The Rebirth Of All Things

Spring colors, spring things, spring art show prep...

My colleague Steve Coleman and I dropped off 32 works of art at

The Blackwell Street art exhibit and got voted Teachers 

Most Likely To Have A Side Gig As A Stand-Up Comedian

by students and staff within the same week!

Black Celebration by 

Depcehe Mode was released in March 1986. 

Happy 40th Birthday to an absolute masterpiece.

Duran Duran - Nite Romantics EP (1981) 
Every time I hear remixes, alternate takes, B-sides and demos from Duran Duran’s first two album eras I’m mesmerized by how fresh and modern they sound 45 years later. I’ve followed them since Rio in 1982 and while I continue to enjoy their work (the last three albums in particular) I’m awestruck by the very unique place they claimed for themselves with their first bold sonic statements. Having said that, they have yet to be given credit for their influence on contemporary pop of all subgenres. DD FOREVER.

I’ve got some great reads ahead of me. Many thanks to my friend Steve for preordering these two long awaited memoirs for me, the Christina Applegate one signed on one of the opening pages and the Liza Minnelli one with a signed bookplate. Steve had the rare privilege of being seated next to Liza in a bar one evening long ago as she and a companion had some cocktails. Steve and I both met Christina after a performance of Sweet Charity in NYC. I asked her to autograph my DVD of the film Wonderland (which I enjoyed her in) and she signed it across Val Kilmer’s crotch. What a very cool and nice lady she is. I’m looking forward to reading about the life journeys of both of these talented humans.

31 March 1986 • 40 Years Ago…

Prince And The Revolution’s Parade LP was released.

My first dose of Prince’s Parade era came in January 1986 when a Z-100 New York DJ announced that he would be playing an exclusive track from Prince’s upcoming album. The song was a sparse, altogether baffling mixture of electronic drums, synth, playful guitar licks and falsetto vocals called “Kiss”. It sounded like it had been recorded fast and furious… altogether unlike the ornate arrangements of “Purple Rain” and “Raspberry Beret”. It was wildly different, a bit edgy and I LOVED IT. When the Parade album was released and I got to experience it in full, everything that puzzled me about “Kiss” made sense in context with the rest of the album. “Mountains”, “AnotherLoverHoleInYoHead” and “Girls & Boys” (which contains what is to this day one of my favorite Prince lyrics: “Meet me in another world, space and joy / Vous êtes très belle, mama, girls and boys”) sounded like next level adult sophistication to my 13 year old ears. It felt classic, yet modern. Hip, yet elegant. 40 years on I’m still moved by “Sometimes It Snows In April” in ways that my younger self was only coming to understand when it stopped me in my tracks for the first time. This wasn’t merely R&B, pop or funk. It was Grown Up Music. Many thanks as always to Prince And The Revolution for being a huge part of my musical education.

And I am back in the park again... 

Happy Easter from The Montone Family and

my adopted brother Steve who is STILL my parents'

favorite child. I ain't even fighting it anymore. 

Deviled eggs and Peeps cake are only two of the 4,856

reasons why my parents prefer Steve to me and frankly,

I get it. I totally get it. Yup... They're right.

So much work happening behind the scenes.

I'm still very much engaged in new artwork.

It may not look like I'm doing more than the usual

but trust me, I am doing MUCH more than the usual. 

More about that later.

Happy Spring Rebirth and remember... 

MAGIC IS REAL

XO - CDM

Let It In

Here we are at the dawn of a new season.

The spring light is already playing its daily game. 

This is the green that will return soon. 

Many thanks to Kelly McD for this AMAZING gift.

Such a beautiful rarity and incredibly generous. 

This was a student's acrylic mixing palette

and it works as a standalone abstract piece

so I cut a mat for it and plan to put it in 

one of the spring art shows at work. 

These trees will be full of leaves again soon.

Our colleague Stacy from the RMS Art Department

spent the day with us recently and that was definitely joyful. 

This is my Jersey Diner Face. 

Some of us ALWAYS knew that

New Jersey was a supernatural hot spot. 

It's all happening at all times.

A student asked if she should introduce me

to her GRANDFATHER who is gay and single

and I politely said "No thank you."

Violator by Depeche Mode turns 35 this week. 

My colleague Steve and I just delivered 29 pieces of 

student artwork (framed 2D pieces and sculpture) to the

 Morris County Courthouse for an exhibit, making multiple 

trips up and down the elevator and going through metal 

detectors for the drop off. The things we do for these kids. 

Here we go, folks...

And here's to a beautiful season.

Let it in.

I hope all of you are safe and well.

Stay illuminated. XO - CDM