PAINT Show, O'Hara & Fire Escapes

The last few days I have been working long hours on a website update— which is certainly not the most interesting thing to photograph. So, I am including a few pics I took from my window a little while back that I came across while looking for images for the website. I think I have mentioned it before, but being on the 6th Floor of Midway is a bit like living with the seagulls, as they often swoop down in front on my windows, and every once in a while I can hear them thumping around on the roof and squawking at each other.

However, as the pictures show, the old fire escape is also a great perch for some other birds who will stop by from time to time.

Anytime I think of fire escapes, I think of Frank O’Hara (pic above of O’Hara on a fire escape is from http://www.frankohara.com/Pages/Credits.html). Not because of this picture, but because of his use of fire escapes in poems:

One of my favorite Frank O’Hara poems, (Untitled, but the first line “Dear Jap” refers to Jasper Johns) uses this:

“I want someday
to have a fire-escape

in 1951 I became crazy for fire-escapes
as you remember”

As does the poem “In Memory of my Feelings”:

“Five years ago, enamored of fire-escapes, I went to Chicago,”

There is another great one that I can’t find— but needless to say, I think of O’Hara when I think of fire escapes.

* * * * *

Yesterday I had another piece of correspondence (an email this time) that started out “Congratulations!” (yes, with an exclamation point again). This time, it was from LynnArts— their juror has selected my piece, “Precious Gems” to appear in their juried show “PAINT.”

PAINT has an opening reception on Saturday, June 23rd from 2-4pm, and the show runs from June 20th through July 27th. for more information, check out the website http://www.lynnarts.org/.

I think the last time I got this much mail with “Congratulations!” as the lead-in, it was from Publisher’s Clearing House and Mr. Ed McMahon (pic above is from wikipedia). This, of course, if much more exciting. Although, if Ed had ever come up with the moolah, it might have been a different story. I might even have one of those big-ass Happy Gilmore checks now.

All that said, I am honored to have been chosen- especially given all the extraordinary work they had submitted. There is some great stuff there, and it will allow Precious Gems to be seen in a great venue for art.

So, here at Midway I am looking forward to the PAINT show and the FPAC Gallery summer show, and getting my website prepped in the process. All while living O’Hara’s dream of owning a fire-escape.