30 January 2020

Drawings, Dust And Daybreaks






ME: Okay, guys. Listen up. 
I need your attention. 

STUDENT: OMG! Are you retiring?




Saturday Sounds: 
Peggy Lee (1960) Suede (2010) 
Henry Mancini (1959) Foals (2019)


SENTIMENTAL POST ALERT: 
Before I was an adult artist, before I was an art teacher, 
before I went to art school, before I went to high school,
 I was a young artist taking Saturday and Summer classes 
art ART•LAB in Staten Island. While there, my drawing and 
painting teacher Jean gave me this box of Grumbacher 
soft pastels. The box and some of its contents are older than
 I am. Many of the pastels inside were replenished (some are 
Rembrandt) over the years and I’ve had many other sets since, 
but I haven’t touched this set in over 25 years... at least not 
until very recently. At age 12 and 13, I would take this box to 
the pond or pagoda on the ART•LAB grounds at Sailors Snug 
Harbor and draw my surroundings for hours. It made me blissfully 
happy. With pastel in hand and my eyes on nature and structures,
 nothing could haunt me, disturb me or touch me except the errant
 clouds of colorful dust that I kicked up as I worked. I’ve been 
thinking that it’s time to revisit, reimagine and reinterpret some 
of my landscape and cityscape photos in soft pastel. No overarching 
concept or codified message... just colorful renderings of places 
and spaces I’ve interacted with. There are a few other things I’m 
working on now, but this dusty old box and the simplicity of 
drawing for the sake of drawing has seduced me. Who knows? 
Jean could be quietly nudging my hand from across the 
space / time continuum. If so, Jean, thank you for the continued 
guidance... and thanks for the set you gave me 35 years ago. 
You were a beautiful influence on me in every way and 
I hope I’ve made you proud. Love, CDM











Sketchbook: 
Pastel portrait studies in layers






More in-progress sketches...



More layers...















I was today years old when a student informed me that 
Ikea meatballs are made of people that got lost in the store.


Friends + Rainy Day + Matzoh Ball Soup = Perfection


ME: Do any of you guys 
watch Downton Abbey? 

STUDENT: No. We’re not 50. 

ME: Come find me when you’re 
almost 50 and we’ll see how you look. 

STUDENT: Why? You’ll be dead then.











The Big Blue Marble • LP & Pinback (1974)
Long before The Science Channel, before NYC had cable 
TV, before blogs, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook or Reddit,
 this PBS show was how I learned about science. 
The Big Blue Marble had demonstrations, filmed explorations, 
animation and memorable songs that lit up my imagination 
and taught me a great deal about our place in the universe. 
If you were a kid in the 1970s, you might have enjoyed it 
as well. Luckily for all of us, there are some nice pieces 
of footage from this very cool show on YouTube. Luckily 
for me, I recently scored this rare soundtrack LP and pinback
button on eBay. Remember: “Our differences, our problems 
from out there there's not much trace. Our friendships they
can place while looking at the face of the Big Blue Marble in space.”


It's not on its way. It has arrived.


19 January 2020

Cheers 2020!


The new decade started in the usual way.


New year's day dinner with friends.



Spirit was high during the opening days of 2020.
My approaching birthday made me introspective.


Hey, kid. This is Future You talking from the year 2020. 
The year 1980 might seem like a drag right now 
but don’t worry. Things will definitely pick up speed. 
In 40 more years you’ll still be doing a lot of the things 
you love now. Keep dreaming, kid. Keep dreaming it into 
reality and you’ll find yourself in a world that’s colorful, 
musical and full of laughter. Ignore anybody who tries to
 stop you and walk away from anybody who doesn’t 
support you. Trust me, kid. Everything is going to be more 
than okay. It’s going to be amazing. You got this. 


My friend Kelly McD sent me this
David Rose / Schitt's Creek themed shirt.
Many thanks. Best wishes. Warmest regards.


When you run into two alumni
and the lighting is ON POINT.
Big love and hugs to Emily and Caire.


Happy Birthday David Bowie










From the sink to the pond...



And back to a record booth...




NICE ‘N NAASTY! This is one of my all time favorite 
1970s disco tracks. My Dad’s original 12” single mix 
from 1976 has been in my collection for decades. 
Discovering the full Salsoul Orchestra album for 2 bucks 
from one of my favorite vendors was a total revelation. 














Thanks to my friend Steve
for yet another amazing birthday cake.


40RTY SE7EN


My 47th birthday was a gas! 
Mom & Dad hooked me up with the hand numbered deluxe 
limited edition 50th Anniversary Rolling Stones Let It Bleed 
box set. My adopted brother Steve baked me a cake. 
Chancey just sat there and looked cute. 
All things were just as they should be.


My birthday celebration 
continued with Scott (and Steve)


...and some flea marketing





Sunday Morning - East View



Sunday Morning - West View







Flea Market Score: 1960s Photo Cube. 
Pre-inserted images include a Futuro House interior 
And a Verner Panton interior... I paid one whole dollar.





Macaroni salad so good
it's nearly worth an hour's drive
to Wind Gap, Pennsylvania.



I was fortunate enough to spend a couple of hours of my 
47th birthday in the park. The 67 degree temperature was 
a rare, much appreciated anomaly for the 12th of January 
and it was the first time in my life that I’ve ever enjoyed the 
pleasure of outdoor activities on this special day. Walking the
 familiar trails in warm, radiant sunlight with David Bowie’s 
Station To Station in my ears was a great gift and I strolled 
with tremendous gratitude for this and many other things: 
another year of happiness and prosperity, another year with 
my loved ones and the privilege of living a life that I’m proud of. 
At a certain point, my thoughts turned to my beloved grandparents 
who are no longer here in body. No sooner did I begin “talking to them” 
than Spirit gave its familiar command to “Stop and take my picture” 
as I was crossing the creek bridge. There, in the lens, lay yet another
 colorful, ephemeral cosmic gift in the form of a series of shimmering 
light entities. CLICK! And they were mine to hold (for a moment). 
Thank you Spirit and thank you to ALL who sent me birthday messages
 from places nearby, far away or from another dimension overlapping ours. 





I See You 2020... You’re Mine.
Even the "misfires" will be beautiful
this year because there are no mistakes.