Why I Love New York ... #3,234,921

Zebras @ Sunset, 17th Street & 10th Avenue, 12/18/12

--Tom Eubanks

Neverending Inspiration of Young Artists

Through an amazing organization called Free Arts NYC, I get to work with the most inspiring young artists each week. With multi-colored Sharpies, paint, pastels, watercolors and clay, kids transform themselves in the most astounding ways. They not only create art, they share ideas with one another and learn to express themselves proudly.

Art, which is so belittled and undervalued in this country, can be the greatest conduit to reinforcing the most positive elements of a child's character. One of the greatest things FreeArts NYC teaches and that kids TRULY learn: "There are no mistakes in Art." This allows them to accept what some might be quick to brand failure. Aside from limitless creativity, they demonstrate cooperation, respect and responsibility. They are our future. Our future is bright.

Last Thursday, we finished our fall semester with an assignment in which the artists worked in groups to create a papier-mache person that encompassed parts of each of their unique identities.

--Tom Eubanks

Kevin McHugh's Pre-Basel Fish GlimmerGlama!!

Beneath a school of Swarovski crystal-encrusted game fish, 

some beloved old school faces @ The OUT Hotel for

Kevin McHugh's brilliant, pre-Basel preview ...

iPhone images: Tom Eubanks

Connie & Kevin

Dierdre & JoJo

JoJo, Dierdre, Tom

Daphne Ruben-Vega (aka "Zubin-Mehta," actually overheard at party) & Connie

Daphne, Tom & Claudia

JoJo, Daphne, Tom, Claudia & Tom

Throwing shade

Casting radiance

Stars of the gorgeous movie "Turning": Connie & Joey

Codie, Connie & Joey

What become legends most ...

Falling out

JoJo & friendly friend, Tom & Kevin

BIG MIKE

See that chick there? And they cast Lindsay Lohan as Liz Taylor?! 

 

Like old times ...

 Proud Creators

Pucci never knew, girl.

Why I Love New York # 2,008,656

There's always something in the air.

Rainbow laser light show

in the evening sky

"Sandy's Rainbow" over Abingdon Square, November 29, 2012

From the roof of the Standard Hotel

Across the far west Village

Over what was once the meat market

But now becomes a disco at the drop of a hat ... or destruction.

 New Yorkers know to look for rainbows after a storm.

Photographs of Sandy's Rainbow, an installation by artist Yvette Mattern,

by Tom Eubanks.

The worst moment on morning television. Ever.

Or perhaps I had fallen back to sleep and was experiencing an early morning nightmare?

I can't imagine having to share actual time with four more despicable celubutards. 

Poor Willie Geist had to conduct this 'panel,' if I recall correctly.

Still trying to shake it . . . 

First Snowperson of the Year

Spotted on 12th Street between 5th Avenue and University Place, 

in storm-ravaged Manhattan, en route to P.S. 19 

to mentor the most incredible 10-year-old artists.

I hope her name was Sandy.

                                                                                              --Tom Eubanks

Stock Up for Samhain and Frankenstorm Sandy 2012

To heighten the terror, 

they're made from 100% BPA & toxic dyes in a Chinese sweatshop.

The first in a random series of Halloween/Frankenstorm 2012 reflections by Tom Eubanks.

143 YEARS LATER . . .

September 15, 1869:

the day my great-great-grandfather, Abraham Chenoweth Van Meter, 

founded The St. Croix Republican in New Richmond, Wisconsin. 

It is now known as The New Richmond News.

Abe's son and grandson--my great-grandfather and grandfather--

ran The New Richmond News until 1969. 

From the end of the Civil War to the depths of the Viet Nam. 

I've been working on a book about my family and their contributions to their 

small, northwestern Wisconsin community--and I argue, to our nation--through their newspaper and unwavering civic duties. Essays from this project were excerpted in The New Richmond News, 

in Mary Sather's Sharing Memories column.

One hundred and forty three years later, 

my words appeared in the paper started by my great-great-grandfather.

These are the essays. More to come.

---Tom Eubanks, New York City, September 17, 2012

Thanks to Mary Sather and The New Richmond News.