John Crittenden

As Bilbo Baggins once said in LOTR by J.R.R. Tolkin, “It’s amazing what can happen once you step outside your door!”

It was a very long week and I had worked long hours and by friday was quite tired. My good friend and photographer, John Crittenden and I had planned on visiting a bunch of galleries, but it was a rainy, dreary day and I wasn’t sure I was up for it. However, I had a feeling I needed to go with him, and so off we went.

First stop was the _gaia gallery space at 315 3rd street. They had some interesting photographs up and a small intimate crowd had gathered. While there, I made a connection through a friend to a woman who works at the Bronx Zoo and can help my cause, Frogs Are Green. Then I met the artist Aileen Bassis, who is also a school teacher (kids may enter the 2011 Frogs Are Green art contest) and her friend Andrew Kapochunas, (we had a neat discussion about single malts and Scotland).

Next stop was “Unzipped” showing the two artists, “Then One” & “Ntel” at 58 Gallery at 58 Coles Street. Very cool gallery design and multimedia artwork, (you’ll see in the photos).

We picked up another friend there, and off we went to the closing party of “Freeze” at Art House Productions, Hamilton Square, 1 McWilliams Place. As I moved around the room I noticed a beautiful photograph of a cat and standing next to me is my friend John, taking a few pictures of the exhibit. I look down at the card saying who’s work it was and it was John’s piece! The conversation went something like this… “I’ve never seen this photograph, I want it!” He looks at me surprised, “what?” he says… I say, “I’m buying it!” “Really?” he says… “Yes!” and I did.

I’ve never bought an image off the wall in a gallery before, and it was thrilling! The picture is now proudly hanging in my home!

After seeing all this artwork, we were so hungry, so off we went for a bite at the Hard Grove Cafe. The food there is always awesome, and the place was packed… and it was Karoke night! This kid (in photo) was fabulous!

Saturday evening was the closing party for John’s exhibition at Made With Love, Actualities II. Friends gathered, wine flowed, and great food of course!

Here’s a small gallery from the weekend.

[Show as slideshow]

I have always tried to show, by design or blogging, that people need to reuse, recycle, plant, not tear down, and just plain care more about this place Earth, we all call home. I love the outdoors, gardens, beaches, forests, and have plants, nice green living things in every room, and every Spring into Summer, I have a small outdoor space which is full of flowers. In warmer weather, I ride my bicycle, so I can see and photograph the beautiful gardens around New York and New Jersey. When I travel, I see what I can of the landscape and enjoy it.

However, I’m really beginning to worry about the state of our planet (more than usual). This Winter has been quite frigid, and the snow in some parts of the world, has been at record proportions. The weather in general has been from one extreme to another, and if anyone still doesn’t believe we have global warming, just look around.

People generally live selfishly and don’t think “green,” so I think with Earth Day coming on April 22, and it being the 40th anniversary, it’s a great opportunity to spread the message, that every single person needs to reconnect and realize they are part of nature and do more to help save the planet.

Yesterday, I went to see Avatar, like millions of others, and I was blown away by the story, and the 3D effects. It was so visually stunning and 3d glasses enhanced the natural beauty and made you feel like you were really there. It made me feel so good and I wished everyone felt about our planet, the way the “Na’vi” people felt about Pandora.

I have been thinking about ways to help spread the message of Earth Day and will be designing posters and t-shirts for both i-Tees and the FROGS ARE GREEN sites. Look for more of them in the next week or two. I’m also looking for anyone who’d like to collaborate with me, by donating an illustration or photograph, for this purpose.

Let’s all do our part and show we care and want to save this planet. To learn more about Earth Day, visit this website: Earth Day Network.

Below is my first poster design idea collaborating with photographer, John Crittenden. This poster is 24″ w x 18″ h and we’re offering it at $12.00, along with FREE Shipping.