Volume 25, Issue 12
Serving the residents of North Shore Towers since 1995
December 2020
Fred Chernow and Ed Phelan
Virtual Vets Day Happy Thanksgiving
NST PPE Distribution
TOWERS TALES:
Theresa Oropallo
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2 • TOWER TIMES • December 2020
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Virtual Veterans Salute By Fred Chernow
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he North Shore Towers annual Veterans Day tribute program has gone virtual this year. In the past, we had capacity audiences in the Towers on the Green. In addition to spirited speeches, the assembled residents participated in singing patriotic and other stirring songs. Because of the restrictions on large gatherings we produced a virtual salute this year on our in-house channel 995. It started at 9:00 am on Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11th. The program was repeated later that day and the next few days. We invited veterans and interested residents to shoot a three-minute video presentation days before without an audience. We selected some of the music and other segments from our 2019 presentation, which our videographer John Virga and Marty Ragusa magically and seamlessly joined together into a heart-lifting single program. Among the speakers was Board President and Delta Force veteran Ed Phelan, and Purple Heart recipient and Air Force veteran Joe Reveman. Lorraine Bertan de-
MICHAEL KOHN PHOTOS
American Legion Post 103 Commander Sedastiano Diagostino and Bd. Director Fred Chernow at the 2019 North Shore Towers Veterans Day salute. Irene Baron was born in London, England, and told of the morale-building song, “We’ll Meet Again,” sung by Dame Vera Lynn. It was extremely popular in Great Britain during WW II and the Queen knighted her for her efforts. The lyrics were posted on a screen as Baron spoke and residents were able to sing along in their apartments. Our local American Legion Post 103, Douglaston-Little Neck, was again featured, and their bugler, Gerry Gilbit, sounded “Taps.” The post’s Veterans Day parade has become one of the largest in the country. It was a program that mixed joyous singing and soulful reflection. Russell Targove and Mike Jones also led the animated audience in an uplifting musical tribute in 2019. As President Franklin Roosevelt said of veterans, “The greatest casualty is being forgotten.” That will never happen at North Shore Towers.
‘As President Franklin Roosevelt said of veterans, “The greatest casualty is being forgotten.” That will never happen at NST.’
TOWER TIMES • December 2020 • 3
WWII veteran Joe Reveman at NST’s 2018 salute.
scribed the history and significance of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, Irene Baron discussed growing up in war-torn London, and Judy Tane introduced her grandson-in-law, Jon Frieman, an Iraqi War veteran who discussed veterans transitioning into civilian life. President Phelan, a decorated hero, had the audience paying rapt attention to his narrative. “We were known as the most elite group in the service, but we were not loved,” Phelan said. “There was a lot of negativism about the Vietnam War, and we were not treated as veterans who served in other wars were treated.” Many of you are also watching his weekly program on 995, where he interviews NST Board members who describe their duties and responsibilities. Joe Reveman has lived at the Towers for 30 years. He described a near-death experience while serving in the U.S. Air Corps 398th Bomber Group. After an explosion, two engines went out and the plane was on fire. Reveman was stuck tightly in his position and his crew saved his life. Lorraine Bertan writes a regular column in this newspaper about museums and monuments. She explained that the Vietnam Memorial in Washington met with divided support before it was finally completed. Bertan filled us in with some of its history.
NST PPE Distribution Event By Maria Termini Miller State Senator John Liu and Assemblyman Ed Braunstein distributed masks and hand sanitizer to the residents of North Shore Towers on Saturday,
DAWN STEINBERG PHOTO
4 • TOWER TIMES • December 2020
Sen. John Liu talks to NST residents.
October 24th. “We are grateful to our elected officials for distributing essential PPE and hand sanitizer to the residents of North Shore Towers,” Debra Markell Kleinert said. “The health and safety of our residents is our first and utmost priority.” NY State Senator John Liu stated, “New Yorkers have shown the strength to help each other in times of need. During the COVID-19 pandemic we’re witnessing the same strength of New Yorkers, which will be a light to countless people who are suffering. In order to help vulnerable people in our community our office has been hosting a series of PPE giveaway events and we’re happy to serve the North Shore Tower community as well.” Assemblyman Braunstein added, “It was a pleasure to join Senator Liu in providing PPE to our friends at North Shore Towers. In light of the continuing Coronavirus pandemic, we all need to remain vigilant and utilize PPE such as face masks and hand sanitizer.”
MARIA TERMINI MILLER PHOTO
Assemblyman Ed Braunstein, Democratic State Committeeman 26 AD Matthew Silverstein, Debra Markell Kleinert, and State Senator John Liu at the PPE distribution event at North Shore Towers, Saturday, October 24th.
Theresa Oropallo: Babes Chair By Fred Chernow
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erry Oropallo is a very familiar figure at NST. This dynamic retired High School principal has been very active in raising funds for the Babes Against Cancer initiative and as a member of the Camera Club, where she spotlights photos from her worldwide trips, and of course, her devotion to golf and membership on the Country Club Committee. Where did you grow up? I lived in a two-family railroad-room style house in the East New York section of Brooklyn. It was a little Italian enclave. My grandparents and mother’s three single sisters lived on the first floor. My parents, older brother, and I lived on the second, however, other than sleeping, we used the two-family house as one. Everything was done downstairs as a nine-member family. My earliest memories are of the cottage industry we were part of. Since my Dad was a linotype printer, he brought rolls of labels home for the family to cut and bundle after dinner. That’s how I learned to count. The industry came to an end once machines replaced us, and by 1954 we bought our first TV and watched after dinner. My Dad was friendly with his schoolmate, Jackie Gleason, and when we were children the future star visited and entertained us in that two-story house. I remember my brother charging his friends five cents to be in our front yard to see him as he left. He always took the time to rub a few heads, Where did you go to school? I attended P.S. 155 on Herkimer Street until the 4th Grade, when I transferred to the parochial school. While there I was awarded a scholarship to Bishop McDonnell High School in Crown Heights, which required a ride on
two trains from my home. From there I went to St. John’s University in Queens from 1963 to 1967 and then received my Master’s Degree in 1972 while working full time. What did you do after college? I started my teaching career at Richmond Hill High School in Queens in 1967. While there I became the Coordinator of Student Activities, and soon after the Assistant Principal-Guidance. In 1988, after 21 years at Richmond Hill, I left to become an assistant principal at Northport High School on Long Island. Three years later I became the principal. Do you have a family? My current family consists of two nephews, their wives, my sister-in-law, a wonderful great-nephew, Logan, 9, and a beautiful great-niece, Mya, 8. They live in Florida and I enjoy visiting them. I also have a cousin in an Adult Learning Center in Brooklyn. My current family also includes the many wonderful friends I have made at the Towers who are now part of my extended family. Where did you live before coming to NST? I lived in Northport for 19 years, and before that, I was in Great Neck Terrace for 15 years. From my apartment I watched the Towers being built. Once I retired I wanted to return to the Great Neck area but was totally disillusioned by the claustrophobic feeling I had in every apartment I viewed until I came to NST. When Linda Rappaport showed me 12H, I immediately fell in love with the spaciousness and airiness. That was exactly 10 years ago and one of the best decisions of my life. What are some of your favorite NST activities? I am a member of the Towers Ladies Golf. I never really golfed before moving here, but how could I live on a golf course and not play. I enjoy the Camera Club and have served on the Country Club committee. I love the
Be As Smart As Your Grandchildren Speaking with family, friends, and neighbors will be more important than ever before. Participating in family gatherings or any of the NST clubs or committees will depend upon Zoom capability. Purchasing food, household supplies, and filling most personal needs will depend on access to online vendors over the Internet. Would you like to learn one or more of these technical skills? The Special Projects Committee will team you up with one of our knowledgeable committee members. Free instruction will be given either virtually via FaceTime*; oneon-one outside observation of required health precautions will also be covered. With greater technical skills, we hope to give you a more confident and secure winter. *Please note that ownership of an iPhone or iPad is necessary to participate in this program. Topics of instruction will include: •Use of Email. •Performing Google searches. •Obtaining information via the Internet. Continued on Page 14
parties in the VIP Room because I love to dance and meet new people. I also enjoy walking in the indoor pool in the morning. I have been co-chair and chair of the Babes Against Cancer event. This is very meaningful to me because my mother died from cancer when I was 15 years old. I then lost two aunts to this terrible disease, and just last February my brother. We will find cures. The money raised from the Babe is not only used for research but also to ease suffering for the patient and his/ her family. Car rides, wigs, spa days, and providing a place to stay in NYC for access to treatment are just a few of the amenities our Babe money supports. You are known as a world traveler. Where have you been? I have been fortunate in my lifetime, being able to indulge my love of travel. In addition to being in all 50 states, and many countries, I have been to my main love, Italy, eight times. After over 50 years of traveling, it would be easier to list what remains on my bucket list: Egypt, Japan, Australia (although I did get to Tahiti), and believe it or not, Israel. It’s hard to select a favorite, but visiting my Dad’s family’s hometown, St. Agata, Italy was a definite highlight. Sitting with a dapper little old man in the town’s records room, checking big, handwritten documents, decades old, relating to my family, was an experience to remember. Of course, North Shore Towers is my home sweet home.
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By Iris Littman and Karen Perry They are predicting a bad winter. You decide to stock up with basics. Cases of bottled water, paper towels, and toilet paper would be good to have. It would be so much easier if you knew how to order from Amazon. Who do you call for help? One of your grandchildren, of course. We all have been in this predicament, one time or another. Well, it is time to put it to an end. The North Shore Towers Special Projects Committee will be offering a free program to help develop a range of your technical skills. As winter approaches, we will be spending more and more time indoors. It will become increasingly necessary to maximize our communication skills.
Terry Oropallo.
6 • TOWER TIMES • December 2020
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Bronx USA and a Bit of Brooklyn By Howard Arkin
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he North Shore Towers Men’s Club sponsored its second presentation on Channel 995 on Thursday, October 15th. Events chairman Jerry Siegel hosted the 2019 HBO documentary “The Bronx, USA,” which chronicles the lives of “Bronxites” both past and present. Some of these former Bronx residents have become quite successful, while a group of current De Witt Clinton high school students hopes to write their own success stories. The documentary explores situations experienced by some notable Bronx residents, such as Colin Powell, Alan Alda, Robert Klein, Hal Linden, Melissa Manchester, Chazz Palminteri, and Carl and Rob Reiner. The parts of “The Bronx, USA” documentary that resonates most with me are those of George Shapiro and North Shore Towers Residents Carl Golub and Jay Schwartz visiting their old neighborhood and reminiscing about the good old days. I found Carl Reiner advising a group of Clinton seniors about adversities that they will face in their futures very compelling, as was the advice Powell received years ago from the owner of the toy store where he worked as a teenager. Palminteri’s return to a bakery on Arthur Avenue had me yearning for one of the cannolis named in Chazz’s honor. Linden recalling the ritual of Sunday night Chinese dinners also brought back some happy memories. Alda tells a
story about dating his wife Arlene, who lived in the Bronx, heading back home to Manhattan, falling asleep on the subway, and ending up, in of all places, Brooklyn. Another interesting segment has Reiner, Shapiro, and Schwartz returning to Clinton High and introducing some of the senior students to the long-forgotten Bronx game of stickball. In a few segments of the documentary Shapiro is shown wearing a Brooklyn Dodgers cap and is asked about it by Reiner,. As I suspected, he is told that Shapiro was an anomaly being a Dodgers fan from the Bronx. Hooray! Being from Brooklyn myself, I think I’ve always had some hidden animosity towards the Bronx. I assume that must have come from the annual fall beatings inflicted by the Yankees on the Dodgers. Of course, as the years went by maturity took hold of me and I forgave the Bronx. I even married a girl from Washington Heights. I know, I know, but it’s close enough. Today I’ll even concede that a lobster dinner on City Island is as good as any in Sheepshead Bay. The veal parmigiana at Mario’s rivals that served at Bamonte’s in Williamsburg. And who can really tell the difference between a corned beef on club at Schweller’s delicatessen or one from Juniors? But one thing that Brooklyn had and still does have is Coney Island. Attractions included the Wonder Wheel, Cyclone and Parachute Jump, and most of all the boardwalk, under which one could spend many happy summer hours. But that’s another story for another day.
The promotional art for “The Bronx, USA.”
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TOWER TIMES • December 2020 • 9
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Pickleball Popular
Michael Kohn...................................................Editor, Art Director, Publisher Jack Schwarz.................................................................. Staff Photographer The Tower Times is published monthly by Tower Times Publications, Inc., and is distributed to the residents of North Shore Towers and the surrounding area. The Tower Times is an independent publication, and is not affiliated in any way with the management of North Shore Towers. COMPOSITION RESPONSIBILITY: The Tower Times will not be liable for errors appearing in any advertisement beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Copyright © 2020 Tower Times Publications, Inc. No part of this publication including advertising may be reproduced in whole or part without written permission from the publishers.
STEVE AUERBACH PHOTO
There is always a crowd on the North Shore Towers Pickleball court, even in November. Pickleball has become so popular with seniors because of the great exercise with less running than tennis.
GLORIA BECK AND VICKI MAZEL PHOTOS
Carol Klinger: The Knitter
Marian Nemetsky: The Writer
Sylvia Harmon: The Swimmer
Dawn Steinberg: Photo Finisher
Shirley Wershba: Film Fatale
Sunny Honey
Karen Perry: The Artiste
Bern Rosenthal : Author
Chickie Kaufman: Master Chef
Carol Israeli: Klinger:Prolific The Knitter Nurit Poet
Masked Marvel Contest Zoom, Zoom, Dolly, Dolly
By Vicki Mazel
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Pandemic Poetry By Vicki Mazel Many faces in the room, Pictures of women all on Zoom. Different talents strong and bold, Ready to face a winter of cold. There’s walkers and talkers, They’re never sitting. Then there’s our gal, The champ at knitting. No special order are their names, Spare time play Rummikube games. There’s Selma, Marilyn and Nurit Israeli. Marian, Bern and Carol Pally. There’s a painter and poet too, A film expert and writer’s view
A swimmer and chef in the thorn, All to the Zoom Club belong. Carol K., Chickie and Sheila never forlorn Karen and we can’t forget Dawn. Say hello to the lady foxes, They’re the ones that talk in boxes. If you think they’re not astute, All you do is put them on mute. Greetings and meetings galore, Keeps the day from being a bore. Let the wind gust and blow, Let it blizzard -let it snow. We’ll be doing zooming tasks, Guess what? Without our masks!
Coping With the Pandemic By Roberta Gould
Women’s Club President
As we are about to enter another winter season with the pandemic still very much with us, I wanted to reach out to you. I think it might be helpful if we share our individual answers to these questions: •What did you feel was the most important thing that helped you with the pandemic? •Being aware of what you have already experienced, what do you think would most helpful going forward. Please send responses to: Bobby Gould: gouldrl@msn.com. Chickie Kaufman: chickiemilt@gmail.com.
Eva Kessner: evakess@nyc.rr.com. James Cole Zoo Program Series Thanks to the efforts of our program chairperson, Gloria Beck, James Cole will be zooming several more lectures at the Towers after the initial one dealing with the 25th Amendment. Free Speech and The Road to Revolution will be topics for future presentations. To Be Announced Gloria has other amazing and distinguished speakers in a variety of areas on deck. Please watch for announcements in this newspaper and on vendor’s doors in the arcade. Keep happy and safe during the holidays!
TOWER TIMES • December 2020 • 11
ave you made a protective mask that’s interesting and creative? Have you made a mask that other people have been commenting on? Have you used anything unusual in making your mask? If you said yes to any of these queries then you could win a prize from one of our vendors in the Arcade sponsored by the North Shore Towers Women’s Committee. To enter the contest, send a selfie wearing the mask and email to: Gloria Beck: Glutsky@aol.com, or Chickie Kaufman: chickiemilt@gmail.com. You will be notified if you have been selected as one of the Masked Marvels and a gift certificate will be given to you. Cinema Club Program Amazon Prime Channel Selection On the boards for the December Cinema Club presentation is the movie “The Graduate,” starring Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft. The film can be viewed on Amazon Prime Channel at your leisure. This Mike Nichols classic will be reviewed by Vicki Mazel and Dr. Nurit Israeli with a focus on its relevance in today’s world. Simon and Garfunkel’s music reflects the times, the unrest of a generation, and the
disillusionment of suburban middle-class youth. The character of Mrs. Robinson serves to define the word cougar to this very day. So sit back, watch an oldie but a goodie, and tune in to Channel 995 on Monday, December 28th at 11:00 am. Knitting Update–Kudos to Carol Klinger from North Shore Hospital The last few issues of this newspaper have reported the knitting project undertaken by Women’s Club Board Member Carol Klinger and her merry band of knitters from both the club and the Towers Knitting Club. While the project continues, success has been fantastic and greatly appreciated by hospital recipients. Klinger has received a letter from Nicole Benencsa, Senior Director of Patient and Family-Centered Care of North Shore Hospital lauding the contribution of blankets to patients with needs, and staff members waiting area. The letter is addressed to The North Shore Towers Community, and it reads: “Your meaningful donation and act of kindness during these trying times have been a great source of strength. Your diligence around creating these beautiful blankets is sincerely appreciated. It is an honor to be part of such an incredible community. On behalf of the entire team at North Shore University Hospital, we thank you and hope you stay well.”
12 • TOWER TIMES • December 2020
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Growing up in the 50s and 60s Zoom By Steve Auerbach
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very few weeks I host a Zoom discussion group on various subjects, and this week was growing up in the 50s and 60s. It all started with missing a good dish of macaroni and cheese. I thought back to Horn & Hardart where all my nickels went into the slot of macaroni and cheese or baked beans. They were the best. Here is one response received from Jerry Raskin that brings back memories to that time for many of us: These are my memories of growing up in the East New York section of Brooklyn: With a nickname of The Brooklyn Kid, I am happy to share my recollections, as well as some of the games I played in Brooklyn. They included Ringoleeveo, Johnny on the Pony, Stoop Ball, Catcher Flyers Up, Box Ball, Stickball, and Horse, which we called Donkey, 5-3-1 basketball, and Around the World basketball. However, even more than the games, it was all about the Brooklyn experience, which meant knowing everyone on your block, coming home from school for lunch, and having the schoolyard as your own personal playground. Our school was open Monday-Friday 3:00-5:00 pm and 7:00-10:00 pm and weekends 12 noon-4:00 pm. We played basketball, baseball, dodge ball, and so many other great games. I spent more time there than at home and school combined.
Of course, the Brooklyn Dodgers helped make the Brooklyn experience so special, but more about ‘Dem Bums’ later. After our baseball and basketball games, we went to the corner candy store, bought an egg cream, and hung out until it was time to go home. We also slept on the roof of my apartment building during those hot summer nights (Tar Beach). Remember, there was no AC. I remember making a hook out of a hanger, and attaching it to a stickball stick so my friends and I could fish Spalding balls out of the sewer. I also went to Steeplechase Park in Coney Island. I also remember chipping in a dime for a new Clincher for our softball game, hitching rides from Brooklyn to Rockaway Beach, waiting forever for dinner at Lundy’s in Sheepshead Bay, riding my Schwinn bike, and adjusting my roller skates with that special key. At age 11, my friends and I would ride the IRT New Lots line to Ebbets Field. My father gave me a dollar and I bought a Corn Beef on club for 55 cents, paid for the subway, 30 cents, bought a Coke for 10 cents, and gave my dad the nickel change. P.S. I want to thank Steve for organizing this event. P.P.S. My lovely wife of 52 years reminded me that we met at Bay 2 at Brighton Beach in Brooklyn. She remembers meeting a guy with blue eyes, mine are hazel. She chose the wrong door. I’m not sure who she met that day. She was not happy.
As I See It “As I See It” with the Board Prez. on Channel 995. If you were a basketball player you would know the phrase “I wanna be like Mike.” If you live at North Shore Towers you would know the phrase “Everyone Loves Fred.” The next installment of “As I See It” with our President Ed Phelan features Fred Chernow who wears two hats, one of which is Screening and the other Cultural Affairs. Both Phelan and Chernow are dear friends whom I have known for many years. So of course I would never say a bad word or thought about either one, even if I was thinking of disagreeing. But don’t worry, the other Board members are coming up soon in the coming weeks and this is “As I See It.” Let’s start with Phelan, who instituted having this ingenious way of tuning to channel 995 and communicating with the shareholders with this form of transparency, the likes of which I haven’t seen before. He reiterated what Steve Kirschner of House and Grounds spoke about last week
regarding a more colorful central plaza, keycards for security from the Arcade to the lobby, a wifi system in the garage, and one-way traffic with angle parking around the plaza. Now onto Chernow, who is always our top vote-getter. His first hat he wears is that of screening, which was enlightening and informative. As NYC is becoming more of a ghost town we are getting more of a diverse group of new residents with 12 screenings in September and 14 in October. Say hello to your new neighbors when you see them. But now for his second hat, of Cultural Affairs–which is the fun hat. It was sad to hear that the 92nd St. Y will not reopen until Broadway does, which I believe won’t be till the summer of 2021. But luckily for us, we have channel 995, where Chernow has brought us Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra, Jackie Gleason, Justice Ginsburg, and soon Billy Joel. Thank you for the entertainment and for brightening our days. With a possible second wave and a cold winter ahead, please stay safe, wear your masks, and keep your social distancing.
The Snowbirds Dilema And bundle up with earmuffs, gloves, hats and such. To wait, perchance for snow– ay, there’s the rub: For in that snow, what storms may come? Or do we dare embrace the glorious sun, Toss our worry about Covid’s lengthy reach, Travel back to lakes, sand, and a lazy life? The vaccine’s not ready– it tests the will, And gives us pause, but the answer now comes clear. Stay, or flee, the sun will come out tomorrow!
TOWER TIMES • December 2020 • 13
By Marian Nemetsky To flee, or not to flee, that is the question: Whether ‘tis nobler in our hearts to suffer The zings and sorrows of cold winter weather,
Pages From Our Past DECEMBER 2011 Towers Country Club Meeting The word was already out on the biggest news at the Towers Country Club’s Thursday, November 3rd meeting, after it was announced that there would be no membership dues increase for the third year in a row at the October Bd. of Director’s meeting. Zdenko Beg, A Man for All Seasons Zdenko Beg’s life trajectory goes from Rijenka, a port city in Yugoslavia, now Croatia, to a Physical Therapy office in North Shore Towers, Queens. His is the great American success story: a new arrival to our shores, who is determined, works hard, and pursues his dream. WWII Documentary Focuses on NST Vet Sgt. Joe Reveman, radio operator and gunner, was involved in two dramatic plane crashes during WWII, and his adventures were revisited in a short documentary film shown at the Annual North Shore Towers Veteran’s Day tribute, Friday, November 11th in the VIP Room. Trees for Towers Joyce Kilmer wrote a poem about them, Johnny Appleseed planted thousands in orchards, and now Bette Midler wants to give young trees to North Shore Towers. The New York Restoration Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to planting one million trees throughout the five boroughs by 2017. Double Duty For Gently Used Clothes Would you like to get more closet space without costly
construction? Perhaps you would like more drawer space but have no room for another dresser. You could now make more room by donating clothes you no longer wear, get a tax deduction, and never leave your building. Conveniently located in the Arcade of each building’s loading dock area, a large clean, white enamel bin has been installed ready to accept your clothing items. The recycling program will reduce solid waste carting, while providing much needed clothing to Housing Works, which for 20 years has been helping low income and homeless New Yorkers affected by HIV/AIDS. DECEMBER 2015 Veteran’s Tribute Over 100 NST residents gathered to pay tribute to those who served in the military, on Veteran’s Day, Wednesday, November 11th in the VIP Room. They shared wartime stories and enjoyed a special presentation of patriotic movie clips. The evening’s host, Bd. Director Fred Chernow, said, “The audience was enthralled” by the program. The Return of Bob Ricken Robert Ricken had been a North Shore Towers resident for about 19 years and served on the Board of Directors for eight years before he returned. He served as Board President for five years, before resigning. He was voted in by a large margin for a new term on the board in the recent election. The Scrabblers On tables here and there throughout the Towers, folks
devoted to the board game Scrabble can play anywhere, including outdoors. New sets have recesses for the letters so they don’t blow away, nor do the words come apart if the board is jostled. Alice Nathan and Roma Connable, Building Two, favor the garden. They played there during the summer, but on hot days migrated into the card room, where the sound of their wooden squares competed with the shuffle of bridge cards and the rattle of Maj Jongg tiles.
14 • TOWER TIMES • December 2020
Be As Smart As Your Grandchildren Continued from Page 5 •Purchasing from online vendors for food, household supplies, and other personal needs. •Texting. •Placing and receiving FaceTime calls. •Joining in Zoom gatherings or meetings. •Keeping up-to-date with NST information via BuildingLink. •Using NextDoor Neighbor. Interested in learning one or more of these skills? Begin by contacting one of our coordinators listed below. Supply them with your name and contact information. Finally, tell them the skills you would like to learn. Our Coordinators will match you
with the committee member best able to meet your needs. Would you like to volunteer to be one of our instructors? Please contact one of the coordinators listed below. Coordinators: Iris Littman: (718) 229-5160 iris77771@gmailcom. Judy Paris: (718) 819-8293 judyparis@twc.com. Karen Perry: (718) 225-0107 perrykdale@aol.com. Every grandparent at NST likes to boast that their grandchildren are brilliant. For just once, we want you to feel as bright as they are.s
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Abstract Expressionism Heroines By Lorraine Bertan North Shore Towers Culture Committee
T
his is the “time of the woman” and the Nassau County Museum of Art is celebrating with an eclectic collection of paintings and sculptures by women from the time of Mary Cassatt to 2019 works of contemporary female artists. The central theme of the exhibit is Abstract Expressionism, which appeared in the New York City art scene during the 1940s and 1950s, and is associated with large scale paintings, or “action painting.” The male artists most frequently associated with Abstract Expressionism are Willem de Kooning, Jackson Pollack, and Mark Rothko. de Kooning and Pollack are the husbands of Elaine de Kooning and Lee Krasner. There is a photo of Lee Krasner, Elaine de Kooning, and Helen Frankenthaler in the exhibit, and these three women along with Grace Hartigan and Joan Mitchell are the “Heroines of Abstract Expressionism.” Helen Frankenthaler was married to a famous artist, Robert Motherwell. Their work and stories are described in the 2019 book, “Ninth Street Women” by Mary Gabriel. The “Ninth Street Women” is based on the artists whose work appeared in the “Ninth Street Show,” which introduced Abstract Expressionism paintings and sculpture and sculpture to the art world in 1951 at 60 East 9 Street, New York City. The show was held in the base-
ment of an abandoned building, and the artists restored the space themselves. It was financed by the art dealer, Leo Castelli. The artists were part of a group called the “Club,” and their studios were located downtown, near Ninth Street. Works from eleven women and 61 men were chosen. Robert de Niro, Sr., Robert Rauschenberg, Robert Motherwell, Jackson Pollack, Willem de Kooning, and James Ernst were among the participants along with the “five heroines.” The show lasted 20 days; no works were sold, but the attention enhanced the reputation of the artists and New York City became an important center of modern art. Along with paintings from the “heroines” and FEM contemporary female artists, several sculptures of Louise Nevelson (1899-1988) are included in the exhibit. Her work is known for outdoor sculptures and monumental wooden pieces. She was born in Ukraine in 1899, grew up in a Yiddish speaking family who migrated to Maine. Her father was a woodcutter, sometimes lumberjack and the persistence of wood in the family life made a profound impression on her. She left Maine to attend school in New York City. She married Charles Nevelson, a wealthy man and it was possible for her to study art seriously, to the point of divorcing her husband and moving to Europe. Returning to New York, she worked for the WPA, as did some of the artists in the Ninth Street show. She also taught an
adult education class at the Great Neck Public Schools. During the 1950s, the time of Abstract Expressionism, her work became popular and grew to monumental size, usually spray painted black. She designed the chapel of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Manhattan and became a celebrity and a fashion icon in 1974. When she died in 1988 her estate including artworks was valued at 100 million dollars. Nevelson said, “I’m not a feminist. I’m an artist who happens to be a woman.” Francoise Gilot, born 1921, a French Post-Impressionist painter, and a Post World War II artist like the five “heroines” and was married to a famous artist, Pablo Picasso. Her stormy marriage to Picasso was well documented, and her second marriage to Jonas Salk was more peaceful. She had become a prominent artist in her own right and is still painting today, living in the Upper West Side of Manhattan. At the age of 98, she was interviewed by The New York Times and featured in a New York Magazine article. Gilot said, “Art doesn’t come from what is around you, but what is
inside you.” The FEM collection on the second floor features the work of contemporary artists Marilyn Minter, May Stevens, Jessica Jackson Hutchins, Allison Janae Hamilton, Jessica Tan Gudnason, Tara Donovan, Wangechi Mutu, Louis Lambrecht, and others and who use many art forms to express themselves, including ceramics, fabrics, metals, photography, etc. It is an exciting exhibit and touches contemporary themes like climate change. The Nassau County Museum has provided a handout describing the exhibit. When entering the exhibit, be sure to look for or request the handout, which is a wonderful guide to a unique and exciting exhibit. The grounds of the museum contain works of art in a lovely setting, which you may want to visit as well. Nassau County Museum of Art One Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 11:4 am–4:45 pm. Telephone: (516) 484 9338 Website: nassaumuseum.org
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“Indian Village Rajasthan” Francoise Gilot (1921).
“Portrait of a Woman,” Mart Cassett (1909).
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