John Ruddy – Oculus Deus at Paul Vincent Gallery in Hoboken

Posted on May 21, 2011 by itees

Last Sunday I attended the wonderful opening reception of local artist, John Ruddy, at the Paul Vincent Gallery in Hoboken. The gallery gives an artist the space to spread their art out into multiple rooms, and during the afternoon we all moved into one of the rooms for a special musical performance by Cris Nyne. It’s wonderful to see the artists community come out and support one another and the place was hopping! Different types of artists crowded the rooms, painters, photographers, actors, etc…

John Ruddy’s art was quite original. What I loved was that he treated the frame and the wall surrounding the picture as part of the piece. The frames were decorated, the walls were decorated… it made me think where does the art begin and where does it end? It makes me realize art is not just a picture on a wall, (not that I thought this, but it’s a nice reminder) but everything surrounding the piece and me as well.

Have a look at some of the folks who attended and John Ruddy’s work.

[Show as slideshow]

Great Art, Great Artists, Great Cause, But Storm Causes Light Turnout To SVA Gallery Opening

Posted on September 18, 2010 by itees

Thursday evening I attended the opening for a very important exhibition. “Where Is My Vote?” focused on the green movement in Iran. The exhibition is at the SVA Galleries located at 601 West 26th street, 15th floor, in NYC. The more than 100 posters, gathers together so many of the best graphic and illustrative artists of our time.

The opening was at 6pm, exactly the same time as a terrible thunder, lightning, hail, 80-100 mile winds and unreal downpour. There were even reports of tornados in Queens and Brooklyn. But it was a very fast moving storm and was over within 30-45 minutes.

So, by the time 8pm rolled around and the closing of the show, why didn’t more people come? I was there with some friends and we were very surprised at the light turnout. Even the artists who live in NYC and were in the show weren’t there.

Great art by great artists for a great cause… Well, here are a few photos I shot and I hope you’ll go see the show. Definitely a must-see.

Comments from an Environmentalist about the BP Oil Spill

Posted on June 8, 2010 by itees

Day 50 and counting since the explosion of the BP Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf, rupturing the oil well and changing our world forever. The oil continues to flow out and we still have no idea how much it is, because no one will tell us the truth.

From the beginning of this catastrophe, I knew this would be devastating, change the Gulf region, killing wildlife and ruining our oceans. Today is “World Oceans Day” and I felt the need to express my anger. Today seems like the perfect day.

It was weeks before anyone in the news thought it was serious enough to actually want to go there and report to us. I was and still am writing comments to the White House, AC 360, CBS Evening News, Huffington Post and on Twitter and Facebook. Finally Anderson Cooper started reporting from the source. (My sister joked that he must have heard me and we had a laugh.) I’m sure many, many people were writing the same things I was. Others have followed and now we’re getting some news, thanks to their persistence. I still think the U.S. government and the President need to do more.

The oil is in the marshes, washing up on shore, spreading around the coastline, and there are plumes under the water. I’m so worried about the sea life below the surface and the dead we may never know about.

Tonight I was watching the CBS evening news and once again they played the commercial by BP CEO Tony Hayward. I don’t understand how a news program could report about the disaster and then pay to show this commercial. I’d also like to know why all the car companies are so very silent? They keep advertising their cars, but not one has said a word about this. I suppose they just want us to forget cars actually need oil.

On Anderson Cooper 360 I just saw a demonstration of what the oil pipe size is and now I’m really freaked out. BP has released only today a high definition video of the oil leaking, and the pipe diameter is the size of a garbage pail, like you have outside in your backyard. Imagine the size of that opening. They have really tried to pull a fast one over on us Americans.

In my email I heard that BP is blocking people from showing us the dead wildlife. I was wondering why we hadn’t seen more considering the amount of dead wildlife reported. Here is just one of so many sad images from Deep Sea News.

Oiled covered birds from the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf from Deep Sea News.

I think it’s time for the American people (and other nations) to wake up. Move away from their gadgets and leave the cars at home and really think about all that they need and don’t. I’m proud to say that I sold my car a few years ago and haven’t missed it much. I walk, ride my bicycle, or take public transportation. If I do need a car, I rent one. I save quite a bit and I get exercise which makes me healthier!

There’s a BP Oil Spill rally in Jersey City this thursday, June 10th, 2010. Come on out and boycott BP. I’LL BE THERE!