Category Archives: Nature

Wantagh, New York, U.S. April 22, 2020. Two fishermen fish at Mill Pond Park as dusk approaches on Earth Day. (© 2020 Ann Parry, FromLongIsland.com)

Earth Day 2020: PAUSE & Webbed Feet

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From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com)
April 28, 2020

 How I spent Earth Day on Long Island

SLIDESHOW – “Mill Pond Park, Earth Day 2020” with music
Click lower right corner of video to view full-screen:

Months ago, I ordered a box of 20 disposable N-95 masks. By the time they arrived, not long ago, many local first responders were short on Personal Protective Equipment and could use the masks more than I did.

After reading L.I. Herald reporter Andrew Garcia’s article on the Bellmore-Merrick EMS and how it needed PPE, I put on my makeshift face mask, grabbed the unopened box of N-95s, and drove to the not-for-profit’s nearby Bellmore HQ.

• EMT ALEX DOOLEY of Bellmore-Merrick EMS:

“Bellmore,

Bellmore, New York, U.S. April 22, 2020. EMT ALEX DOOLEY stands at entrance to Bellmore-Merrick EMS to accept PPE donation to squad. (© 2020 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

While dropping off the masks outside the EMS entrance door, I asked EMT ALEX DOOLEY what protective equipment donations the first responders particularly needed, other than masks, and she immediately said “gowns.”

Since dusk wasn’t far off when I left, I decided to capture Earth Day photos at a nearby South Shore park.

Normally I’d head west to Norman J. Levy Park & Preserve in Merrick, but it was closed because its sprawling trails and secluded areas weren’t social-distancing-friendly and Long Island was a major hot spot for the Covid-19 pandemic. So I instead headed east to Mill Pond Park in Wantagh.

The park borders Merrick Road, where I parked, joining two or three other cars already there, and adjusted my face mask after getting out of the car.

•  [digitally colored] Panorama of Mill Pond Park at dusk:

Wantagh, New York, U.S. April 22, 2020. Family feeds swan and geese at Mill Pond Park, as dusk approaches during Earth Day. (© 2020 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Wantagh, New York, U.S. April 22, 2020. Family feeds swan and geese at Mill Pond Park, as dusk approaches during Earth Day. (© 2020 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

My iPhone 11 Pro was the best and only camera I had with me. Its 2X optical zoom helped make it possible to capture photos I otherwise couldn’t have while Governor Cuomo’s executive order “New York State on PAUSE” is in effect, currently from March 22 to May 15, 2020.

New York State on PAUSE “NY State remains on PAUSE through May 15. All non-essential workers are directed to work from home, and everyone is required to wear a face covering and maintain a 6-foot distance from others in public”

FEATURE PHOTO at top of post: Wantagh, New York, U.S.  April 22, 2020. Two fishermen wearing waders fish at Mill Pond Park on Earth Day as dusk approaches.

Bellmore-Merrick EMS: Membership Inquiry • Donate

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Mill Pond Park 2020 Earth Day:  my PHOTO GALLERY

VIDEO:  vimeo.com/annparry/millpondpark2020

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Old Westbury, New York, U.S. October 19, 2019. Statue is one of 33 by Jerzy Kędziora (Jotka) in his Balance in Nature outdoor sculptures exhibit held at Old Westbury Gardens.

From Poland to Old Westbury Gardens: Sculptor Jerzy “Jotka” Kędziora

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From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com)
November 4, 2019

Because the Panel Discussion and Closing Reception for the  JERZY “JOTKA” KĘDZIORA “Balance in Nature” sculptures exhibit took place mid-October at Old Westbury Gardens on Long Island’s Gold Coast, Jotka’s sculptures had a gloriously colorful setting.

  • Click on any photo below to see it larger

Old Westbury, New York, U.S. October 19, 2019. Tour, led by (at right) Docent LUCY JAFFE and including (at center, wearing brown hat) visitor ROXANNE BINASO, looks up at Juggler with Cudgels, one of Jerzy Kędziora (Jotka) Balance in Nature outdoor sculptures, during Closing Reception for the exhibit, held at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Old Westbury, New York, U.S. Oct. 19, 2019. Tour, led by (at right) Docent LUCY JAFFE and including (at center, wearing brown hat) visitor ROXANNE BINASO, looks up at Juggler with Cudgels, one of Jerzy Kędziora (Jotka) Balance in Nature outdoor sculptures, during Closing Reception for the exhibit, held at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

  • SCULPTURE TOUR

After lunch, the mild weather and autumn leaves helped make for an enjoyable tour of the bronze resin, balancing sculptures throughout the Gold Coast estate grounds.

An unexpected bonus was that the tour partly overlapped the area the annual RISE of the Jack O’Lanterns is held at nights, so we saw over 30,000 (unlit) creatively carved, real pumpkins!

LUCY JAFFE, a volunteer docent, lead the tour I joined, and PAUL HUNCHAK, the Director of Visitor Service & Public Programs, lead the later tour.

  • PANEL DISCUSSION

Kedziora’s flight was delayed. As NANCY COSTOPULOS, the President & CEO of Old Westbury Gardens, gave opening remarks, “Jotka” arrived just in time for Costopulos to introduce him.

Old Westbury, New York, U.S. October 19, 2019. Jerzy Kędziora (Jotka) arrives straight from his flight to the Closing Reception for his Balance in Nature outdoor sculptures exhibit held at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Old Westbury, New York, U.S. Oct. 19, 2019. Jerzy Kędziora (Jotka) arrives straight from his flight to the Closing Reception for his Balance in Nature outdoor sculptures exhibit held at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

PANELISTS:

Old Westbury, New York, U.S. October 19, 2019. October 19, 2019. Old Westbury, New York. U.S. L-R, JOANNA RAPICKA, PAUL HUNCHAK, ISABELA GOLA, JERZY KĘDZIORA (JOTKA), NANCY COSTOPULOS, SOHRAB MOHEBBI, MARIE-ÈVE LaFONTAINE, and JENNIFER LANTZAS pose for photo after Panel Discussion during Closing Reception for Kedziora's Balance in Nature outdoor sculptures exhibit at Old Westbury Gardens, which presented the event in collaboration with The Polish Cultural Institute NY, in association with Art&Balance Foundation of Poland. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Old Westbury, New York. Oct. 19, 2019. U.S. L-R, JOANNA RAPICKA, PAUL HUNCHAK, ISABELA GOLA, JERZY KĘDZIORA (JOTKA), NANCY COSTOPULOS, SOHRAB MOHEBBI, MARIE-ÈVE LaFONTAINE, and JENNIFER LANTZAS pose for photo after Panel Discussion during Closing Reception for Kedziora’s Balance in Nature outdoor sculptures exhibit at Old Westbury Gardens, which presented the event in collaboration with The Polish Cultural Institute NY, in association with Art&Balance Foundation of Poland. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

JERZY KĘDZIORA, Polish artist whose sculptures are internationally exhibited and found in museums, galleries and governmental institutions and public spaces | site: Jerzy Kedziora

IZABELA GOLA, Curator of Visual Art & Design Programming at the Polish Cultural Institute New York, in the field of public diplomacy

Old Westbury, New York, U.S. October 19, 2019. L-R, JOANNA RAPICKA, the Foreign Relations Director of Art&Balance Foundation in Poland; and sculptor JERZY KĘDZIORA; listen to ISABELA GOLA ask Kedziora questions during Panel Discussion of the Closing Reception for Kędziora's Balance in Nature outdoor sculptures exhibit held at Old Westbury Gardens. Gola was born in Poland, and is the Curator of Visual Art & Design Programming at the Polish Cultural Institute NY, in the field of public diplomacy. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Old Westbury, New York, U.S. Oct. 19, 2019. L-R, JOANNA RAPICKA, the Foreign Relations Director of Art&Balance Foundation in Poland; and sculptor JERZY KĘDZIORA; listen to ISABELA GOLA ask Kedziora a question during Panel Discussion of the Closing Reception for Kędziora’s Balance in Nature outdoor sculptures exhibit held at Old Westbury Gardens. Gola was born in Poland, and is the Curator of Visual Art & Design Programming at the Polish Cultural Institute NY, in the field of public diplomacy. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

JENNIFER LANTZAS, Deputy Director of Art & Antiquities at NYC Parks

Old Westbury, New York, U.S. October 19, 2019. JENNIFER LANTZAS is outdoors at the Closing Reception for Jerzy Kędziora Balance in Nature outdoor sculptures exhibit held at Old Westbury Gardens. Lantzas, who was a panelist at the event’s Panel Discussion, is the Deputy Director of Art & Antiquities at NYC Parks. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Old Westbury, New York, U.S. Oct. 19, 2019. JENNIFER LANTZAS is outdoors at the Closing Reception for Jerzy Kędziora Balance in Nature outdoor sculptures exhibit held at Old Westbury Gardens. Lantzas, who was a panelist at the event’s Panel Discussion, is the Deputy Director of Art & Antiquities at NYC Parks. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

MARIE-ÈVE LAFONTAINE, curator of modern & contemporary art, including “The Empty House” exhibit in Berlin

Old Westbury, New York, U.S. October 19, 2019. MARIE-ÈVE LAFONTAINE, eating lunch outdoors at the Closing Reception for Jerzy Kędziora Balance in Nature outdoor sculptures exhibit held at Old Westbury Gardens. LaFontaine, who was a panelist at the event, is an independent curator of modern and contemporary art, and former curator at Schinkel Pavillon in Berlin and at TRAFO Center for Contemporary Art in Stettin, Poland. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Old Westbury, New York, U.S. Oct. 19, 2019. MARIE-ÈVE LAFONTAINE, eating lunch outdoors at the Closing Reception for Jerzy Kędziora Balance in Nature outdoor sculptures exhibit held at Old Westbury Gardens. LaFontaine, who was a panelist at the event, is an independent curator of modern and contemporary art, and former curator at Schinkel Pavillon in Berlin and at TRAFO Center for Contemporary Art in Stettin, Poland. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

SOHRAB MOHEBBI, a writer & Curator at SculptureCenter

The event ended after the Panel Discussion and some group photos. When a visitor asked to have her photo taken with Kędziora, Jotka didn’t let jet lag throw him off balance!

Old Westbury, New York, U.S. October 19, 2019. L-R, JERZY KĘDZIORA and a visitor pose for photo at end of Closing Reception for Kędziora’s Balance in Nature outdoor sculptures exhibit held at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Old Westbury, New York, U.S. Oct. 19, 2019. L-R, JERZY KĘDZIORA and a visitor pose for photo at end of Closing Reception for Kędziora’s Balance in Nature outdoor sculptures exhibit held at Old Westbury Gardens. ( (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Along with seeing Jerzy Kedziora during the Panel Discussion, I particularly enjoyed seeing his “Charlie Chaplin” balancing sculpture during the tour, as The (bronze resin) Little Tramp made his gravity defying climb up a high ladder, complete with the technicolor background of autumn reflected in the pond behind him. 

Old Westbury, New York, U.S. October 19, 2019. CHARLIE CHAPLIN sculpture suspended over reflecting pool is one of the Jerzy Kędziora (Jotka) Balance in Nature outdoor sculptures seen during the tour part of Closing Reception for the exhibit, held at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Old Westbury, New York, U.S. Oct. 19, 2019. CHARLIE CHAPLIN sculpture suspended over reflecting pool is one of Jerzy Kędziora (Jotka) Balance in Nature outdoor sculptures seen during the tour part of Closing Reception for the exhibit, held at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

  • FEATURE PHOTO at top of post: Old Westbury, New York, U.S. Oct. 19, 2019. The suspended sculpture is one of 33 balancing sculptures by Jerzy Kedziora in “Balance in Nature” outdoor exhibit at Old Westbury Gardens.

Reception for Jerzy Kędziora Exhibit: PHOTO GALLERY

Old Westbury Gardens

Art&Balance Foundation of Poland

My 8/2019 blog post: Balance in Nature

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