, our hideous selfishness, our capacity for self destruction and our ridiculous behaviour towards weaknesses. Pajaro’s “Art is Trash” speaks directly at you and says “you are the art, the lie and the trash of society”, and we love him for it. I realised in hindsight that he is just as wonderfully satirical and humorous in conversation as his art is on the street. He sees society with the stark reality you find in many great artists. He points out our imperfections and makes us laugh at them. He converts our waste into grotesque reminders about who we are and what we do. His style of art might be named naive if it wasn’t so harsh to look at. The gallery is on the street, among our discarded belongings that we so often like to ignore.
On previous mini filming excursions with Pajaro I noted that the artwork doesn’t last long on the streets. In
Barcelona there are specific nights when people can put any type of trash on the streets. Each neighbourhood has it’s own day and we met in Gracia on a Tuesday. It doesn’t take long to find an attractive pile of crap and he gets to work. The street is dark and desolate and there’s only Pakistani immigrants competing for recyclables. They stop and watch the performance. One couple walk past and recognise him from “that documentary”. On a different occasion I’ve seen people take some of the art as soon as we leave. “It’s a Barcelona thing” says one neighbour, as he takes a mini monster sculptor back into his house.
Each piece is unique. Each piece is improvised on the street, in the moment. Each piece has the shortest of life spans, much shorter than other types of street art. Each piece interacts with the environment and creates a new perspective. There’s no catch, it’s pure street art. It’s rebellious and punk. The motivation is sincere also, to communicate with everyone. To make you think, to make you smile or laugh. To bring something new to the routine of everyday life. There’s nothing on sale, no money is involved.
Art is Tra$h: Nobody can put me down.
How true that is…..
June 6, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: "WHITEWASH", 'Street Art Mecca' blog, 5 Pointz, 5 Pointz destroyed, 5 Pointz Graffiti Museum, 7 train, ART IS TRA$H, ART IS TRASH, arts, Auks, AUKS One, AUKS Thomas Lucero, Barcelona Spain art scene, Brooklyn, celebrities, Christian Cortes, Cortes, Court Street subway stop #7 G, Court Street subway stop 7 G train, depajaro blogspot, Experiencing the destruction of 5 Pointz, Francisco de Pájaro, garbage made in to art, graffiti, graffiti art, Hans Von Rittern, Hunt Rodriguez, Jeffrey Leder, Jeffrey Leder Gallery, Jeffrey Leder Gallery 2137 45th Rd. Long Island City, Jerms, Jonathan Meres Cohen, Just One, Long Island City, Long Island City Queens, Manhattan, Marie Cecile Flageul, Marie Flageul, mattress as art, Meres, Meres One, Meres One Cohen, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, photography, public art, Queens, See TF, SHIRO, Shiro of Japan, Shoko Mikami, street art museum, the importance of public art discussion, the importance of street art discussion, Thomas Lucero, Topaz, Wolkoff, Zimad | Leave a comment
“Cathedral Light”
Photo of the day: COME SEE THE LIGHT – The Cathedral-like light of what once was 5 Pointz can be in seen in one of my many photographs at our current ‘Whitewash’ exhibit ending this Sunday June 8. Closing party to beheld this Saturday from noon till 8pm, please join me and my friends!
If you would like to see more expressions by great artists on canvas and in photographs (mine included) from today till this final weekend – come to the Jeffrey Leder Gallery this weekend and view the brilliant art by artists: Auks, Cortes, Hans Von Rittern, Jerms, Just One, Meres One, Poem, Shiro, See TF, Topaz, Zimad, all brilliantly curated by Marie Cecile Flageul! A catalog is available for sale as is all the art.
The Jeffrey Leder Gallery: 2137 45th Road, L.I.C.
#7/G subway stop. One block away from 5 Pointz and PS1 Moma. Admission is free, open 12-6.
Leder Gallery:
http://www.jeffreyledergallery.com/whitewash.php
June 5, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: "WHITEWASH", 5 Pointz, 5 Pointz destroyed, 5 Pointz Graffiti Museum, 7 train, arts, Auks, AUKS One, AUKS Thomas Lucero, Brooklyn, celebrities, Christian Cortes, Cortes, Court Street subway stop #7 G, Court Street subway stop 7 G train, Experiencing the destruction of 5 Pointz, graffiti, graffiti art, Hans Von Rittern, Hunt Rodriguez, Jeffrey Leder, Jeffrey Leder Gallery, Jeffrey Leder Gallery 2137 45th Rd. Long Island City, Jerms, Jonathan Meres Cohen, Just One, Long Island City, Long Island City Queens, Manhattan, Marie Cecile Flageul, Marie Flageul, Meres, Meres One, Meres One Cohen, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, photography, public art, Queens, See TF, SHIRO, Shiro of Japan, Shoko Mikami, street art museum, the importance of public art discussion, the importance of street art discussion, Thomas Lucero, Topaz, Wolkoff, Zimad | Leave a comment
125th Street, Harlem, 9am
Photo of the day: EARLY SUNDAY MORNING IN HARLEM – 125th Street, 9am. This church usherette in her nurses uniform ignores the sinful life of late night Harlem night clubbing portrayed by the great Harlem muralist Franco (Gaskin) the Great as she heads to volunteer at her local Baptist church. It has been a long standing tradition to have nurses serve as usherettes in gospel services just in case one of God’s flock feels the spirit to such a height that they may pass out and faint. Many of my European guests have been bemused by the sight of a nurse greeting you at a church’s entrance, kindly and warmly with a smile. “God bless this Sunday morning, right this way..”
“…I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God….” – Psalms 84: l0b
“Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” Benjamin Franklin
June 4, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 125th Street, 125th Street Harlem, 1920's Harlem mural nightcllubbing, arts, Baptist church, Benjamin Franklin, church nurse and street art, Franco Gaskin, Franco the Great, Hans Von Rittern, Harlem, Harlem 125th Street murals, Harlem gospel tours, Manhattan, New York City, New York photo, nurse tradition in Baptist churches, nurse usherettes, nurse volunteer usherettes Baptist churches, nurses uniform, Photo of the day, photography, Psalms 84: l0b, street art | Leave a comment
The shores of the East River, under the Brooklyn Bridge.
Photo of the day: “LEFT OUT TO DRY” – The tide recedes and leaves behind the treasures and also ravages of time. It takes, carves and creates new shapes for us to enjoy.
June 3, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: Brooklyn, Brooklyn Bridge, driftwood, East River, ebbtide, Hans Von Rittern, low tide east river, Manhattan, Manhattan Bridge, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, photography, ruins in East River, seaweed | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: EBB TIDE CONCERTO – The most talked about piano in New York is not Billy Joel’s, Liberace’s or Elton John’s – it’s the old Mason and Hamlin piano that mysteriously appeared on the East River shore of the Brooklyn Bridge sometime last week. At high tide the piano is almost completely submerged, at low tide it has become quite a tourist and photographer’s attraction. Who knew something so simple, old and decrepit could cause so much fun?!
Mason & Hamlin was founded by Henry Mason who was a direct descendent of the pilgrims of the Mayflower – so it is somewhat cyclical that this piano winds up in the Atlantic Ocean. There are three main theories as to how this heavy baby grand piano landed in the river: 1) It was used for a photo shoot and was just too heavy and old to remove afterwards. 2) It was a garbage dump since some locals claim they say it tossed on it’s side just by the river walkway’s gate. 3) My friend Marie Flageul has the best theory as to it’s origin. She is convinced it is the piano from the Sequoia Restaurant that was part of South Street Seaport’s Pier 17 that is now disgracefully and disrespectfully being torn down. It could not have been snatched from the dumpsters since they are all guarded behind closed gates, so . . . was it construction workers in a humorous mood?
We will never know. Both the Sanitation Department, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Parks Department all claim it is not their jurisdiction. The curiosity now remains how long it will take for the Atlantic ocean to claim it’s serenade to sea.
“Ebb Tide”
First the tide rushes in
Plants a kiss on the shore
Then rolls out to sea
And the sea is very still once more
So I rush to your side
Like the oncoming tide
With one burning thought
Will your arms open wide
At last we’re face to face
And as we kiss through an embrace
I can tell, I can feel
You are love, you are real
Really mine
In the rain, in the dark, in the sun
Like the tide at its ebb
I’m at peace in the web
Of your arms
In 1854, two brilliant idealists, Henry Mason and Emmons Hamlin, founded the Mason & Hamlin Company in Boston, Massachusetts, the birthplace of American piano design and manufacturing. Although their backgrounds and interests were very different, the two men shared a common goal: to make the world’s finest musical instruments.
Henry Mason was a member of one of America’s oldest families—they were actually descendents of pilgrims who arrived on the Mayflower. The Masons were renowned for their involvement in the arts. Henry Mason was a pianist and his brother, William, was one of America’s foremost classical pianists and composers.
Their father was the famous composer and educator Lowell Mason, a visionary who was the first to bring music into the public schools of America. He was also known throughout the world as a composer and publisher of hymns, and is often called the “father of American church music.” Henry Mason shared his father’s lifelong dedication to music.
Emmons Hamlin was not a musician, but instead a brilliant mechanic and inventor. While working at the melodeon factory of George A. Price and Company of Buffalo, Hamlin invented a way to voice organ reeds, so that they could imitate the sound of a clarinet, violin or other musical instruments.
Hamlin developed his discovery to perfection, and in 1854, he and Henry Mason formed their company for the purpose of manufacturing a new musical instrument that they called the “organ harmonium.”
June 2, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: architecture, Brooklyn, Brooklyn Bridge, Coors beer, East River, East River beach front view of Brooklyn Bridge, East River view of Brooklyn Bridge, Ebb Tide lyrics, Emmons Hamlin, Frank Chacksfield "Ebb Tide", Hans Von Rittern, Henry Mason, low tide east river, Manhattan, Manhattan Bridge, Marie Flageul, Mason & Hamlin, Mason and Hamlin, Mason and Hamlin piano, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, photography, piano at low tide, piano in Atlantic Ocean, piano in East River, piano in water, piano on Manhattan beach, piano under Brooklyn Bridge, pilgrims of Mayflower, Sequoia Restaurant, South Street Seaport's Pier 17 | 3 Comments
Photo of the day: ‘EMPTY’ BY HANS VON RITTERN – Don’t let June pass you by with that “Empty” feeling. Only 9 more days to see our ‘Whitewash” exhibit!
This photo is one of my 16 photos on display and has already been sold to one of the men in the photo. The photo was taken the day of the whitewash, I noticed these two guys where just standing there for at least a half an hour, silent, motionless – just dumbstruck by the vandalistic act. The title ‘Empty’ says it all, how we felt, they felt and we all still feel to this day.
If you would like to see more expressions by great graffiti and street art artists on canvas and in photographs (mine included) this weekend – come to the Jeffrey Leder Gallery this weekend and view the brilliant art by artists: Auks, Cortes, Hans Von Rittern, Jerms, Just One, Meres One, Poem, Shiro, See TF, Topaz, Zimad, all brilliantly curated by
Marie Cecile Flageul!
The Jeffrey Leder Gallery: 2137 45th Road, L.I.C.
#G subway stop to Court Square. #7 train is not running this weekend but shuttle service is available from #N/Q trains at Queensboro Plaza. One block away from 5 Pointz and PS1 Moma. Admission is free, open 12-6.
Leder Gallery: http://www.jeffreyledergallery.com/whitewash.php
May 30, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: "WHITEWASH", 5 Pointz, 5 Pointz destroyed, 5 Pointz Graffiti Museum, 7 train, arts, Auks, AUKS One, AUKS Thomas Lucero, Brooklyn, celebrities, Christian Cortes, Cortes, Court Street subway stop #7 G, Court Street subway stop 7 G train, Experiencing the destruction of 5 Pointz, graffiti, graffiti art, Hans Von Rittern, Hunt Rodriguez, Jeffrey Leder, Jeffrey Leder Gallery, Jeffrey Leder Gallery 2137 45th Rd. Long Island City, Jerms, Jonathan Meres Cohen, Just One, Long Island City, Long Island City Queens, Manhattan, Marie Cecile Flageul, Marie Flageul, Meres, Meres One, Meres One Cohen, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, photography, public art, Queens, See TF, SHIRO, Shiro of Japan, Shoko Mikami, street art museum, the importance of public art discussion, the importance of street art discussion, Thomas Lucero, Topaz, Wolkoff, Zimad | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: LET’S GO RANGERS ! ! ! !
May 30, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 42nd Street, Broadway, GO RANGERS, Hans Von Rittern, Manhattan, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, photography, Rangers fans celebrating on double decker bus in New York City, Rangers fans in Times Square, Rangers hockey finals, Rangers Hockey Team, Rangers Hockey Team 2014, sports, Times Square | 1 Comment
Photo of the day: DEBBIE HARRY, CHRIS STEIN, BLONDIE, EARTHA KITT AND HANS – 35 YEARS LATER – or “How a Russian, an old concert ticket and Eartha Kitt got me to meet Blondie” – Last night one of music’s most influential and iconic duo, Chris Stein & Debbie Harry of “Blondie” gave a very rare 90 minute audience participation interview about their lives and the formation of “Blondie” the new wave group that we all know. All you need to hear is Debbie’s “oooohh oh oh-oh” from “Heart of Glass” and you recognize it instantly. The venue – The 92nd Street ‘Y’.
I brought with me my 1979 Blondie concert tickets from Asbury Park’s Convention Hall for the then expensive price of $8.50. ‘The Laughing Dogs’ opened for them. On the day of the concert my friend Susan and I begged the promoters not to tear our tickets so as to preserve them and they obliged! In today’s times that would never happen. So, I showed up at the ‘Y’ stage door last night at 5:30 for the 8:00 show. The Ebayers all started showing up. “She doesn’t like to pose with people.” OK, I thought, a photo is out, autograph is the main goal then.
One of the security guards saw that I had a very rare French 12″LP of ‘Sunday Girl’ with me and was eager to see it. He winds up showing me his record collection on his iPhone, proudly exclaiming he knew all the songs on his records and that they are in mint condition. “Do you have this one?!” “Remember that one?” The last one he showed me was Eartha Kitt’s first lp “That Bad Eartha”, I told him that I had been friends with her and the stories she had told me of making that first album, well…that sealed the deal. “Come back after the show,” he said.
At 7:20 a black town car pulled up and she emerged. Hair in curlers, radiant as can be. Rushed right in. Her driver told me she was exhausted, fighting a cold and was unnerved that she did not know who the interviewer was.
A few moments later Chris Stein pulled up willing to sign a few autographs. The Ebayers pressed forward. The ‘record collector’ security guard made room for me. I showed Chris my 1979 concert tickets and he laughed and said ‘you deserve an autograph after all this time!’. In he went.
Debbie’s driver and I wound up being all alone at the stage door and he started to tell me about his life. He is a Russian scientist who immigrated here in 1989, became a Wall Street trader but lost it all in the stock market crash. He decided to take his knowledge and educate his daughter on the principles of science and economics. She is now graduating with a Masters Degree in physics. We spoke of politics, America’s influence on music, only to discover he sold his piano and bought and electric guitar and knows the riffs to all the hard core rock bands of the 60’s and 70’s and starting playing air guitar for me – Blondie’s chauffeur is playing air guitar for me – surreal !
The interview was conducted by Anthony DeCurtis, co-author of Clive Davis’ autobiography. Chris in his white hair, all black suit and boots, wearing blackout shades he evoked the 1980’s all over again. Debbie looked stunningly radiant. Her now coifed hair had transformed her into a luminescent modern day Marilyn Monroe, same color, same tossed soft curls. She was dressed in a white cotton blouse with parachute style yellow shawl, tuxedo pants and combat boots. Total Blondie.
Speaking of clothes, they explained their original look came from the thrift shops of New York in the early 70’s. “Disco was big lapels, bright colors and we wanted to be the antithesis – the early Beatles black suits with the narrow lapels, secondly also because that shit was the cheapest in the stores and nobody wanted it, now it’s all gone. No one looked like us, we would get stared at in the street in those days.” Debbie laughed.
Debbie’s voice actually has a Marilyn quality, soft spoken, she takes a moment to think before she speaks, and just answers the question, short and to the point yet often reflective. When asked about being the first breakthrough rap recording artist (who happens to be a white female) with the song “Rapture” (the man from Mars is eating cars!) and how did it come about she explained, “I didn’t know the word ‘reggae’ but Chris heard there was this festival going on up in Harlem and we went. I loved that the music and that it had a message, told a story and so connected with the people, I loved the rhythm. We basically stole/copied their style…the rest is history.”
But their influences came from the opposite direction as well, “Dreaming”/(Eat to the Beat) is blatantly lifted from Abba “not enough so I could get sued” chuckled Chris. Debbie said, “yeah I listened to them, but I could never get past that polka-like sound that crept into their music.” She grinned and laughed.
When Debbie laughs or reflects she leans back and pulls her hand through that platinum ‘Marilyn’ hair and as the evening progressed and as the hair became more tossed – she morphed more and more into a 68 year old radiant Blondie/Marilyn.
When asked what rock group from the CBGB era to you feel should have been more recognized, Chris instantly and angrily said “The Ramones, I mean come on, their were fucking brilliant, they should be up there today with the Beatles and The Stones!” What was so great about CBGB’S? Debbie answered: “No one watched you, we just did shit, if we fucked up it didn’t matter and that’s how we evolved, we were not under a microscope.”
How does she feel about being such a music icon? Was she harassed? “It felt great. We weren’t thinking of the future, we were just in the moment. I mean I did wind up becoming a feminist mainly because of Billie Holiday and Janis Joplin. I wanted to get even for those ladies, I felt so sorry for them. ‘Here world take this!’ and here’s to you Billie and Janis. I was never harassed because I was with Chris, the band didn’t lay their hands on me because I was ‘Chris’s girl’. At one point though it did become us versus them, but we got past that.” On meeting Warhol: “We met in passing at Studio 54 and became friends. He was determined to photograph me in 1979, he did my hair for the shoot! He used to shoot with these crappy Polaroid cameras, I mean like the oldest archaic models, so we used to look for them in thrift stores as we toured and would give them to him,” said Debbie. That happened to be the 1979 poster advertising the Warhol Blondie issue that I had brought with me to be signed.
They have just released a new double VINYL lp with re-recorded classic hits as well as 12 new songs. The double albums has two titles “Blondie 4(0) Ever/Ghosts of Download.” Sadly they did not have a signing afterwards. They plan to tour “with festivals” in Europe later this year and tour in the USA in 2015! Chris Stein’s book of awesome photography will go on sale in August. Many of the photos were shown in a slide presentation and they both humorously reminisced about the ‘old times’. Audience questions were taken during the last 20 minutes and were very insightful.
At the show’s end I ran to the stage door already besieged with Ebayers and fans. Luckily the her driver and the security guard placed me near her car door. As Debbie noticed the Ebayers had pressed forward she didn’t want to sign anymore but her driver and the guard steered her towards me and both the guard and I said simultaneously “He’s/I’m not an Ebayer!”. Debbie looked, warmly smiled at me, squeezed my hand and signed her full name unlike the initials she had dome for the others. I floated on an ‘Atomic’ cloud all the way home. Here is my incredibly awesome rare signed treasure above – 35 years later!!
BLONDIE 1979 Village Voice ad
May 29, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: "Dreaming"/(Eat to the Beat), "Heart of Glass", "Rapture", 'The Laughing Dogs, 1979, 92nd Street "Y", Abba, Andy Warhol, Anthony DeCurtis, Asbury Park's Convention Hall, Blondi rare interview, Blondie, Blondie and reggae, Blondie Ticketron 1979 tickets, CBGB's, celebrities, Chris Stein, Debbie Harry, Debbie Harry on Billie Holiday and Janis Joplin, Dreaming" Blondie is copy of Abba, Eartha Kitt, entertainment, first mainstream rap song, Hans Von Rittern, how the, how the Blondie look evolved, Janis Joplin, Manhattan, Marilyn Monroe, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, photography, Richard Bernstein, Studio 54, The Ramones, Warhol Blondie, Warhol photographing Debbie Harry, Warhol's Interview | 4 Comments
Photo of the day: PHOTOGRAPHING THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING – Someone always has a different view.
(My 14 German Memorial Day guests.)
May 28, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: a different photographer's view, Empire State Building, German tourists explore New York, Go West Tours, Hans Von Rittern, Manhattan, Marco Polo Tours, New York City, New York photo, NYC tourism, Photo of the day, photographing New York City, photography | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: BEACH SEASON IS OFFICIALLY OPEN! – Coney Island, your life is “guarded.” 
May 27, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: beach season opens, Brooklyn, Coney Island beach, Hans Von Rittern, hunky lifeguard, lifeguard watching beach, Lifeguards on duty, Manhattan, Memorial Day, muscular lifeguard, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, photography | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: THE WORLD WAR II VET – In 2012 I spotted this old veteran outside Penn Station. He had the most determined walk and I loved his unique flair, so I followed him with my camera till he eventually got lost inside the cavernous train station. I approached him to ask if he needed help, he kept telling me he wanted to go to Central Ave in South Orange, New Jersey. So we looked for the train together. Everything about him touched my heart. His tattered clothes, the scraps of cloth he had tied as kerchiefs, he hadn’t shaved very evenly, his inside-out t-shirt and his perfectly tilted beret which was absolutely covered in (his favorite) cat hair, but his medals were perfectly polished and cared for. I just fell in love with him. He told me he is a lecturer on wars, esp. WWII in which he served. He was very spry, I believe he was at least 85 years old yet still filled with such gentille determination. We reached the Jersey bound train platform but no personnel in Penn Station knew of the address he wanted to go to, but I luckily found a kindly conductor who promised me he would look after our vet. I finally helped him get on the train and off we went, each our separate ways. . .
May 26, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 85 year old WWII veteran, Central Ave in South Orange, Hans Von Rittern, Memorial Day 2014, Memorial day memories, New York City, New York photo, old World War II veteran, Pennsylvania (Penn) Train Station, Photo of the day, photography, South Orange - New Jersey, subway, transportation, Veterans Day | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: NEVER FORGET – Never let this glory fade. Happy Memorial Day.
May 25, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: American flag forgotten in woods, Bronx, Brooklyn, burried American flag, faded glory flag, Hans Von Rittern, Happy Memorial Day, Manhattan, never forget our flag, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, photography, Queens, Staten Island, USA flag in garden | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: FROZEN by SHIRO, 5 POINTZ WHITEWASH EXHIBIT THIS WEEKEND – One of the most beloved 5 Pointz artists is Shiro of Japan. I am delighted to also call her a friend. Two of the most iconic figures that represent 5 Pointz to this day are Meres One’s iconic light bulbs and Shiro’s Japan girls. For our current Whitewash exhibit, artists decided to represent their feelings in one of two ways – either to express their feeling through expressive paintings or to simply recreate one of their 5 Pointz murals. Shiro aka Shoko Mikami has decided to do both in recreating some of her iconic Japan-anime figures. The only thing now different is they are frozen and violated, the mermaid has been caught and chained, the geisha girl has been raped and the nurse has been poisoned. This is how most of us feel about the destruction of this iconic place.
If you would like to see more expressions by great artists on canvas and in photographs (mine included) this weekend – come to the Jeffrey Leder Gallery this weekend and view the brilliant art by artists: Auks, Cortes, Hans Von Rittern, Jerms, Just One, Meres One, Poem, Shiro, See TF, Topaz, Zimad, all brilliantly curated by Marie Cecile Flageul!
The Jeffrey Leder Gallery: 2137 45th Road, L.I.C. #7/G subway stop. One block away from 5 Pointz and PS1 Moma. Admission is free, open 12-6.
Leder Gallery: http://www.jeffreyledergallery.com/whitewash.php
SHIRO has been expressing her own vision of the world and for life through her original characters. Her colorful artwork is a reflection of her love for true graffiti and hip-hop. Over the years she has been touched by the essence & soul of hip-hop culture and old school graffiti styles. Her devotion to graffiti art afforded her the opportunity to work with many great graffiti artists. She decided to stay in NY and develop her talent as an artist. From 2002 to 2004, she lived in Brooklyn and Queens, and could be found painting in the city on a regular basis. Today she lives part time in Brooklyn and hopes to stay in NYC permanently one day. She has performed in various live painting events, participated in international gallery art shows and been a part of graffiti crew gatherings in the world. She also participated in community awareness murals and other large-scale graffiti projects all over New York City and Japan. In Japan, Shiro has worked with people in the hip-hop industry, organizing graffiti shows and live painting events in her hometown of Shizuoka and participating in painting events in surrounding areas. In addition to her murals, she has worked on canvases, illustrations, and has designed and produced original theater stage decorations. She happens to work as a nurse in a hospital, caring for people who need assistance in critical parts of their lives. Through her work within the medical field, she witnessed many dramas which motivate and stimulate her. With these experiences which strengthen and broaden her perspectives on life, she continues to express this message through her artwork: “We exist RIGHT NOW, RIGHT HERE!”
May 24, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: "WHITEWASH", 5 Pointz, 5 Pointz destroyed, 5 Pointz Graffiti Museum, 7 train, arts, Auks, AUKS One, AUKS Thomas Lucero, Brooklyn, celebrities, Christian Cortes, Cortes, Court Street subway stop #7 G, Court Street subway stop 7 G train, Experiencing the destruction of 5 Pointz, graffiti, graffiti art, Hans Von Rittern, Hunt Rodriguez, Jeffrey Leder, Jeffrey Leder Gallery, Jeffrey Leder Gallery 2137 45th Rd. Long Island City, Jerms, Jonathan Meres Cohen, Just One, Long Island City, Long Island City Queens, Manhattan, Marie Cecile Flageul, Marie Flageul, Meres, Meres One, Meres One Cohen, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, photography, public art, Queens, See TF, SHIRO, Shiro of Japan, Shoko Mikami, street art museum, the importance of public art discussion, the importance of street art discussion, Thomas Lucero, Topaz, Wolkoff, Zimad | Leave a comment
Postcard story from New York – “MEMORIAL DAY 1931 ~ THIS IN MEMORY OF OUR FOLKS WHO HAVE GONE AHEAD”
Endwell, New York, June 1, 1:00pm, 1931
Woolworth and Municipal Bldgs. from Brooklyn Bridge, New York.
To: Mrs. H. A. Knapp
Waverly
Pa.
“Memorial Day 1931 This in Memory of our Folks who have gone ahead. How sweet to think of them! The day’s Celebration here has been a trail of planes from the Endicott landing place. Sure “Love can never lose it’s own.” H.K.__”
The card is addressed to Mrs. Henry Alonzo Knapp, actual name Anna Dutilleul (b.1870, d.1954.)
Her husband Henry A. Knapp (b.1851, d. 1931 the year this card was written) started as a filing clerk in Pennsylvania and rose to become a prominent lawyer who, in 1899, established the borough of Vandling in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, Vandling has a population of 751.
The ‘Endicott landing-place’ refers to a landing strip that was to become the Tri-Cities Endicott Airport, established in 1936.
The poetic quote: “Love can never lose it’s own” is from a poem entitled “Snowbound/Firelight” by influential American Quaker poet John Greenleaf Whittier.
“…Yet Love will dream, and Faith will trust,
(Since He who knows our need is just,)
That somehow, somewhere, meet we must.
Alas for him who never sees
The stars shine through his cypress-trees!
Who, hopeless, lays his dead away,
Nor looks to see the breaking day
Across the mournful marbles play!
Who hath not learned, in hours of faith,
The truth to flesh and sense unknown,
That Life is ever lord of Death,
And Love can never lose its own!”
To read the full fitting Memorial day poem “Snowbound” click: http://www.bartleby.com/248/222.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow-Bound
May 23, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: "And Love can never lose its own!”, 1931, 1931 postcard, 1936, American Quaker poet John Greenleaf Whittier, Anna Dutilleul, antique Manhattan postcard, architecture, “Snowbound/Firelight”, Brooklyn Bridge, collecting postcards, Endicott landing-place, Endwell, Hans Von Rittern, Henry A. Knapp, Henry Alonzo Knapp, Manhattan, Memorial Day, Memorial Day 1931, Memorial day memories, Memorial day remembered, Mrs. H. A. Knapp, Mrs. Henry Alonzo Knapp, New York, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, photography, Poem, poetry, Postcard Stories from New York, Tri-Cities Endicott Airport, Vandling in Lackawanna County Pennsylvania, Vandling Pennsylvania, vintage Brooklyn Bridge postcard, vintage New York postcard, vintage NYC postcard, vintage postcard, Waverly PA, Woolworth Building, Woolworth postcard, Woolworth tower | Leave a comment
1968 Celestial Arts, Robert Lewis
Photo of the day: SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS ARE COLORED – I just scored this brilliant vintage 1968 blacklight poster by artist Robert Lewis on Ebay! The poster was produced by Celestial Arts, P.O. Box 1594, San Francisco, CA 94101. Poster #CA27, printed in the USA by Orbit. As a poster collector, this is now one of my favorites.
(It reminds me somewhat of the logo from the musical “Follies” and that wonderful pop art of the Beatles ‘Yellow Submarine’ psychedelic era.)
“Yellow Submarine”
“Yellow Submarine”
May 22, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: "Follies", 1960's art, 1968, 1968 pop art poster, arts, blacklight poster, Brooklyn, Celestial Arts, Celestial Arts San Francisco, colored people, Ebay poster find, Hans Von Rittern, Manhattan, New York City, New York photo, Orbit poster USA, Photo of the day, photography, pop art, Poster #CA27, psychedelic art, psychedelic poster, Queens, racial equality poster, rainbow colored female nudes, rainbow people, Robert Lewis, Robert Lewis poster, Some of my best friends are colored, vintage black light poster, vintage blacklight poster, Yellow Submarine | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: OLD TIMER’S NAVY SALUTE – Yesterday in Bryant Park, the navy serenaded lunch time picnickers with a rousing concert. At the end of the concert, the conductor asked audience members from each branch of the military to stand up and be recognized. This old timer still gave the perfect proud navy salute.
The Navy Band Northeast Pops Ensemble and the U.S. Fleet Forces Band featured a wide variety of musical styles including traditional concert band literature, pop, Jazz and patriotic favorites.
Under the direction of Lt. Cmdr. Carl Gerhard, Navy Band Northeast is one of 13 official bands of the United States Navy worldwide, and is comprised of 45 professional Navy musicians, many of whom are from the New York metropolitan area and welcomed a chance to perform in front of the hometown crowd.
May 21, 2014 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: American patriotism, American standards music, band concert, Bryant Park, Hans Von Rittern, Lt. Cmdr. Carl Gerhard, Manhattan, Memorial Day 2014, Navy Band Northeast Pops Ensemble, New York City, New York photo, old navy man salutes band, old timer's salute, Photo of the day, photography, proud navy man, U.S. Fleet Forces Band, United States Navy | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: HAPPY (yes) 68th BIRTHDAY CHER ! – If ever an icon has kept the love of six generations of fans, she has, with a hit record in every decade. No recording artist has done that. I have had the sheer delight to have met her several times and she is as beautiful inside as she is outside. Happy Birthday Cher – you DID turn back time !
May 20, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: arts, celebrities, Cher, Cher 68th birthday, Cher Carnegie Hall meeting fans, Cher in leather jacket, Cher with birthday cake, Hans Von Rittern, Janet Novick, Manhattan, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, photography | Leave a comment
On the #7 train, Grand Central Station stop.
Photo of the day: CAN YOU SPOT THE TOURIST?
May 19, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 7 train, cowboy hat in New York City, cowboy hat on a subway, Grand Central Station, Grand Central Terminal, Hans Von Rittern, Manhattan, New York City, New York photo, out of towners on a subway, Photo of the day, photography, subways of New York, tourism in New York, tourists on a subway | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: RED WHITE AND BLUE, REMEMBERING TYRONE MAY – The World Trade Center 9/11 memorial’s security walls came down today and as a native New Yorker tour guide who visited the site several times a week, it is very odd and it takes some getting used to that there are no longer any long snaking lines, advance $2 tickets and airport type security screening. As of now – you can walk right up to the waterfalls. Tyrone May’s family came to remember him as they privately visited the newly opened museum, they left this red, white and blue remembrance for him. On this rainy day, the raindrops looked like tears.
May 17, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 9/11 memorial, 911 memorial in rain, Hans Von Rittern, Manhattan, May 14 2104 trade center museum opens, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, photography, red white blue roses at 911 memorial, remembering lost ones at World Trade Center, roses in rain at 911 memorial, Tyrone May, World Trade Center | Leave a comment
NEW YORK CITY - IN THE WIT OF AN EYE 