Tag Archives: Long Island

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.

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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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Roslyn, New York, U.S. July 7, 2019. “Would That I Wish For (Tall Totem)” 26-foot-tall sculpture was created, and installed in front of the Arnold and Joan Saltzman Fine Art Building, by artist Marko Remec, at the Nassau County Museum of Art, which commissioned the work. 

Nassau County Museum of Art: Reflections on Times & Space

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From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
July 16, 2019

Deciding to take advantage of the nice-in-the-shade weather the first weekend in July, my friend Bob and I went to the Nassau County Museum of Art on Sunday, the last day of its “That 80s Show” exhibit. I also looked forward to seeing Animodules at the Manes Center, and new outdoor sculptures by conceptual artist Marko Remec. 

Roslyn, New York, U.S. July 7, 2019. [NOTE: YELLOW filter added to image]  “Vertebrate Progression (Field Totem)” outdoor sculpture of domed mirrors was created and installed by artist Marko Remec near the Manes Center at the Nassau County Museum of Art, which commissioned the work. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Roslyn, New York, U.S. July 7, 2019. [yellow filter added to image]  “Vertebrate Progression (Field Totem)” outdoor sculpture of domed mirrors was created and installed by artist Marko Remec near the Manes Center at the Nassau County Museum of Art, which commissioned the work. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

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After parking, we walked up the path leading to the Saltzman Fine Art Building, when I saw Pamela, a friend and fellow photographer, a few yards away from us, chatting with someone as they headed toward the parking lot. 

Roslyn, New York, U.S. July 7, 2019. PAMELA WALDROUP poses next to bronze sculpture

Roslyn, New York, U.S. July 7, 2019. PAMELA WALDROUP poses next to bronze sculpture “Girl on a Bicycle “(1964) by Bruno Lucchesi, on the grounds of the Nassau County Museum of Art, Long Island. (© 2019 Ann Parry, Ann-Parry.com)

After getting Pamela’s attention, we laughed… for ever since the exhibit opened, we’d planned to see it, but weather and scheduling conflicts got in our way. Now, serendipity had landed us at the same space at the same time, so we could at least capture a few photos by the “Girl on a Bicycle” (1964) sculpture by Bruno Lucchesi.

That 80s Show

Roslyn, New York, U.S. July 7 2019. During last day of

Roslyn, New York, U.S. July 7 2019. During last day of “That 80s Show” exhibit at Nassau County Museum of Art, visitors are in gallery, with paintings from left to right: “Toward the Brightest Light,” 1986, by Julian Schnabel (b. 1951); (at center) “Southern Comfort, “1984, by Sandro Chia (b. 1946); “The Human Comedy, 1987, by Annette Lemieux (b. 1957); (above mantel) “Easter Painting,” 1982, by Gregory Amenoff (b. 1948). (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

After renewing my membership, I entered a spacious gallery hung with five huge paintings and a few smaller, though not small, ones.  [See above photo]

Since the gallery was part of the “That 80s Show” exhibit, it wasn’t chance the artists and I shared birthdays within about ten years of each other.

Two of the artists died at tragically young ages, and, as I feared, it was of tragically times-related causes. Jean-Michel Basquiat was only 27 when he died in 1984 of a heroin overdose. Tseng Kwong Chil was only 40 when he died in 1990 of an AIDS-related illness – which, near the same time, stole my much missed, musically gifted brother in his thirties. 

Roslyn, New York, U.S. July 7, 2019. Visitor looks at artwork from Men in the Cities series by Robert Longo (b. 1953). From L-R, the first 3 are Untitled, analog silver gelatin prints, 20 x 16 inches; at extreme right is “Men in the Cities: Eric,” (1983), lithograph on rag paper, 71 1/2 x 35 7/8 inches. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Roslyn, New York, U.S. July 7, 2019. Visitor looks at artwork from Men in the Cities series by Robert Longo (b. 1953). From L-R, the first 3 are Untitled, analog silver gelatin prints, 20 x 16 inches; at extreme right is “Men in the Cities: Eric,” (1983), lithograph on rag paper, 71 1/2 x 35 7/8 inches. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

More than once, I was struck how visitors looking at artwork impacted, even transformed, the experience. The above photo of a man looking at works from the “Men in the Cities” series by Robert Longo is one example, and a different man near a different lithograph by Robert Longo is another.

Animodules

Roslyn, New York, U.S. July 7, 2019. The Wolf Animodule is on display at the exhibition of Animodules, an urban artform of nonviolent superheroes, at the Manes Center at Nassau County Museum of Art, on Gold Coast of Long Island. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Roslyn, New York, U.S. July 7, 2019. The Wolf Animodule is on display at the exhibition of Animodules, an urban art form of nonviolent superheroes, at the Manes Center at Nassau County Museum of Art on Long Island. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Animodules – an original urban art form of nonviolent super heroes – were on display both inside and outside the Manes Center. They filled the large room with a positive, vibrant energy.

These Agents of Peace were first created at the Barat Foundation, a non profit in Newark, New Jersey.

Animodules Mission: “Transforming lives and communities through collaborative public art to promote peace, social justice, diversity, and beautification of public space.” 

Roslyn, New York, U.S. July 7, 2019. Commissioned Artist Animodules - 13 inches, handp-painted on aluminum by artists of the Bridge Art Gallery - are inside display case at the exhibition of Animodules, an urban artform, at the Manes Center at Nassau County Museum of Art, on Long Island. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Roslyn, New York, U.S. July 7, 2019. Commissioned Artist Animodules – 13 inches, hand-painted on aluminum by artists of the Bridge Art Gallery – are inside display case at the exhibition of Animodules, an urban art form, at the Manes Center at Nassau County Museum of Art, on Long Island. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

This is the first museum exhibition for Animodules, and it runs through to September 15, 2019. 

Final Reflections

Roslyn, New York, U.S. July 7, 2019. “Vertebrate Progression (Field Totem)” outdoor sculpture of domed mirrors was created and installed by artist Marko Remec near the Manes Center at the Nassau County Museum of Art, which commissioned the work. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Roslyn, New York, U.S. July 7, 2019. “Vertebrate Progression (Field Totem)” outdoor sculpture of domed mirrors was created and installed by artist Marko Remec near the Manes Center at the Nassau County Museum of Art, which commissioned the work. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Perhaps in part because I’m fond of (literally) shiny things, I’m a fan of Marko Remec’s three outdoor sculptures commissioned by the Nassau County Museum of Art.

Remec’s “The Vertebrate Progression (Field Totem)” was a short make-your-own-path walk from the Manes Center, and typically would be viewed from the road, where one wouldn’t notice a couple of dome mirrors were damaged and some were removed from the end.

The convex dome mirrors of the other two sculptures – the 26-foot-tall “Would That I Wish For (Tall Totem)” [see feature photo at top of this post] and the horizontal “NYET” – were fine off the ground on well-beaten paths.

Even if the sweaty-in-the-open-field weather didn’t stop me from spending quite as much time as I’d like to capture far and close up views of the Field Totem, I’d want to return with my Nikon during each of the seasons.

Roslyn, New York, U.S. July 7, 2019. Close up of part of “Vertebrate Progression (Field Totem)” outdoor sculpture of dome mirrors, which was created and installed by artist Marko Remec near the Manes Center at the Nassau County Museum of Art. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Roslyn, New York, U.S. July 7, 2019. Close up of part of “Vertebrate Progression (Field Totem)” outdoor sculpture of dome mirrors, created and installed by artist Marko Remec near the Manes Center at the Nassau County Museum of Art. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Feature Photo at top of post:  Roslyn, New York, U.S. July 7, 2019. “Would That I Wish For (Tall Totem)” 26-foot-tall sculpture was created, and installed in front of the Arnold and Joan Saltzman Fine Art Building, by artist Marko Remec, at the Nassau County Museum of Art, which commissioned the work.

NCMA Reflections:  PHOTO GALLERY

Nassau County Museum of Art:  Site  •  Join

Barat Foundation:  Animodules  Agents of Peace

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Merrick, New York, USA. January 24, 2019. During winter sunset, golden reflection of trees and building fills windows of Merrick Public Library on south shore of Long Island.

Missed the Rainbow, Caught the Puddle

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From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
January 31, 2019

Flash Flood

Driving on Long Island’s south shore at the end of yet another flash flood, I turned north toward the Merrick Library on Merrick Avenue and faced a fierce sunset.

I wanted to capture the fleeting sky show reflected on water, but the nearest body of water, a pond, was about a half mile away. So I turned west onto a soggy side street across from the library, saw a golden-orange reflection in a puddle, and pulled to the curb.

But a telephone pole and its wires were too prominent, so I slowly drove on, and as I passed a parked car discovered a lake of a puddle – the biggest one I ever saw this far inland from Merrick’s jagged shoreline. 

Merrick, New York, USA. January 24, 2019. After flash flood, reflection of colorful winter sunset fills large puddle in road of suburban town on south shore of Long Island. (© 2019Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Merrick, New York, USA. January 24, 2019. After flash flood, reflection of colorful winter sunset fills large puddle in road of suburban town on south shore of Long Island. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

After parking, I slowly walked around and around the puddle, all the while lifting and lowering and leveling my iPhone to capture the blaze. 

Puddle Sunset

Later, back at home, I saw a flood of pictures on local news and social media of a full double rainbow that appeared before the sunset and before I paid attention to the sky that late afternoon.

But if I’d caught the rainbow, I’d have missed that fiery puddle sunset.

Merrick, New York, USA. January 24, 2019. After flash flood, reflection of colorful winter sunset fills large puddle in road, on south shore of Long Island. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Merrick, New York, USA. January 24, 2019. After flash flood, reflection of colorful winter sunset fills large puddle in road, on south shore of Long Island. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Sunset Puddle:  MY GALLERY

Site:  Merrick Library

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