Tag Archives: New York

abstract, art, art exhibition, art gallery, art museum, installation, Karen Tashkovski, sculpture

Eternity & Infinity

Image Leave a comment

According to artist Yayoi Kusama, the world is a circle – a polka dot blip in the universe.  You’ve gotta love a person who sticks to a bit (or blip).  She’s been cultivating ways (read installations) in which to incorporate her round motif for decades.  Apparently, her obsession stems from childhood trauma – hallucinations containing an influx of dots in her surroundings.

One with Eternity:  Yayoi Kusama is currently on view at The Buffalo AKG (formerly called the Albright-Knox Gallery),  1285 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, New York 14222.

There are three gallery spaces housing three different installations.  The first contains an enormous polka dotted pumpkin sculpture.  The second is a mirrored room filled with red and white amorphic shapes. These look to be of cotton fabric stuffed with poly fiberfill.

The third room is a sort of disco style light show thingy.  You enter the room through a curtained opening and find yourself in a house of mirrors.  She calls it a mirrored infinity room.

You must purchase tickets for the Yayoi Kusama exhibition in addition to a museum fee.   There is a timed-entry feature because two of the rooms are small and require a more intimate experience.  They only allow you forty-five seconds a turn.

We were able to have more time because there were less people in attendance.  Even still, three minutes wasn’t a lot, especially when you travel over two hours to get there, lol.

There is still time to immerse yourself in polka dots.  The show continues through March 2, 2026.

Thank you, Penny, for a fabulous adventure.  So fun!

antiques, ceramics, Karen Tashkovski, pottery, retail, shopping, vintage

Dalton’s

Image 2 Comments

Shopping for Stickley furniture at Dalton’s is a lesson in the history of the early 20th century’s Arts & Crafts movement.  Proprietors David Rudd and Debbie Goldwein have been in the business of selling antique/pre-loved Stickley furniture for over forty years at this establishment.  Their customers include celebrities and other prominent A&C lovers nationwide (and someday, me, and maybe you!).  Their business is both in person and on-line. The furniture sold at this shop is original Gustav Stickley pieces and early works by Leopold and John George Stickley, items that pre-date the Audi family’s tenure at Stickley.

Rudd is a former decades long President of the local Arts & Crafts Society and current President of the Gustav Stickley House Foundation.  It was such a pleasure to chat with him as he shared the provenance of the exquisite pieces displayed in vignettes alongside pottery from the same period, accessories – candlesticks, ashtrays, and books, lamps, clocks, really everything you need to fill the living room of a Craftsman home.

Gustav Stickley owned a factory on what is currently Burnet Avenue in the Eastwood neighborhood of Syracuse, a hop, skip and jump from this fabulous antique shop located at 1931 James Street, Syracuse, New York 13206.

It is a beautiful thing to see the care that has been taken in keeping the Mission-style spirit alive.  I felt like looking for a portal in the store in order to time-travel my way back to one hundred years ago, especially when I stared at  that photograph of Gustav on the wall, lol, it reminded me of the movie “Somewhere in Time” with Christopher Reeve.  I am in love with this period of furnishings and I am probably the only one in my family to have this passion.  I didn’t grow up with it.  Mom liked a French Provincial living room and Colonial-style bedroom furnishings.

Some of the pieces at Dalton’s are a better bargain than buying new and others costs tens of thousands.  In addition, they have an affinity for Native American textiles and pottery, and the collection is quite impressive.  It’s all for sale even though everything is museum quality.  You can sit on the settles and chairs as you imagine living with them in your own home.

I took so many pictures of this chair (above) – I can’t stop thinking about it!  LOVE!

Currently, there is a selection of wood-block printed designs by Rochester-based artist Laura Wilder.  They are displayed beautifully in oak frames.

If you wish to luxuriate in this experience, Dalton’s is open Monday-Friday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM and Saturday 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM.

art education, Karen Tashkovski

Land of Oz

Image 3 Comments
autographed picture of Clarence Swenson
autographed picture of Clarence Swenson

Ozstravagaza returns to the village of Chittenango this weekend, June 5th-7th, 2015, with lots of special guests including Gregory Maguire, the author of Wicked and other books set in L. Frank Baum’s fictitious Oz.

Jerry Maren in the 2000 Ozstravaganza parade, Chittenango, NY
Jerry Maren in the 2000 Ozstravaganza parade, Chittenango, NY

For many years, I dressed as Dorothy and walked the parade with the 2nd graders from Lake Street Elementary school in Chittenango, New York.  I wore that costume throughout my thirties and wondered what I would have done as a 50-something had I not moved on to work at the middle school.  (A student suggested going as the witch, lol).

with Ruth Duccini and Karl Slover
with Ruth Duccini and Karl Slover

Our float was a collaboration between all 2nd grade teachers.  My colleague Sandy Kennedy (who retired) and I made art projects for students to carry in the parade, and music teacher Margaret Kelsey taught the students a song with a bit of choreography to clinch one of the many awards the Oz Foundation gave to parade entrants. This year is Lake Street’s last foray into Oz because the district is closing the school – restructuring the Bolivar Road elementary to accommodate students.  It’s really an end of an era because Mrs. Kelsey is retiring as well.  They plan to go out with a bang, so it will definitely be exciting to watch if not simultaneously bittersweet.

with Mr & Mrs Jerry Maren
with Mr & Mrs Jerry Maren

Although I have not participated in the parade in nine years, I am still a part of this wonderful community via my 8th graders , who created the illustrations for the coloring contest.  They will be honored at noon at the center stage on Sunday, June 7th.

with Mr & Mrs Clarence Swenson
with Mr & Mrs Clarence Swenson

The pictures accompanying this post are from 2000, specifically the night I kissed a munchkin on the lips.  He was Clarence Swenson (above) and it was the night of the munchkin dinner.  Clarence and his wife, Jerry Maren and his wife, Ruth Duccini, Karl Slover, and Margaret Pellegrini were all in attendance.  Sadly, many of them have passed away.

Margaret Pellegrini and her granddaughter
Margaret Pellegrini and her granddaughter

I was especially fond of Margaret, as she reminded me of my grandmother who, had she been in the right place at the right time, could have easily been swooped up into the Singer Midget troupe.  You see,  I come from a family of the short – my grandmother was only 4’4″ tall, two inches shorter than Margaret.

My grandmother with one of her award winning crochet bedspreads.
My grandmother with one of her award winning crochet bedspreads.
autographed picture of Margaret Pelligrini
autographed picture of Margaret Pelligrini

Margaret signed this 8″ x 10″ glossy that I keep in an over-sized Pottery Barn frame with a big mat border.  It says “to Karen the art teacher” and “Munchkin love”.  She would see me every year and say,  oh, you’re the art teacher!  I just loved her.

"to Karen the art teacher"
“to Karen the art teacher”

People come to Chittenango  from all over the world to attend this event.  It is the birthplace of the author of the Wizard of Oz books.  For more information, check out the Ozstravaganza website here –   http://www.oz-stravaganza.com/