Monday, June 29, 2009

PEEK AT EM'S GALLERY

When you buzz our buzzer, we ask who it is, and when we know who you are, we buzz you in.

It's a surprise when you walk in. Our hallway walls are shocking pink, and bright orange; the steps and banisters are bright red. The brilliant, almost clashing colors make visitors laugh, and put most of them in a good mood.

After you climb eighteen steps, you see a hand-painted silk scarf on a the wall, a tall white plastic plant. Twenty more steps up, and you're at the third floor, where you see some of my paintings hanging on the pink wall.

This my blue cityscape.
JC took the picture. I'm a novice with the camera, but JC (who never seems to know what he's doing on a computer) has read the How To booklet -- he's already adept at taking photos, and patiently teaching me what to do.

If you were a New Yorker, you'd recognize some of the buildings my cityscape. Why did I do this painting? I found a photo that fascinated me, and I love repetitive tasks, (like embroidering "True Friendships Are Eternal" on a sampler -- I gave it to Mom for Mother's Day when I was eight years old. See my post "Night Light" for more about me and my mother).

Since you're passing our theater-dance studio, JC's and my office, I'll let you have a peek at my clipboard on my beige desk It's a painting I made of the galaxy. I clip phone numbers, e-mail addresses, website passwords on it. Also a long list of ideas that I might use for new posts, along with notes on how to make a link, and emergency phone numbers for our net-worked phones.

(I still haven't recovered from installing them -- my very first post on this blog "Out of Order Phones," tells the story.)

As we climb the stairs to the top floor where our home is, you pass four more Em paintings.

The "Dad Clown" is at the top of the step behind that plastic plant (a memento) -- it was a stage prop from my play "People in Show Biz Make Long Goodbyes. "

The Clown went with a song for JD which I sang to him when JC was out of town ...
"See a clown,
He's looking down.
He has a bird.
Oops he heard --
You and me --
Talking about the fact that he lives in a tree."

In the other part of the loft, on the door to JD's room, there is
the "Em Clown." ( Taller than I am, she's wearing one of my costumes, and real fake lashes. ) I painted it on the door to keep JD company when I was on tour.




Take a look at my orange city scape below.










It's my favorite.
Give it a double click and take a good look to the left and the right. You can the bridges to other boroughs, and a bit of Queens.

8 comments:

Carola said...

Your paintings are BEAUTIFUL!!

Lane Aldridge said...

Em, I LOVED this--AND your paintings, especially! Thanks for the tour. Now, may I please have a glass of water after that climb? Thanks....

Lynne said...

Oh Emily, you're so talented, and I can barely do stick figures! they're gorgeous! My favorites are the blue cityscape and the "galaxy."

Unknown said...

Hi Em, As a student of the arts, I see a unique style, that I believe I could recognize in future works.... I really like the bold colors and subject matter. Not a problem for the masses like me who purchase art for richness and subject matter....for a "Boston gallery owner?"...maybe it is to "inside the box"... for him you probably need to pick a subject matter that is bizarre or controversial, not appealing and artistic. What does he know!? Make some limited signed prints and sell them in "Em's shoppe" online. I do love the "orange city scape". lol, RJ

Beki said...

Everything is so lovely!! I enjoyed it very much!

Linda Phillips said...

Oh I love them and love your colors!!!!!! I especially LOVE the Em Clown!!!!!!

Patricia Tusay said...

...I have decided that it is time to add color to my life...after almost a decade of neutrals - I have chosen rosewood - a color similar to your fabulous painting.. shocked when I saw it at first your picture and my couch... Now, I think it was way too impetuous of me to begin with so bold a color..but as I wait anxiously for the arrival of the new rosewood colored couch --I look around at what else can be turned back into life..divorce does that - instability does that - makes you go deep into neutral..now to rise above it -- kick into gear.. thinking thinking..what else is ready for a change...and what is not..........you inspired me today..

Sheree Lincoln said...

Hi Em, it's been a while since I have had time to read or post. good to see your paintings.. Love the bridges and the rich use of a color with the accented facades.. the way the city is off to the side like the island it is - even though Brooklyn and Queens have buildings too.. the choices you made about downtown. Tim Burton would like your paintings. I think his are cool to - however Mattisse and let us not forgat Edouard Manet.. hmmm..