tradition

During 1966- 1974 or thereabouts my family had a cottage on Kezar Lake in Maine. A truly beautiful place built in the 30's with a 2 story boat house complete with a menagerie of odd boats, 8 changing rooms, a 2nd story with a fireplace with a great dock. We would spend entire summers there with family and friends. My father sold the place to buy something else in Florida and perhaps was a good decision on his part because now he and my mother are living down there.

When we got older my sister and I decided to find a cottage we could rent nearby our old camp and met a wonder-filled woman Jesse Volk. She was an artist like myself and must have been in her 80's when we met. We loved the 6 hand constructed cottages with all the antiques and artifacts and paintings she, her husband and father-in-law had painted over the years and acquired over their numerous travels painting all over the world. They were real camps not by any means luxurious but knowing Jesse and being there was everything.

I started to make it a tradition for myself or with some of my boyfriends every year to return to that place and stay for a little while every summer. It is a place of great inspiration and beauty for me. Every year I would set up my house-keeping by going to a cabinet, reaching for a ceramic pink dog planter and placing it on the center of my painting table. I felt home and ready to begin that summer's adventure. He had a kind, yet regal, 7x5 inch look about him even though he was pink. When the cottages were willed to the University of Maine and then leased for a children's camp, I became the first teacher to help give printmaking classes there to the camp kids. I have done so ever since and feel totally rewarded in working there.

I still get to stay in my favorite cottage and bring out my pink dog. This year as every year I was sad to leave but went on my way and decided to leave him out to greet the next guest there this summer and for my return. I had an invitation to meet up with my cousins on Sebago Lake and meandered my way down stopping to have a sandwhich in Bridgeton -the next town over. While window browsing I found an old antique store and to my surprise and joy found the exact same pink dog. I was afraid to see the price but knew in my heart no matter he was part of my tradition.

Memorial Day

I have been thinking about Memorial Day . A day of memories. I received a note by chance today from a soldier overseas and got to wish him well.

When there are holidays I recall my childhood. I can see my mother with her red lipstick in the kitchen dancing with the dog as she feed him. It was wet food that came in a large can all condensed together. Once scooped out and into his bowl on the floor, she'd kick out a leg high in the air overhead as an iceskater would gliding. Smiling, she held the poise, can in hand, till the round of applause had subsided.

New Story

Yesterday I was talking on the phone to my friend.  He was describing to me how he and his neighbor decided to play a game of catch in front of their building in Clinton Hill in the road. It was a beautiful Friday, mid afternoon, sun shining and about 80 degrees.  It's a small road with not much traffic in Brooklyn, except for the occasional motor cycle doing wheelies and  revving to annoy the locals.  As he spoke I could see the game in my head.  The neighbor who is  about 32 had a mitt, my 52 year old  friend not so. The neighbor would pass it back to him with a bounce.  I could see the pleasure and feel the wish of being a kid again. Today I got up early to beat the coming rain and make it in time to  get some food supplies.  I was walking home, carting my food I decided to go the back way, via a side street. It was quiet, the air was fresh. I had missed not being outside yesterday as I  tried to finish some drawings and get work done.  I was in the middle of the street now and I could feel the antiquity of New York City.  I was within the corridor hall of buildings.  Approaching  my destination I stooped down as I picked up an abandoned  beautiful conditioned brown leather baseball mitt.  

Moore Thoughts: Another bird

Yesterday I was sitting  in my  green corduroy  chair, by my 3rd window in my loft , idle gazing across the next rooftop. I was situated diagonally toward the  building across the street. I began watching a seagull circle round the sky, passing by the neighbor's 7th floor window. It was a large bird and he kept circling round and around.  Relaxing to watch his hypnotic circles and feel the creaminess of the air he was stirring. His figure floated, compelled by the greying light, maneuvering  and adjusting his wings up and down ever-so lightly.  To me an effortless spirit gliding with muted calm.  During his second pass rounding the building's corner, he tilted his head downward and went careening  into a selected windowpane. The soundless thud alarmed my frozen brain.  I saw him continue his methodical rounds to crash the pane, crash the pane, crash the pane,  till the number 5. He completed his mission, flew up rocket bound and headed East. The sky was numb.

Moore Thoughts: the story I forgot to tell u

At the end of August on a very sunny day I was working away in my studio in TriBeCa finishing up a canvas that had been giving me a lot of trouble. It wasn't a large surface only 24x24" but sometimes squares can be hard to work with. In the SE loft that I live and work in for many years now, there are 4 6x4 feet windows that span across on the eastern side. This cement building is an extremely old warehouse and one of the first in the shipping area off of West Street. The windows are original and work on a pivot. I usually jam a piece of wood on one side corner in order to keep them propped open. Anyway I decided that the best way to complete the canvas was to finish the shadow bird that was centrally located within the piece. It had an ancient plaster-roman-esk feeling to it and not something I normally paint. It was all about the bird. I finally hung it up on my living area room for viewing. Upon hanging the work, just as I was turning to get a better view, a tiny intense green bird flew in my window and into the room. A whoosh and he appeared. This type of bird I had never seen before. He was no bigger that a sparrow but had a such vivid metallic color. He flew directly over to the last window in the row which was closed. He seemed to have no fear of me as I tried to jimmy the window open. He did however tap his one foot impatiently awaiting his freedom. The air blew in and he was gone, I named the painting "Nature/Bird" and decided it was complete.

News & Notes

News 4: New Large Monoprints "Interior Nature" 38x50"posted at:www.moorepamela.com

News 3: Mamaroneck Art Guild Larchmont, NY Group Show Encaustic Metal Piece"The Gift"

Oct23-November 5 2010

News 2: Innovative Arts Group Show Installation "Nature Dog" Oct 2010-Jan 2011

News 1: New Landscape Canvases posted at:www.moorepamela.com

News& Notes

News 2: Published 15 foot enameled sculpture permanent commission in: "500 Enameled Objects page226

New Show: "The Generosity of Giving" Fort Drum, NY August 2009 with 4 panel printed fabric installation "Moment in Time" commemorating 9/11 and the soldiers in Iraq.

New Show: A.I.R. Gallery"Wish You Were Here 8" postcard show from June 23 – July 18 Opening on Wednesday, June 24, 6-8pm

A.I.R. Gallery

111 Front Street #228
Brooklyn NY 11201