BWAC's Hot! Art Show

Self-Portrait by Gary Heller

There’s an art show at Brooklyn’s Red Hook Pier that runs from July 26 to August 17, and it’s amazingly . . . well . . . hot! Sponsored by the Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition, the exhibition embraces so many genres, from photography, watercolor, acrylics, sculpture, mobiles, ceramic, clay, mixed media and more.

Two fellow members of ACN, Artists Conference Network, had work showing:

Rhea Kirstein is a watercolorist whose purples, blues and greens are at once dreamy and exotic.

Karen Eve Friendland (KarenFriedland.com) works in oils and acrylics. Her bold colors and strokes of movement are energizing and often fun.

Speaking of fun, I had a fun moment when I walked in and saw a face that I knew. And she knew mine. We both tried to remember from where. It turns out that we worked in the same building on Hudson Street and were “members of the smoking community” that clustered near the building during breaks. Nina Brewton is a Polynesian and Middle Eastern dancer (unfortunately, I didn’t get a photo of her), and she introduced me to her friend, photographer Gary Heller.



I was immediately drawn to Gary’s black-and-white self-portrait (top of post). I don’t pretend to be an art critic; I can only say that I felt something like a physical pull to the kind of moody, pensive mood that the photograph arouses.

From Gary’s web site (GaryHellerPhotography.com): “A fellow photographer and friend has used the term ‘pleasantly strange’. That description sums it up best for him [Gary] as he strives for strange, yet pleasing compositions.” Thanks, Gary, for being so generous with your tips on shooting the moon and your directions home.

One of the show’s featured artists is Judith Eloise Hooper (Judith.Hooper.BrooklynArtist.com), whose media are ceramics, collage and works on paper. The power of printed word combined with clay. The clay pieces depict American Sign Language; however, as the artist explained, it is not a word-for-word translation.


Judith’s other exhibited works are ceramic landscapes.
She was being interview and and videotaped, so there was the extra treat of hearing the artist talk about her work and herself. Most of us have ideas about how we want our work to be viewed, heard or read. Judith Hooper’s desire? She wants everyone, as her mission statement says, “to be able to look at landscapes, whether farmland or cracks in the sidewalk, not as the earth's crust but as a delicate skin embracing the earth. My landscapes are a reminder of our world as something living and breathing and as something that produces life and the natural beauty in that life, whether it's planned and planted or simply forces its way to the surface.”

Thanks Rhea, Karen, Gary and Judith, for the eye feast!

Lunar Lore

I finally got some decent photos (courtesy of my new tripod) of the full moon on July 18th.

Here are some provocative "facts"/theories connected with the full moon(courtesy of equinoxastrology.com/LunarLore.html:

The Moon and plants and animals

Marine biologists on the Australian Barrier Reef informed me that coral mates at the full moon.

Herbivores ovulate around the Full Moon. The world's leading expert on deer states that the height of the deer rutting season occurs around two full moons. One of the two will be the Leo Full Moon. (late July - late August)

Migratory Birds appear to follow the patterns of the moon for timing and finding their path of migration. Zoologists in Alaska noticed that animals: bears, caribou, salmon moved at the Full Moon.

An expert on animal behaviour reported that his hamsters turned their wheels 'more dizzily' during the full moon.

Game birds tend to return to certain locations at the time of the Hunter's Moon.

Studies into healing revealed that the full moon amplified the electrical charge in living cells. A sensitive voltmeter, he had attached to a tree picked up a faint electrical force. However, at the time of the full moon, this force soared upward on the scale.

The Moon and Agriculture

The Harvest Moon occurs in late summer [at or after the autumnal equinox]. Farmers and farm workers would take advantage of the additional hours of light and work through the night in order to complete the harvest.

The Moon and our Time-table Many Religious and Traditional Festivals are scheduled in line with lunar phases.

The Chinese New Year is celebrated on the second New Moon after the Winter Solstice.

Easter Sunday is the first Sunday on or after the first Full Moon after the Spring Equinox.

The Moon and weather

The Moon is thought to influence the formation of tropical hurricanes.

The connection between the full moon and frost is so well established that it affects investment patterns. For example, investors on the world commodities exchanges go long of coffee futures around the winter full moons in Brazil.

The Moon and emotional weather

Air stewards report that passengers on aircraft flights are more difficult to handle and there are more incidents at the full moon.

Modern investigations into human bio-rhythms have discovered that their emotional cycle ties in with the 28 day lunar cycle.

The Moon and Birth

Female reproductive cycles respond to the lunar cycle.

Medical staff report that women who have already had children are significantly more likely to give birth on the day of the full moon.

Health around the Full Moon

A research team at Leeds university found a significant increase in visits to medical practices for consultations after the full moon.

Doctors report an increase in epileptic seizures and bleeding ulcers at the time of the full moon.

The Moon and Madness The association between the Lunar phases and mental illness is legendary.

The word lunatic comes from the Latin word Luna for Moon.

In Britain, the 1824 Lunacy Act stated that people were liable to go mad when the Moon was full.

Research found a dramatic rise in admissions to psychiatric hospitals in New York on days of the full Moon.

A higher number of mental patients become highly disturbed around the time of full moon.

Various studies have shown that suicide rates are higher around the full moon.

The Moon and Accidents

Alcohol consumption rises at the start and end of the lunar cycle. More drunk drivers, more crashes and more hangovers occur at this critical time. It's hard to know if the astrological connection between the Moon and liquids or the Moon and emotions is the root cause.

At the time of the full moon, hospital accident and emergency units see about 10% more patients. 80% of casualty nurses and 64% of doctors believe the moon adversely affects patient behavior.

Crimes of violence increase at the full moon.

More about the Moon and lunar tables from well-known, British consultant astrologer, Deb Houlding. In addition David McMinn has identified persuasive correlations between stock market crashes and the Sun/Moon cycle.

Murder and the Full Moon

According to a US study, murders - many apparently motiveless - trebled around the time of the full moon. Author, Robert Louis Stevenson's classic Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was inspired by the true story of Charles Hyde. Hyde committed a host of 'chilling deeds' at the time of the Full Moon.

Courtesy of equinoxastrology.com/LunarLore.htm. (There are 14 citations that you can follow at this web site)

Moon Imagery in the Lotus Sutra The moon as a guide

As the bright light of the sun and moon can clear away all darkness and obscurity, so this man, going through the world, can extinguish the darkness of the beings.

Were the clear light of this bright moon not shining,
I would be all alone as I travel on this dark path.

Japanese haiku master Matsuo Basho (1644-1694) writes:

Clouds appear
and bring to men a chance to rest
from looking at the moon.

Harvest moon:
around the pond I wander
and the night is gone.

Poverty's child -
he starts to grind the rice,
and gazes at the moon.

No blossoms and no moon,
and he is drinking sake
all alone!

Cherokee Moons

January: Cold Moon: Unolvtani
This time of the season is a time for personal and ritual observance, fasting and personal purification. During this season, families prepare for the coming of the new seasons, starting in Windy Moon Anuyi or March. Personal items and tools for planting are repaired, and new ones made. Stories about ancestors and the family are imparted to the younger ones by the elders. A mid-Winter or "Cold Moon Dance" is usually held in the community as well, marking the passing or ending of one cycle of seasons and welcoming the beginning of the new cycle. Hearth fires are put out and new ones made. The putting out of Fires and lighting of new ones anciently is the duty of certain "priest" of certain clans, and coincides with the first new-arrival of the morning star (Sun's daughter, now called Venus) in the east.

February: Bony Moon: Kagali
Traditional time of personal-family feast for the ones who had departed this world. A family meal is prepared with place(s) set for the departed. This is also a time of fasting and ritual observance. A community dance officiated by a "doctor" Didanawiskawi commonly referred to as a Medicine-person. Connected to this moon is the "Medicine Dance".

March: Windy Moon: Anuyi
"First New Moon" of the new seasons. Traditional start of the new cycle of planting seasons or Moons. New town council fires are made. The figure used to portray this moon is the historic figure of Kanati, one of the many beings created by the "Apportioner" Unethlana. These "helpers" were variously charged with the control of the life elements of the earth: air/earth/fire/water. Their domains are the sky, earth, stars and the Seven Levels of the universe.

April: Flower Moon: Kawoni
First plants of the season come out at this time. New births are customary within this time frame. The first new medicine and herb plants that taught mankind how to defend against sickness and conjury come out now. Streams and rivers controlled by the spirit being, "Long Man," renew their lives. Ritual observances are made to "Long Man" at this time. A dance customary at this season was the "Knee Deep Dance" of the Spring or Water Frog.

May: Planting Moon: Anisguti
Families traditionally prepare the fields and sow them with the stored seeds from last season. Corn, beans, squashes, tomatoes, potatoes, yams and sunflowers are some food planted at this time. A dance traditionally done at this time is the "Corn Dance".

June: Green Corn Moon: Tihaluhiyi
First signs of the "corn in tassel", and the emerging of the various plants of the fields. People traditionally begin preparations for the upcoming festivals of the ensuing growing season.

July: Ripe Corn Moon: Guyegwoni
First foods or the new planting and the roasting ears of corn are ready. Towns begin the cycle festivals. Dances and celebrations of thanks to the Earth Mother and the "Apportioner" Unethlana are given. In the old times this was the traditional time of the "Green Corn Dance" or festival. A common reference of this moon is the "first roasting of ears" (of corn)...sweet corn-moon. This is the customary time for commencement of the Stick Ball games traditionally called AniStusti, "Little War". Today known as "LaCross". Stick Ball dances and festivals are commonly held at this time.

August: Fruit Moon: Galoni
Foods of the trees and bushes are gathered at this time. The various "Paint Clans" begin to gather many of the herbs and medicines for which they were historically know. Green Corn festivals are commonly held at this time in the present day. The "Wild Potato" Clans AniNudawegi, begin harvesting various foods growing along the streams, marshes, lakes and ponds.

September: Nut Moon: Duliidsdi
The corn harvest referred to as "Ripe Corn Festival" was customarily held in the early part of this moon to acknowledge Selu the spirit of the corn. Selu is thought of as First Woman. The festival respects Mother Earth as well for providing all foods during the growing season. The "Brush Feast Festival" also customarily takes place in this season. All the fruits and nuts of the bushes and trees of the forest were gathered as this time. A wide variety of nuts from the trees went into the nut breads for the various festivals throughout the seasons. Hunting traditionally began in earnest at this time.

October: Harvest Moon: Duninudi
Time of traditional "Harvest Festival" Nowatequa when the people give thanks to all the living things of the fields and earth that helped them live, and to the "Apportioner" Unethlana. Cheno i-equa or "Great Moon" Festival is customarily held at this time.

November: Trading Moon: Nudadaequa
Traditionally a time of trading and barter among different towns and tribes for manufactured goods, produce and goods from hunting. The people traded with other nearby tribes as well as distant tribes, including those of Canada, Middle America and South America. Also the customary time of the "Friendship Festival" Adohuna = "new friends made". This was a time when all transgressions were forgiven, except for murder which traditionally was taken care of according to the law of blood by a clans person of a murdered person. The festival recalls a time before "world selfishness and greed". This was a time also when the needy among the towns were given whatever they needed to help them through the impending lean winter season.

December: Snow Moon: Usgiyi
The spirit being, "Snow Man", brings the cold and snow for the earth to cover the high places while the earth rests until the rebirth of the seasons in the Windy Moon Anuyi. Families traditionally were busy putting up and storing goods for the next cycle of seasons. Elders enjoyed teaching and retelling ancient stories of the people to the young.

Flat Gabriella Does New York

My cute little niece, Bryna McDowell, sent a special friend to me as part of of school assignment (she's in the second grade). My mission, should I decide to accept it: Take Flat Gabriella sightseeing. Make her clothing, if I am so moved. Answer questions about my city. Here is Flat Gabby's experience in her own words and pictures:

Flat Gabriella Does New York - Upload a Document to Scribd

Read this document on Scribd: Flat Gabriella Does New York

Flat Gabby returned to Pittsburgh not only with her new wardrobe, but with a bag of souvenirs from the highway robbers in Times Square. But I'm not complaining. I had so much joy participating in this assignment, and my sister, Tina, my nephew, Kevin and Bryna loved it.

Nota bene: Not only did Bryna get the grade I promised (A), Flat Gabriella was read, in part, by the principal, at the school assembly. Yes! [fist pump]

A Shout-Out

Civility and knowledge are alive and well at RadioShack on 57th Street between 7th Avenue and Broadway! A couple of weeks ago I saw a tripod in the window. After months of failed attempts at trying to capture a full moon – or any moon, for that matter – I went into the store a couple of days ago to buy a tripod, and I bought one for, yes! $20!

Mr. Daniel Asomani Anim was kind enough to remove it from the box and show me how to assemble and disassemble. So, here’s a shout-out to him and his equally friendly co-worker, a young woman whose name and photo I did not get. I had been in the store on a previous occasion not long after I bought my digital camera. I was in the area taking photographs and wondering why the internal memory was filling up so fast. Duh! I thought something was wrong with the camera, but Daniel explained the need for a memory card and also sold me a SanDisk memory stick for storage. Double shout-out to y’all!