Here is a view of windows and starry ceiling in Grand Central Station.
Yesterday we went into NYC and saw the Jacob Lawrence series of paintings called "Migration." These were completed in 1941 and show the lives of African Americans as they moved from the south to the north after WWI. I had read about the show and his work in The New Yorker last week. I realized we were coming to NYC, and I could see them. What a treat!
I love the colors Lawrence uses. I find it interesting how he repeats colors. My art education is limited, so I learn by going to shows and listening to the audio explanations. The 60 paintings were framed in simple wooden frames and were about 18" x 12". Lawrence and his wife, the artist Gwendolyn Knight, rewrote the captions for the paintings seven years before his death. They tell the stories of people escaping harsh conditions and hoping to find a better life.
In a room beside the "Migration" paintings we saw a film sequence showing Billie Holliday singing "Strange Fruit" and Marianne Anderson singing "My Country 'tis of Thee" at the Lincoln Memorial. This juxtaposition of art and music was profound.
On the way back to Staten Island, we had trouble finding our bus. We walked several blocks along 5th Avenue, looking for the sign for the express bus. Finally, we decided to keep walking down to Grand Central Station, which we'd never visited. We went in and looked around and then took a downtown subway to Bowling Green and the ferry.
View from our dock today - grey and wet.
When we arrived back in Great Kills, Staten Island, a storm broke out over us. Lightning popped; wind blew; rain pounded. We ran into a deli, and the guys there gave us a car service number. In 15 minutes we were in a dry car, headed to the marina just a mile away. We still got soaked by the time we arrived at the boat, but we did not have to walk through the lightning.
I have been late in writing the blog this week because we were invited out for dinner. We ate last night with Michele and Dave on Just Us. Tonight we had dinner with Mark and Vicki on Blue Willow. Two great meals in a row. The weather here has been crummy: cold and wet. It does not feel at all like June. We have been happy to get off the boat and eat and visit with friends in the evening.
We are eating lots of Georgia blueberries.
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